Using oil paint for art involves a specific approach that ensures your artwork is durable and vibrant. Understanding the properties of oil paint and adhering to fundamental rules is key. Here's a guide to help you get started:
Essential Principles
Oil painting relies on a few key rules that are important to know before you begin:
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Fat Over Lean: This is the most crucial rule. Each layer of paint you apply must be fatter (contain more oil) than the layer underneath. This is because oil paint dries by oxidation, and layers that are "lean" (contain less oil) dry faster and are more brittle. If you apply a leaner layer over a fatter one, the top layer will dry before the bottom, potentially leading to cracking.
- How to achieve fat over lean: You can add more oil to your paint by mixing it with linseed oil or other painting mediums that are considered “fat”. As you build up your painting, gradually increase the amount of oil in your mixes.
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Light on Dark: Generally, it's best to build up your painting from dark tones to lighter ones. Starting with darker values allows you to define your forms and then gradually highlight them.
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Opaque on Transparent: When layering, keep in mind the opacity of your paints. Transparent colors will allow light to pass through, while opaque colors block light. Use transparent colors for underpainting and glazing, and opaque colors for areas that need to be solid and dense.
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Drying Times: Oil paints dry slowly, allowing you to blend and rework your colors for hours, or even days. However, this also means you need to be aware of how much time you're leaving between layers. Always take drying times into account to achieve the desired results.
Steps for Oil Painting
While techniques may vary, here is an example process that incorporates the rules of oil painting:
- Prepare your surface: Apply a coat of gesso to your canvas or board. This primer creates a suitable surface for the oil paint to adhere to.
- Sketch your composition: Lightly sketch the outlines of your subject using charcoal or a thin wash of diluted paint.
- Establish the underpainting: Use thinned-down oil paint (a “lean” mixture) to map out the basic tones and values. This could be a monochrome or a limited color palette. Focus on the dark areas and shadows.
- Build your colors and forms: Gradually apply thicker layers of paint, increasing the oil content each time. Work from dark to light, slowly adding your midtones and highlights. This is where you will begin to bring the forms and colors to life.
- Add final details and highlights: Use opaque colors for your final, sharp highlights and textures.
- Glazing and blending: Use thin, transparent layers of paint over your dry layers. This helps to create luminous effects and unify your colors. You can also use blending techniques to create soft transitions.
- Varnish: Once the painting is completely dry (often after several months), apply a coat of varnish to protect the painting and enhance its colors.
Example
Suppose you are painting a landscape.
- You would start with a lean underpainting using burnt umber and payne's gray to establish the shadows, mountains, and basic composition.
- Next, you could start to lay in fatter color washes for the sky, distant hills and trees.
- Finally, using fatter paint, you would build up the details of the foreground, focusing on light and shadow, using opaque colors for the highlights.
Important Considerations
- Ventilation: Always work in a well-ventilated area, as oil paint solvents can be harmful.
- Proper disposal: Dispose of solvents and oil paint rags properly to prevent fires and environmental contamination.
- Practice: Oil painting is a skill that improves with practice, so don't be afraid to experiment and try new techniques.
By adhering to these principles and following a systematic approach, you can master the art of oil painting and create beautiful, lasting artworks.
