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Many people are familiar with oil painting though not to the highest degree of knowledge. They probably know an oil painting to see one but do they really know the difference between oil and water colors? Oil painting involves using pigments that are bound with linseed oil. This is especially true of paintings created during early and modern European times. Sometimes the oils were boiled with resins such as pine or frankincense and were called varnishes. Sometimes poppy seed, walnut and safflower oils were used. Different oils caused a different effect on the paint such as reduction in yellowing or a difference in drying times. Because of the different pigments and effects that each of the oils cause painters will often use different oils throughout a painting.
Traditionally the artist sketches whatever he or she plans to paint onto the canvas with charcoal or some paint that has been thinned. You can use turpentine, mineral spirits (artist grade) or any other solvent in order to create paint thinner or a paint that will dry faster. The best way to apply the paint is in layers with each one being oilier than the one below so that the paint will dry properly. If you do not allow the paint to become oilier with each layer the final product will crack and peel. Other products you can use to change the translucency, sheen or density of the paint includes cold wax, resins and varnishes. The image of moving paint is usually accomplished with paint brushes but you can also use a palette knife, rag or apply directly from the paint tube.
Because oil paint stays wet longer than many other materials an artist may use, the artist has the ability to change the color, texture or even the form of the image he is painting. Sometimes the artist may even remove an entire layer of paint and begin again. If the paint is still wet you can accomplish this with a rag and turpentine but once the paint dries it is necessary to scrape it. Evidence of scraping is visible on many oil paintings when you closely inspect them and since oil paintings dry through oxidation, it usually feels dry in one day to two weeks. It is usually ready to be varnished within 9 months to one year.
Although the process varies from artist to artist, there are certain steps that remain pretty consistent:
* Preparation of the surface (usually canvas)
* Outline sketching of the subject prior to applying paint
* Mixing the paints for the project
* Application of paint
Although the methodology will differ some among artists, these are the most common procedures that you will find. In addition many contemporary artists tend to forego varnishing the surface while preferring the surface to remain varnish-free for as long as possible. Though this small introduction to oil painting 101 doses not provide all of the details one may need on the subject, you certainly have some insight into the topic that will allow you to understand the process of oil painting.
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