You have been painting landscapes with oil paints for a long time, perhaps for years. However, you are frustrated that your landscapes turn into a muddy mess. Relieve your frustration and learn how to paint in oil by following these simple steps.
Steps
Step 1. Find a photo of the landscape you want to paint
Step 2. Tape it to your easel and get ready to paint
Step 3. Put the colors on the palette
Make a habit of always putting them in the same order. After some time, you will instinctively learn where each color is. This is especially useful if you are painting on the spot.
Step 4. Mix 1 part poppy oil and 2 parts sunflower oil in the jar
For example, use 1/8 cup of poppy oil and 1/4 cup of sunflower oil.
Step 5. Choose a medium brush to start with
Step 6. Mix Sienna with some turpentine on the palette
Mixing the color with turpentine instead of oil will dry it faster. For the first draft, you will need the thin brush strokes to dry quickly.
- Sienna is a great neutral color to start with and covers up easily.
- Do not dilute the color too much, but dilute enough for it to be fluid and transparent.
Step 7. Using diluted sienna, sketch the main parts of the landscape on the canvas
Make sure the horizon line is clearly indicated 1/3 or 2/3 (down) of the canvas, depending on how much sky is in the photo.
Step 8. As the sketch lines dry, start mixing colors
Use the oil mixture to mix them.
To start, the colors need to be diluted enough and transparent. With each subsequent layer, the color will need to be thicker and you will need to mix it with less oil. This way you will paint fat over lean. This is very important because the first state of paint will absorb the oil of the higher states. If the top layers dry earlier than the bottom layers, the paint will crack.
Step 9. Paint the sky first
If the sky has many colors, sketch the main one
Step 10. Sketch the shadows and dominant colors of the landscape
Step 11. Let the color dry completely before continuing (approximately 48 hours)
When you take a break, be sure to clean your brushes well and protect the colors by covering the palette and plugging the oil well.
Step 12. For each subsequent color layer there are a few things to remember
- When something is seen in the distance, there is the atmosphere between you and that object. Hence, there will be less detail and less color saturation in distant objects (such as mountains and trees).
- The darker shadows will be in the foreground. Many people tend to think that the darkest shadows are in the distance. However, if you look closely at any landscape, you will notice that, due to the atmosphere, the farthest shadows are subdued than those in the foreground.
- Remember the rule of thirds. It's a compositional rule that not only helps you set the scene correctly on the canvas, but also helps develop a well-balanced painting. It is common among photographers, but essential for artists as well.
Step 13. Make sure the color is a little denser than what you used in the last layer and start painting the details
Continue with the color getting denser and adding more and more details until your painting is finished.
Advice
- When a layer has dried, before starting to paint again it is advisable to go over the canvas with touch-up paint which will allow the layers to bond.
- To keep the colors deep and bright, mix them with the colors closest to them on the color wheel, such as blue and green for blue-green. To get a greyish or brownish color, mix opposite colors on the color wheel, such as yellow and purple or green and red. Neutral colors achieved by mixing complementary colors are much more vibrant than using plain brown or gray. Also, if you get them by mixing other colors present in the painting, they will create a harmony of subliminal shades: the blue of the sky and the orange of the poppies create a beautiful olive green or a warm brown for twigs and leaves.
- By always painting layers a little thicker, you can control how much color you use and how much detail to add.
- Most of the details need to be added in the last layer with the densest color.
- Choose a neutral color palette to mix colors carefully. Glass is fine too, but underneath it should be white or gray. Gray palettes allow you to more easily judge how dark or light a blend is than white palettes.
- Painting with a mixture of oils (poppy oil and sunflower oil) and in very thin layers is called glazing. It allows you to show the middle layers or completely change a color. It will help you avoid a muddy mess (a very common result when painting with oil paints).
Warnings
- It is recommended that you use a photo you took as a model, as copyright laws apply. The Copyright Act is federal, not state, law. It gives the artist (or photographer, in this case) the legal right to check what becomes of his work. If you don't take pictures yourself, ask a friend or relative to lend you some to choose from. You can also search for photo packs or stock to buy, or find websites that offer free photo stocks for artists to use. Some art communities offer shared photos taken by members, which other members can use freely. It's a good idea to mention the photographer when someone gives you permission to use their photos. It is also a good idea to show the painting to the photographer: he will probably be curious. If you see a photo you like on Flickr or other photo sharing sites, contact the photographer, ask for permission to use the photo, and only use it if he agrees. It fulfills any conditions set by the photographer, such as "always give credit" or "don't sell the painting" or "a percentage of the proceeds must support my charitable activity". Print and keep all emails with permission from the photographer, so that you have proof of permission received in case there are any problems.
- Oil paints for artists, solvents (turpentine or odorless mineral spirits), paints and some elements used with oil paints are toxic. Student oil paints contain non-toxic pigments and are healthy when mixed with linseed oil (an artist's version of salad oil). If you have sensitive skin, wear thin rubber gloves when painting. Make sure you work in a well-ventilated area - this is essential. Wash your hands with a mild product, such as Plumber's Goop, or artist soap, rather than rinsing them with paint remover.
