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Home >> Painting Trivia >> Oil Painting Instructions

Oil Painting Instructions



The complex process of Oil Painting is not an easy one to comprehend; it’s quite intricate, and requires incredible perseverance. A beginner will obviously find it quite difficult to handle the intricacies of this art form and need proper guidance to achieve that perfect oil painting which he or she has been aspiring for.

Our easy to follow Oil Painting Instructions will help you understand the complex art form of Oil Painting better and make it a more approachable medium. By following these simple guidelines you will be more confident about adopting Oil Painting as your chosen medium.



Different artists employ different techniques for oil painting; however, they necessarily have to go through certain steps. A beginner should be aware of these steps to comprehend the technique of the painting. The most important step is to prepare the surface; the most commonly used surface is canvas. The canvas is coated with glue and pigments, and then the artist draws the outline of the Painting, and then he applies pigments mixed with oils for color. Most artists paint in layers: painting in layers helps in perfecting the little details of the compostion and also achieving the right colors. When the image is finished and dried for up to a year, an artist often seals the work with a layer of varnish.

These Instructions will make your oil painting experience a pleasant one:

  • Lay out the colors on the palette systematically so that you can access them easily when you want them

  • Increase the proportion of oil in the paint with each layer. If the upper layers dry faster than the lower ones, they can crack.

  • Avoid using the color ivory black because it takes a long time to dry.
  • Try using pigments containing lead, cobalt, and manganese, they accelerate drying.
  • Avoid drying your oil paintings in the dark. It yellows if you dry it in the dark.
  • Use alcohol to clean away a layer of oil paint or oil varnish, it is a powerful solvent.

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