Oil Painting For Beginners

Oil painting is a great medium for beginners. It's one of the most traditional forms of visual expression, versatile and adaptable, and the most popular style among all painting styles.

It is definitely a challenging form of painting, no doubt about it, but it's also beginner friendly. It's pretty forgiving, because if you make a mistake, you can quite easily correct it.

Where To Start?

Getting started in oil painting is relatively easy. You will need some basic supplies, a quiet place with good lighting and ventilation to work in, and instructions.

Finding good instructions is the very first step you should take. If you're completely new to painting, then this is crucial.

Oil Painting Instructions

As a beginner you will need guidance, every beginner does. At this point it's crucial to build strong foundations. You must get familiar with the fundamentals - perspective, lighting, composition, brushwork techniques, color theory – these are all essentials.

You can use the Internet, books, or any other source to learn about them, but I would really recommend you to invest in a well-structured lesson plan. DVDs are a great choice.

They offer visual coaching which is the way visual art should be taught, they are affordable and convenient. You can learn at your own pace, in the comfort and convenience of your own home.

There are quite a few oil painting DVDs out there, the best that I've come across so far is – Learn & Master Painting with Gayle Levee.

Oil Painting Supplies

A thing to remember about oil painting supplies - shop smart, save big. You don't have to break the bank when shopping for paint supplies.

Have a budget, make a list and only buy things that you actually need. You don't need every paint or paintbrush in existence.

When you're just starting out, it's okay to go for lesser quality. You're learning, you're experimenting. However, when it comes to brushes – don't be too cheap. Bad brushes can be a huge headache.

Always be on the lookout for good deals, discounts and specials. Internet is a great place to find them. I usually shop online. My favorite online store is DickBlick.com.

In Conclusion

Anyone with a strong enough desire to learn can learn how to paint in oils. You'll need good instructions, some painting supplies, and above all – commitment.

Although oil painting is quite forgiving to beginners, always remember that it is a difficult medium to master. Learning to be a painter never really stops, so don't get discouraged if your first paintings don't turn out just the way you wanted it.

Hang in there and keep painting. You'll soon be surprised at how far you've come.