Knowing the Basics of Oil Painting

If you haven’t had the opportunity to do much art before, warm up by sketching. This will give you a feel for transferring what you see to a two-dimensional surface and help you overcome some of the challenges you will encounter. For your first painting, choose something uncomplicated, such as a simple landscape or a bowl of fruit. Of course, “simple” does not mean boring. Be sure to include something in the composition that excites you and you cannot wait to paint, such as a bright red lawn chair on the end of a rather drab dock. Sketch your idea on paper first. Next, sketch a rough outline onto your canvas panel. Most artists do an underpainting on the canvas, and this is a good way for you to transition from sketching to actual painting. There are no details in an underpainting, just broad swathes of color that suggest a blurry image of the work. The underpainting creates a base for the layers of paint that will follow, and is your first chance to make changes and corrections. You can accelerate your progress through lessons or classes with an experienced artist. As with everything else, there are basic techniques in oil painting, and learning from someone else can save you years of frustration and disappointment. Most of all, knowing the basics will set you free to paint what is in your heart, and share you vision with others.