Do you ever want to start a new project, but have no idea where to begin? Or when what materials you need? I know that I have been confused as to where to start, especially when I am wanting to try a new art medium. (An art medium, in a general sense, is the type of material you are working with, such as watercolor, oil paint, etc.). Today I would like to share with you on how to get started with oil painting, specifically by talking about the materials needed.
I remember when I first used oil paints, it was spring 2021, and I was in my second semester of college. I had been given a list of items that I recognized, but some of which I had no idea what it was used for. Some of these items included, gesso, Linseed Oil, oil brushes, oil paint, baby wipes, canvas, and a fancy soap bar. There are of course other items that help and make it easier, but these items are some of the most essential items. Below there is a list of these items, and what their purpose is so that you can get started on oil painting!
1. OIL PAINT BRUSHES
It is important to use good brushes, ones that last and are durable. However, if you just want to do this as more of a hobby, then you don't necessarily need to get high-end brushes that are super expensive from brand like Princeton or Winsor and Newton unless you want to. For example, I use Masters Touch brushes that I got from Hobby Lobby (you can often find Masters Touch products on discount a couple of times a year). Masters touch will say on their brushes what type of brush it is (i.e. watercolor, acrylic, oil, etc.), and in this case, you would want the ones that say oil on the brush paper. You can definitely use any brand of brush that you want, just be wary that the quality and durability will vary according to brands.
For the brushes themselves, there are a lot of options all varying in size, bristle, type, etc. For beginners, I would suggest Filberts, rounds, and fans- and yes, it does say this on the brush. There isn't any particular size, just go with whatever size feels relatively comfortable, though I would suggest having a fine point, medium, and a somewhat flat brush. There are also different hair types used in the brush bristles, and some are stiffer than others (usually boar hair), but everyone has different preferences, and so you may need to experiment a little.
2. OIL PAINT
Other than brushes, this is the most expensive item to obtain. You can find oil paints at most art stores and online (especially amazon). This is another thing to be wary of in regards to quality and price- typically, the cheaper the paint, the crappier it is, and can affect the final product and progress of your art. My recommendation for a beginner set is the Winsor and Newton 10-piece tube set (usually comes in a green box) that you can find at Hobby Lobby or on Amazon. It has a great selection that will allow you to mix many colors, and have a wide range. Again, there are many brands out there, and you can use whichever one you like or prefer.
Note: You will use quite a bit of white as the tubed colors are quite pigmented and strong, and so you will want to mix in white a great deal of the time. You can find a large tube of this from Masters Touch or online. Just make sure that you don't put any paint down the sink, only down the trash, unless you are cleaning the brush with soap.
Note: You can mix your paint on whatever you want, you can use a plate, a plastic palette, glass, plastic, etc. Just clean off whatever you use (if you reuse it) with a baby wipe, and not washing it down the sink.
3. LINSEED OIL
This stuff is going to be your new best friend. You can find this at most art/craft stores and is a yellow-ish color that looks like olive oil. You mix a little bit of this with your paint to allow it to move easier so that it isn't quite as thick. This also helps you mix colors easier, and pick up on a piece if you've left it to sit for a day or two. You can dump a little at a time into a small cup to allow easier access. You can also use this to clean your brush, and get the majority of paint out of your brush.
However, do not dump this down your sink as it can be quite harmful to the environment and your pipes- just dump whatever is left over that you don't want into the trash.
Note: Oil painting usually takes between 3-10 days to dry (sometimes longer or shorter) depending on how thick the paint is, and so you will want to store your piece in a safe spot. Because it takes so long to dry, you can actually work on the same piece days later as it will probably still be wet, and you can do this by adding Linseed oil.
4. CANVAS
So you're going to need something to paint on, and Canvas is the most popular option. I am sure most of you have seen a white canvas that has been stretched onto a frame of wood. Well, you can totally use this to paint on! You can even use cardboard if you happen to have some lying around and want to experiment (I used cardboard all the time for my assignments. You can get whatever size you want, or even small canvases that are flat and come in a pack. You can find these online, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc.
5. GESSO
This stuff is going to help preserve all of your new creations! You can get it online, at a craft store, and in multiple sizes. Gesso is pretty thick, and doesn't smell the greatest, but this is what is going to preserve your painting. Oil paint can be rather corrosive over time, and can eat away at your painting, unless you use a primer, which in this case is Gesso. You just paint some of this on whatever you are painting on (i.e. cardboard or canvas) in a layer or two.
Note: You don't need to use your oil paint brushes for this, you can just use a cheap brush that you don't care about.
6. PALETTE KNIFE
This is what you are going to use to mix your paint up on your palette. It has a handle, and a long rectangle at the top in plastic or metal. These don't have to be anything fancy or expensive, but it will help preserve your brushes if you use this to mix instead.
7. CLEANING SUPPLIES
Cleaning up after oil painting is quite the process, especially if you aren't planning on painting again for awhile. To make clean-up easier, I recommend baby wipes, a small garbage can/bag, dish soap, and (any) hair conditioner.
When you finish painting, use a baby wipe and some of the Linseed oil to get out most of the paint of the brush(es). Use another baby wipe, or two, to clean off your palette and palette knife so that it is prepped and ready for the next use. Make sure to also set your wet painting aside in a safe spot where it won't be disturbed or touched (I recommend a box that is tucked away somewhere).
Next, take your mostly clean brushes and use dish soap to get out as much remaining paint as you can. It's okay if the paint dyed your brush a little. There are fancy heavy duty soap bars that are specifically for artists, but dish soap is a fine alternative. After your brushes are clean, use a dab of your hair conditioner, yes, the one you wash your hair with, and dab it onto the brushes, and then rinse out. The conditioner, much like your hair, will allow the brushes to last longer, and stay in good condition.
I hope that this post has helped you get started on oil painting, and answered some of your questions on how to begin! Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns, and I hope that you have a wonderful day!
- M
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