I LOVE oil painting. Ever since I started in this medium last year, I’ve been totally hooked on it.
So, what is so good about it?
There’s a few things that really stand out to me.
A fantastic medium for beginners
Contrary to popular belief, oil painting is a great starting point for aspiring artists. Its forgiving qualities offer a nurturing space to hone your skills and unleash creativity. I found this out first hand when I started art again after a 30 year break. Here’s some reasons why:
- Easy Fixes: Oil paint’s slow drying time allows for effortless corrections, making it never too late to rectify mistakes. Wiping out and starting over is a liberating experience.
- Soft Edges: By wiping out shapes instead of drawing, you achieve beautifully soft edges, opening doors to intricate details and smooth transitions.
- Diverse Effects: Oil paint’s versatility lets you create stunning watercolor-like effects, blend atmospheric masterpieces, or craft expressive pieces with palette knives (examples below from my artwork). Also check out some famous oil paintings to see the variety of effects achieved.
- Limitless Substrates: The artistic world becomes your oyster with oil painting, as it can grace various substrates:
- Classic Canvas: The traditional choice, offering texture and resilience for your brushstrokes.
- Linen: A premium alternative with smooth surfaces for refined works.
- Board, Paper, and Canvas Paper: Budget-friendly options for exploration and experimentation.
- Unconventional Substrates: Think outside the box and embrace the creative possibilities of copper, glass, plexiglass, aluminium and more!
- Oil painting mediums can provide all sorts of effects that enhance your paintings such as:
- Impasto – for really thick brush strokes and palette knife work
- Lean mediums – for thin glazes and building up layers
- Numerous others for different effects
Brilliance of colours
The allure of oil paint lies in its rich, lustrous colours that elevate your artwork:
- Sheen and Brilliance: The colors possess a mesmerizing sheen unmatched by other mediums, offering a delightful painting experience.
- Versatile Mixing: Oil paints blend to create an array of hues, from pure colors to subtle tints, while maintaining their brilliance even when thinned.
- Custom Finishes: Achieve your desired finish, whether matte, gloss, or anything in between, for artistic finesse.
Consistent finish: what you see is what you get
Unlike some mediums that may alter in color or appearance during the drying process, oil paint remains steadfast, ensuring your artistic vision comes to life as intended.
Oil painting has become an ongoing and essential part of my artistic journey. Its forgiving nature, captivating colors, and endless possibilities continue to draw me in. As I continue to explore, I’m discovering new techniques, substrates, and ways for my creativity to flourish. If you’re intrigued by painting in oils, come join me in this adventure, and let the brush strokes lead YOU to more artistic discoveries.
I hope to do another blog soon about the basic supplies you need for oil painting when you’re just beginning, but in the meantime, you can find out about brushes in my last blog.