If you’ve been painting for some time and want to level up, it might be time to try oil painting. While it is similar to painting in general, it requires some unique set of techniques to do it right. To get you started and inspired, here are some essential oil painting tips to keep in mind as you’re considering to attend oil painting classes.
Keep your paintbrushes clean
Using a clean brush is the best way to start with oil painting so ensure that your brushes are not contaminated with different colours. Otherwise, you will taint and ruin the colour you want to use on your paint. This is very crucial in order to preserve the colour of each oil paint you have as it goes out of the tube. So, always keep your brush clean every time you attend your oil painting classes and even between strokes if needed.
Never overmix the colours
While making a mixture of different colours adds interest and more vividness to your paint, do not overmix. Overmixing two colours will result in a flat and uninteresting painting. Instead, as you create the mixture, just make it enough before you apply your stroke. This will let you achieve the mix of colours you want.
Do not cut back on paint
This is perhaps the biggest rule in oil painting classes. Skimping on paint will compromise the quality of your artwork. So, make sure that you use enough amount of paint to get the stroke you need and so is the desired effect you want overall. If you’ve noticed that you are swirling your brush over a thin pool of paint, don’t hesitate to make another mixture.
Make unique texture with the palette knife
If you think that the palette knife is just for mixing your paint, you’re wrong! It can make unpredictable and textural strokes that you won’t be able to create easily with your paintbrush. You can use the palette knife some time to create an interesting effect on your oil painting.