Materials and Tools
Varnish: What It Does and When to Wait
What varnish does on a finished painting, why oil needs a long wait, and when glass is the kinder protection.
Tag
oil painting
12 posts tagged "oil painting".
Materials and Tools
Oil Mediums: Using Less, Staying Lean
How to use oil painting mediums sparingly, keep early layers lean, and avoid a slippery, slow-drying film.
Materials and Tools
Wood, Glass or Plastic: Choosing a Palette
How wooden, glass and plastic palettes differ in use, and how to keep mixes clean without a complicated setup.
Painting Techniques
Overblending: How Paint Loses Its Freshness
Why endless blending turns a lively passage dull, and how to leave edges that still describe the form.
Painting Techniques
Sgraffito: Drawing Back into Wet Paint
How to scratch and draw into wet paint so a line reveals the colour underneath without tearing the surface.
Painting Techniques
Painting with a Palette Knife: Edges and Mixes
How to mix, lay and scrape with a palette knife so edges stay deliberate and colours do not turn to mud.
Painting Techniques
Underpainting: A Quiet Start for Stronger Oils
A plain guide to grey underpainting and warm grounds, and how that quiet start makes later colour easier to judge.
Painting Techniques
Impasto: When Thick Paint Helps a Picture
When a heavy stroke adds light and texture, and when thick paint only hides a weak drawing underneath.
Painting Techniques
Alla Prima: Finishing an Oil Study in One Sitting
How to plan, mix and finish a small oil study in one sitting while the paint is still open from the first stroke.
Materials and Tools
How to Clean and Care for Your Paint Brushes
Step-by-step brush care for watercolour, acrylic and oil, with tips on storage, drying and avoiding the mistakes that ruin good brushes.
Painting Techniques
Dry Brush and Scumbling: Adding Texture With Little Paint
Two simple techniques for broken, textured colour: how to load the brush, which surfaces suit them, and when to use dry brush or scumbling.
Painting Techniques
Glazing: How to Build Luminous Colour in Thin Layers
Learn how glazing works in oil and acrylic, which paints suit it, and how to layer thin colour for depth without muddying the surface.