Working with oil paints can be a lot of fun. You can use them thickly in impasto, or you can choose to use them in extremely thin glazes. Don't worry, you'll pick up a lot of usefulknowledge along the way.
Tip No. 1 Always lay your oil paints out in the same pattern on the pallet. This way, you'll be blet to pick up colors instinctively.
Tip No. 2 Use the “fat over lean” rule. The proportion of oil should be increased for each layer of oil paint you use.
Tip No. 3 Ivory black should be avoided for an underpainting. It dries much slower than other oil paints.
If you want to accelerate drying, pigments that contain lead, and manganese can help.
Tip No. 4 Linseed used as a medium in whites and blues will turn the colors yellow. Poppy oil is recommended for light colors, though it has a tendency to dry slower
Tip No. 5 You’re using too much oil if the paint on your pallet is wrinkling when it dries.
Tip No. 6 Use alcohol when cleaning away a layer of paint or varnish. You’ll find it to be a powerful solvent.
Remember, when starting out, it's safe to say that anything goes. This is the time in your evolution that you should feel completely free to experiment. Try as many combinations of paint and medium as you can until you find the one that best suits you. Practice! Practice! Practice!
You'll need to know a little bit about solvents as well! Solvents, are those elements added to oil paints to temporarily change the way oil paints' work. They're also designed to evaporate totally and evenly as the oil paint dries. Solvents are also used to dissolve resins, cleaning up after painting, and for cleaning brushes. When using solvents, make sure your work space is well-ventilated. Remember to use with caution, as they can catch fire very easily.
If you're starting out, there are books, lessons, and classes you can take that will expose you to the basics. You should choose a method that is user friendly, and one that provides advice on selecting an using art materials and addresses the essential issues every artist is bound to be challenged by. Whatever you purchase, can be a valuable reference again and again for years to come.
The four elements you should master are shape, value, color, and edges. In time, you'll be creating works of art that are wonderfully expressive. Oil painting provides a richness and depth of color. And, when you truly understand color, you can begin to interpret your own unique ideas with feeling and impact.
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