Oil Painting: 10 Things You Need to Know
The origins of oil painting date to as early as the 7th century. As was discovered in 2008, walnut or poppies oil has been used on the ancient cave painting in Bamiyan, Afghanistan.
In Europe, the use of oils as a painting medium has been documented as early as the 11th century.
Oil painting has been around for centuries, and it is still one of the most popular forms of art today. If you are interested in oil painting, or you want to learn more about it, then this is the blog post for you!
In this post, we will discuss important facts that you need to know about oil painting.
What type of brush is best for oil painting?
Both natural and synthetic brushes can be used for oil painting. Natural hog bristle brushes are great because they have good stiffness and can hold more paint than synthetic brushes could.
When choosing a brush, always select one that has good spring and snap which means the brush bristle's ability to return to its original shape. This will give you the best results.
In oil painting, large bristle brushes are best for washes and the broad areas of backgrounds. Mid-size bristle brushes with sharp edges can also be used for some detail. Finer details are best accomplished with small, round, sable brushes.
If you are looking for a versatile set, we recommend D'Artisan Shoppe 15-piece Set, which includes a mix of 4 natural hog hair bristle brushes and 11 synthetic bristle brushes to create the brush strokes you need.
D'Artisan Shoppe Professional Oil Paint Brushes 15 pc
4 natural hog hair bristle brushes and 11 synthetic bristle brushes
Now if you are looking for a 100% Natural Chungking Hog Hair Bristle set, we recommend D'Artisan Shoppe 6-piece, for its great quality paint brushes made from premium Chunking hog hair bristles for stroke control and deep flags to distribute paint evenly.
Oil Professional Paint Brushes Set 100% Natural Chungking Hog Hair Bristle 6pc
100% Natural Chungking Hog Hair Bristle set
What are the three rules of oil painting?
Oil paint dries extremely slowly, and even if the surface feels dry, the paint underneath might still be wet.
So it is important to learn the three rules of oil painting.
Fat over lean. Each successive layer needs to be more flexible than the one underneath.
Thick over thin. When painting with heavy color, it is best to apply thick layers over thin layers.
Slow drying over fast drying.
Is oil painting easy for beginners?
In fact it is far easier than watercolor, and even easier than acrylics when you take into account the problems of fast drying acrylics. Some say that oil painting is the best medium for beginners.
Should I wet my brush before oil painting?
Some artists do and some artists don't. It's primarily a personal preference. Some people find that it helps the paint glide across the canvas better, while others find that it makes the paint more difficult to blend. Experiment with both methods and see which you prefer.
Oil Painting Techniques
There are in theory two oil painting techniques: ‘alla prima’ and ‘layered painting’.
Alla prima
Alla prima, also called “wet-on-wet” and “direct painting,” is a very popular method of painting in which the artist applies paint to the canvas essentially in one sitting.
The painting, which is ultimately built up of a single layer, must be completed while the paint is still wet. The paint can be applied pure or combined with always the same medium or solvent.
Layered painting
With layered painting the painting is built up of various layers. A next layer can only be applied once the previous layer is dry enough to ensure that it will definitely not dissolve. With layered painting, you must follow a technique known as 'fat over lean'; each subsequent layer should contain more oil.
Do I need to prime my canvas before oil painting?
If you're using oil paint, you must prime and seal the canvas first because otherwise, in the long run, the chemicals from the paint will rot the canvas.
Can I use water with oil paint?
The most important thing you need to know when starting to paint with oils, is that you can't mix oil paint with water, they repel one another. So instead of painting with water you should use a solvent like Zest It or Turpentine.
How long does oil paint take to dry?
Oil-based paint dry to the touch in 6–8 hours and ready to recoat in 24 hours.
What mediums do I need for oil painting?
Turpentine is the choice for most artists as it is compatible with oil paint. When mixed together, the paint's pigments will be perfectly dispersed and provide a beautiful, even finish.
How do I stop my oil painting from cracking?
Oil paintings can crack for a variety of reasons. One common reason is that the painting is not completely dry when it is put in a frame. This can cause the different layers of paint to break apart.
Another common reason is that the canvas was not prepared properly before painting. If the surface is not smooth, the paint will crack as it dries.
Cracking can be avoided by making every subsequent layer a little fatter. 'Fat over lean'. This makes it immediately clear why a paint layer needs to dry sufficiently before applying the next layer.
Oil painting can seem daunting, but it's really not that difficult.
Oil painting is a beautiful and timeless art form. If you're thinking about trying your hand at oil painting, keep these 10 things in mind.
We hope that this information was helpful and that you are now inspired to create your very own masterpiece (or at least have fun trying it). With a little bit of knowledge and practice, you might be creating stunning works of art sooner than you think!