Oil Painting Lesson - Frequently Asked Questions About Oil Painting
By Ralph Serpe
Oil painting is probably one of the more challenging mediums to master. There
are many aspects of oil painting that often confuse and intimidate beginners.
Many questions arise and this article will cover some frequently asked questions
that beginners have.
What is Fat Over Lean?
Fat over lean is one of the most fundamental approaches to oil painting and
when followed will reduce the risk of your paint cracking as it dries. An oil
paint is Fat when it comes right from the tube. If you wanted to
make it fatter, you would add more oil. To make your paint Lean
your mixture would contain more of a thinner like turpentine. Begin your painting
with a Lean mixture. As you add more layers, you would make the
mixture fatter. This will help reduce the risk of cracking.
Should I Varnish My Finished Painting?
If you want to protect your painting from dust, smoke, and other pollutants,
you should varnish your painting. If not, these pollutants will accumulate on
your painting and eventually darken or yellow the surface. When you apply a
varnish, you are creating a layer that will protect your painting underneath.
The layer of varnish can be cleaned periodically and eventually removed. A fresh
layer of varnish can then be re-applied. You should wait 6 months to a year,
depending on how thick your paint was applied, before varnishing. Varnishing
a painting can be tricky especially if you have no experience. You should definitely
do more research on varnishing before you attempt to do this yourself. You may
even need to contact a professional.
Can I save the oil paint I do not use for a later time?
There are apparently ways to keep oil paint fresh until you are ready to use
them again altough I have never actually tried either of these techniques. Proceed
with caution. Some artists actually put plastic wrap over the paint and freeze
it. You can also try and put your unused paint onto a piece of glass and then
keep it submerged in water.
What kind of support should I use with my oil paint?
There are a variety of different surfaces that oil paint can be applied to.
Stretched cotton canvas is one of the most popular supports used by oil painters
today. Linen canvas is also used but tends to be fairly expensive. Other supports
that can be used with oil paints are masonite and even certain types of wood
panel.
What kind of paint should a beginner purchase?
This is a tough question to answer, as every artist is different and will more
than likely have a different recommendation. There are a few different grades
of oil paint on the market today. You have Artist Quality, Student
Quality, and Economical grades. Stay away from the economical
paints as these have more fillers in them than actual pigment and do not cover
very well. There are some very descent student quality paints on the market,
which work well if you are just starting out and for experimentation. Once you
get your hands on artist quality paint however, you may never buy anything else.
There are some very popular brands to consider as a staring point. Winsor &
Newton, Grumbacher and Gamblin are popular choices amongst artists.
What kind of brushes should a beginner choose?
This is also a difficult question to answer exactly. Brushes come in a variety
of different shapes, sizes and brands. Every artist is different and will have
different preferences when it comes to brushes. Ideally, you should have a variety
of different shapes and sizes on hand to start with. Over time, you will develop
a preference for certain types of brushes. Never buy cheap brushes, as they
will shed their hairs and fall apart a lot quicker than a good quality brush.
There is a good introductory set of 11 oil brushes made by Silver Brush
that you may be interested in checking out. Do a search online or visit your
local art store for more information.
How do I come up with ideas for my paintings?
Don't throw your paintbrush down in a fit of rage if you aren't able to come
up with an idea for your next painting. There are a number of ways you can find
inspiration and ideas. Sometimes the mind just needs a break. Take a walk outside
or a long drive and just observe nature. Take a ride to an art museum with a
friend and spend the day observing other artwork. Look around your home for
everyday objects and setup a still life. Look to yourself for ideas. Do you
have a passion for any particular subject? Do you love wildlife and nature?
Perhaps you are a music lover? I absolutely love nature and wildlife. When I
am searching for ideas for my next painting, I will usually take an outdoor
trip with a friend. I will bring a camera of course and just take shots of whatever
inspires me. Then when I get back to my studio I will take bits and pieces from
each photograph and create my own composition.
I hope this article on oil painting has answered some or all of your questions. Best of luck and happy painting! About the Author
For more free oil painting lessons & techniques head over to http://www.creativespotlite.com/oil-painting-lessons.htm today!
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