Latest posts by michael wilson (see all)
- JORDAN RIVER - February 5, 2019
- Inspired Art - August 2, 2018
- Waiting for Inspiration - July 31, 2018
- The Bridge between Painting and Photography - July 31, 2018
Painting in oils is a truly exciting venture in expression. By painting in oils you are historically connected to a long lineage of master painters. There is a magic that lies in the oil medium that acrylics just do not possess. First a word about materials.
I have touched upon this in previous articles but you can now make most of your purchases on line. Gamblin, Winsor Newton and Grambacher are several of the excellent companies that produce quality pigments. You can start with just basic colors such as Cobalt Blue, Cerulean Blue, Cadmium red, Vermillion, Hooker’s Green deep, Viridan and any hue of yellow. In addition I would suggest always having on hand, Yellow Ochre, Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna. You will be able to 
a lot with just those colors. Try to buy the larger, more economical tubes. Buy an extra tube of white as you will use more of the white than any color.
In terms of pallettes I grab anything flat I can find but I must admit a preference for the pads of disposable paper palettes – the ones that have the waxy surface. You will need a reducer such as paint thinner or Gamblin’s Neo Megilp to add a silky feeling to your paint. I mix the two together. In terms of brushes, start off slow and buy a few to decide which style and brand you prefer. Remember that brushes can’t stay out long in the air before drying out. Keep them in a little thinner and clean them regularly so that the paint does not build up near the ferrel.
IF you keep a sharp eye there are periodic sales on canvas. You can start small and build up to larger sizes. You can also paint on any flat board or even on primed plywood. Some artists actually prefer old barn siding.
You then have your paints, thinners, pallete and brushes. Make sure to have some rags close by, good lighting and of course decent ventilation. As a beginner I would suggest starting off with a decently prepared sketch. Use this sketch as your guide. An easel is not critical when you begin- any good-sized table will work. The important thing is to learn about color mixing and about how each brush feels for you. You will learn how much thinner to add and how to apply the paint. YOu will discover just how fun it is to paint in oils. There are of course, many good teachers and classes available in just about any City, and also some excellent tutorials on-line.
Michael Wilson 1/2015