Oil painting was in existence as early as the 5th century, but it did not gain wind until the 15th, as its practice migrated from China, India and the Middle East to Europe, in what was then the Middle Ages. Eventually, it became the principal medium used in artworks. And by Renaissance period, different techniques in oil painting began to emerge, giving way to a myriad of movements, from impressionist to realists, to surrealist. Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet and Renoir are just some of the artists made famous by their masterful oil paintings.
Traditional oil painting processes often start with a sketch. The artist is set to draw his subject matter onto the canvas using charcoal. After which, he is to start mixing the colors with linseed oil and solvents. And then, these mixtures were applied over the drawing appropriately and each layer brushed was mandated to have thicker oil coating than the last to promote faster drying, which might take about two weeks. After six months, the finished product is varnished to give it additional protection. And subsequently, it is framed for display.
When making oil paintings, it is highly recommended that you lay out your choice of colors on your palette before you start, in the order you intend to use them so you could progress instinctively and avoid making mistakes. If you want to test how certain mixtures will pan out, try out different combinations first using a sheet and label them appropriately. In addition, try not to use ivory black for your sketching, in case you do not have charcoal, as it tends to dry slower than other oil paints. If you are using charcoal, draw lightly so it does not affect the colors you utilize after. Be mindful of the ingredients of your oil paints as well, and see to it that you have those containing lead, cobalt and manganese; not the generic alternatives. And in mixing linseed oil, avoid using too much as it promote wrinkling.
Traditional oil painting processes often start with a sketch. The artist is set to draw his subject matter onto the canvas using charcoal. After which, he is to start mixing the colors with linseed oil and solvents. And then, these mixtures were applied over the drawing appropriately and each layer brushed was mandated to have thicker oil coating than the last to promote faster drying, which might take about two weeks. After six months, the finished product is varnished to give it additional protection. And subsequently, it is framed for display.
When making oil paintings, it is highly recommended that you lay out your choice of colors on your palette before you start, in the order you intend to use them so you could progress instinctively and avoid making mistakes. If you want to test how certain mixtures will pan out, try out different combinations first using a sheet and label them appropriately. In addition, try not to use ivory black for your sketching, in case you do not have charcoal, as it tends to dry slower than other oil paints. If you are using charcoal, draw lightly so it does not affect the colors you utilize after. Be mindful of the ingredients of your oil paints as well, and see to it that you have those containing lead, cobalt and manganese; not the generic alternatives. And in mixing linseed oil, avoid using too much as it promote wrinkling.
Don't put pressure on the brush when painting. And always wipe it or dip it into white before you shift to another color. That should guarantee you get a clean start and minimize any unwanted mixing. And then avoid starting on light hues as they can be ruined easily later on when you apply darker ones.
Now, as mentioned earlier, oil colors are often mixed with varnishes and other materials in order to manipulate its translucency, density and sheen. But avoid using linseed, particularly, on white and blue mediums as they tend to produce a yellowish discoloration. Instead, use poppy oil on light colors as it has the least tendency to deviate. Just be wary about the fact that it dries slower. If you have made mistakes and would like to clear them up, just use alcohol to take out the layer of oil paint or varnish from the canvas. And once you have the finished product, always dry it under sunlight as lack of it may cause the oil to rise to the surface, ruining the color scheme. Finally, never forfeit the chance to reassess and improve your work. What's great about oil paintings is that you can always do touch ups on certain parts without ruining the whole thing.
