Oil Paint: How to Choose, Tips & Tricks for Painting

 Well, the one thing that can be said about oil painting is that they are one of the most favoured mediums among artists. They are the preferred choice by old and experienced master painters because with these paints they are able to achieve just the needed effect regardless of the painting. Given the fact that this painting is based on oil, this makes it slow drying which can be considered a benefit because it allows you to manipulate it by adding different colours in order to achieve the desired effect. This will allow you to blend, glaze and scrumble things which is great for achieving the needed effect.

What Is It?

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Well, before you go hunting for oil paint buy online the first one you see, you should know a thing or two about it. The ones sold ready-made in stores online contain two main ingredients which are pigment and drying oil. Those of you who plan on investing in quality and long-lasting oil paint buy online one that comes in metal tubes. They are available in a range of colours and hues, which allows you to pick the ones that best meet your needs. When online, you can also choose from the different size options and pick one that will best meet your needs. Aside from being sold separately, they are also sold in a set, so choosing one can be pretty easy. All it takes is to choose the needed tube size and the brand from which you want to choose. The latter in fact is one of the most important things you should consider if you want to invest in oil paints that will meet your quality and longevity standards. In the end, it's always better to pay more for a more quality paint than in cheaper versions which will fade and even dry out and break over time.

Once you make your choice, you can expect to receive paint options that will help you create a masterpiece with its smoothness and vibrant colours. When in the search for the right ones, if possible, you can also look for ones that come with a lightfast rating which is a guarantee that your artwork will last and look impeccable for many years to come. Just make sure to look for such paints that come from trusted and reliable manufacturers in order to receive what you need.

Tips and Tricks When Painting with Oil Paint

Get Organised

If you are a beginner in both painting and oil painting, the first thing you should do is to organise yourself. Stock on the needed supplies like paint, palettes and canvas, set them next to you along with every other possible tool you'll need and make a concept in your head. The process of painting in the beginning can be lengthy, especially if out of ideas, so sort out your thoughts, organise your supplies, put on some relaxing music and start your journey. Let the emotions and music lead the way and express your feelings on the canvas.

Prepare Your Canvas

When you hear this what's the first thing that pops into your mind?! If it's taking the canvas to the easel, then you are wrong. The idea is to prepare the canvas for painting with oil-containing paint. Ideally, you should prime it by applying a coating, after which you should add a muted background colour. The next thing that will help you become a pro and create a masterpiece is to place a sketch on your canvas and set out the major shapes. This is considered the best guideline that will give you a perspective of what you should be dealing with and where you should start.

Paint Fat, Not Lean

This might sound strange to you especially if you are a beginner, but the truth is that oil paint contains oil in it, and the paint itself makes it look fat and thick when applied on the canvas. Once you apply solvent to it you are basically breaking down its oil and thinning it, making it look thinner. This on the other hand will make the paint crack as it dries and this is something you don't want.

If planning on making the paint leaner, the trick is to add leaner paint and solvent and then add thicker (fatter) layers with a bit of solvent in it. Practice shows that every subsequent layer of paint should be fatter than the previous one, and that way you will achieve the needed effect without fearing that the paint will crack.

Use the Palette Knife

You know that palette knives aren't just for mixing the paint, right?! If you didn't know, now you do. Instead of using brushes solely, now you can also use these knives to put paint on the canvas without any blending. This will give you a totally different effect on your painting.