FAQ about oil painting

If you’re a beginner in oil painting and looking for some ideas to get started, here are a few suggestions:

1. Still Life: Set up a simple arrangement of objects like fruits, flowers, or everyday objects on a table and paint them. It’s a great way to practice observation, color mixing, and capturing textures.
2. Landscape: Choose a serene landscape with a clear focal point, such as a sunset over a lake, a peaceful countryside, or a coastal scene. Focus on capturing the colors, atmosphere, and depth of the landscape.
3. Portrait: Start with a simple portrait of a family member, friend, or even yourself. Use a reference photo and pay attention to facial features, proportions, and skin tones. Portraits can be challenging, but they offer an excellent opportunity to learn about capturing likeness and expressions.
4. Nature: Paint a close-up of a flower, a tree, or a garden scene. Explore the intricate details, textures, and vibrant colors found in nature. Experiment with different brushwork techniques to depict various elements like leaves, petals, or tree bark.
5. Abstract: If you prefer a more expressive and intuitive approach, try creating an abstract painting. Focus on colors, shapes, and textures rather than representing recognizable objects. Let your imagination and emotions guide your brushstrokes.
6. Animals: Choose an animal you find interesting and create a painting of it. It could be a pet, a wildlife creature, or even a mythical beast. Pay attention to the animal’s features, fur or feathers, and capture its essence.
7. Cityscape: Select a city skyline or an urban scene as your subject. Experiment with different architectural shapes, the interplay of light and shadow, and the atmosphere of the city.

Remember, the key to improving in oil painting is practice, so don’t be afraid to start with simple subjects and gradually challenge yourself as you gain confidence and experience. Have fun exploring different techniques and styles, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—they can be valuable learning opportunities.

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 although 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 decent 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.

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 hair and fall apart a lot quicker than a good quality brush. Do a search online or visit your local art store for more information.

How do I come up with ideas for my paintings?
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 and spend the day observing other artwork.

Look around your home for everyday objects and set up 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?  When I am searching for ideas for my next painting, I will usually take an outdoor trip. I will take a camera of course and just take shots of whatever inspires me. Then when I get back I will take bits and pieces from each photograph and create my own composition.