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How to Use Oil Paints
This article shall let you know how to use oil paints correctly. Oil painting involves application of lots of colors and pigment. Blending and shading are the hallmarks of oil painting. Read on to know the details.

Oil painting was practiced much before the 18th century, when Pablo Picasso's cubism gave a new form to art. Works of Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci have remained unparalleled till today. Their paintings are expressions of their imaginative mind. Therefore, painting is a form of art that is entirely dependent upon what you think, what you imagine and how aptly you can bring it out on canvas. Amongst a wide range of painting mediums, oil painting has its own charm. The following segment shall guide you on how to use oil paints.

Tips for Using Oil Paints

Oil paints are a great medium to begin with. The greatest advantage of oil is, it can be corrected and the changes can be easily made on the canvas. Although painting happens spontaneously, there are certain painting tips and tricks, that have the ability to make the image technically correct. And if you are a beginner, these oil painting tips shall definitely help you out.

• Arrange the painting tools in order. Keep brushes, colors, palette, oils, pigments, water and cloth at your hand. Organize the colors on your palette before you start.
• The colors are merged and blended with the help of oil. To get perfect results, the technique applied is 'fat over lean'. The initial coats absorb more oil, therefore the proportion of oil is increased with subsequent quotes.
• If you have applied dark colors, make sure you wash the brush in turpentine oil. You should keep separate brushes for different colors. Dip the brushes in oil to avoid hardening of the tips.
• If you want to dry your painting fast, mix the colors with pigments containing lead, cobalt or magnesium.
• Oil paintings should never be dried in the dark. Once you have finished the painting, keep it under indirect sunlight or inside a brightly lighted room.
• You can use linseed oil for under-painting with dark colors. Avoid using linseed oil if you are shading with white or any light colors. It can be replaced with poppy oil or turpentine oil.

How to Use Oil Paints on Canvas

The guidelines for oil paintings for beginners, deal with the basics of oil painting. Oil painting is an art that has the ability to instill life in the images. The more you practice and experiment, the more it becomes easier. Eventually, there would be no qualms in your mind about how to use oil paints on paper canvas. Mentioned below are the proper guidelines for oil painting. Following them systematically, shall make you a perfectionist within a couple of days.

Selection of Colors and Tools
Since you are a beginner, spending a lump sum on expensive oil paints is not a great idea. There are many good quality, low cost paints available in stores, especially meant for new hands. Oil painting involves application of many coats of paints. Therefore, you can apply the base color with acrylic paints for quick drying. There are two types of brush, hard and soft. Soft brushes are used for finer touches, especially for smooth finishing while hard ones are meant for long, dry and crude strokes.

Application of Colors
Sketch the image on the canvas with soft pencils. Figurative paintings need to be sketched out if you are yet to expertise while landscapes can be directly painted with colors. First you need to understand what you are going to paint. Therefore, form the image in your mind. Studying and scrutinizing works of famous painters shall help you to understand better. If you are clear with oil painting basics, you can master the art quickly.

Now, you need to give a form to your creative instincts. Apply the base colors with a broad headed brush. The best thing is to start with landscapes, having all the components of nature. The most randomly used oil color is white. Appropriately shading with white brings out the effects clearly. Try mixing pigments once you have known the basics. Blend the colors by mixing with oil. Initially, there would be errors, therefore, practice with dedication to bring out the best in you.

After reading this article, 'how to use oil paints' shouldn't be the question in your mind. Be imaginative and bring out new ideas for painting. You painting should be your sole work of art and a representation of your thoughts and emotions. Oil painting is one of the best form of art that can make objects look alive. To define painting, Picasso's quote is worth mentioning, "I paint objects as I think them, not as I see them."

By Saptakee Sengupta
Published: 7/16/2010