SETTING UP: oil paints and surface

Yarka Russian Primed Linen canvas

Since the Dutch invented oil painting back in the fourteenth century, oil painting has been one of the most popular and widespread mediums chosen by artists around the world. For many people who do not paint or who would like to, Oil painting seems perhaps daunting at first. Let it be known, oil painting is not as complex as people first assume. All one really needs is lots of enthusiasm and patience to learn. One also will require a small selection of brushes, a surface to paint on, should it be wood panel or canvas pre-stretched or not, a variety of color oil paints and some solvents.

Whilst many different surfaces are available to paint on, primed canvas is usually the most popular. Canvas can be bought by the yard and you can buy it already assembled or you can do this yourself providing you have the correct materials; artist stretcher frames, which are sold as single wooden slats that interlock with each other to form a frame; canvas, which is stapled to the frame; and gesso, which is applied in a couple of coats to the canvas in an even manner. This is basically used so that when you begin to paint on the canvas, the paint is not absorbed too quickly.

From our “How to Paint” contributor…

“Would you like to start painting? First of all, you mustn’t listen to people who declare the old myth that you have to be incredibly talented to paint. More importantly you have to be enthusiastic and have the desire to want to paint. This, above all else is the most important quality one must posses if one is to learn how to paint and….learn how to paint well.”

(Arteze: Can anyone relate to this? Friends and relatives who began painting after retirement have said this very same thing to me - it’s not about talent, it’s about passion!)

"Can you see what it is yet?"

“The next step is to consider the materials that you would like to start with. Oil paints, Acrylic paints, water colors or even pastels. There is no harm in trying one medium and moving on to another should you feel that it is not working for you. Also, I recommend buying the best paints that are affordable to you. When working in oils you shouldn’t feel afraid to paint over something you are not pleased with or scrape the paint off the canvas back to the original surface you began with. It’s always best in my opinion to start over than to keep working something you are not pleased with.

Mixing colors is usually the first step to painting that most beginners feel uncomfortable with. Don’t be shy! Enjoy this process and don’t forget that the basics of color mixing are not the difficult or complicated. The biggest disaster is that you are going to end up with some dirt colors, if this happens, don’t waste the paint. Try adding some white to the palette and mixing this in to produce a value exercise painting in monochrome…”

Watch this space for more updates.