For ages, oil painting has been the most widely used technique for creative painting on wood panel or canvas, extending from Europe and across the world. However, as a beginner, there is the likelihood that you will experience difficulty in mastering the oil painting techniques. Thankfully, an understanding of the basic dos and don’ts of oil painting can help you apply practical steps and alter your approach to give your work the needed vitality.
What to Avoid While Executing Your Oil Painting
Below are some of the things which you need to avoid to avoid ruining your oil paintings:
Only Use Small Brushes to Begin Your Painting
There is the likelihood that you will have the urge to start your painting with large brushes rather than small brushes. However, this is one mistake that can ruin your artwork and take more time to finish your painting. You will have a broader range of marks if you start with tiny brushes and work your way down to larger brushes, which will give your artwork more visual impact.
Do not be in a Haste
Oil painting requires a lot of patience compared to other painting techniques. Oil paints may require several days or even weeks to dry before being touched. It’s ideal to start your painting with faster-drying colors and conclude with slower-drying ones. The time you will be spending is dependent on various factors, including the type of layers you want to use and the application of varnish or not. Also, endeavor to check the drying time recommended by the manufacturers of the oil paint.
Avoid mixing More than is Necessary
When mixing colors to make a combination, make sure you mix them as much as possible before applying the stroke. If you combine two colors, you will likely end up with a flat, dull mound of paint. This is because, in the initial combination of two colors, some inconsistencies contribute to the vividness and bring intrigue to the paint.
Avoid Mixing of Excessive White Hue
White paint is required to blend hundreds of hues, but it should only be used as needed. Many upcoming artists start with white paint. When combining colors, start by concentrating on attaining the proper hue before reaching for the white color. Add a bit at a time until you achieve the desired value and intensity. The use of white in your paint mixture causes it to lose vigor and cool significantly. You should avoid mixing white and black in a single color combination.
Do not Use Thick Layers of Paint Too Soon
The application of paint to canvas can be made in several ways. When applying paint in layers of varying thicknesses, it’s critical to keep the early coats thin and reserve the thicker coatings for last. The thicker a layer of paint is, the longer it takes to dry. And though it may appear dry on top, it may not yet be firm. Hence, it is not good to paint over it until it is completely dry. Therefore, the recommended strategy is to start with tiny layers and progressively increase the thickness of each new layer.
In your journey to becoming a master artist in the oil painting technique, it is necessary to avoid the above mistakes as they could ruin your masterpiece.