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Oil Painting Basics
42
items Oil painting is a rich medium that gives depth, drama and vibrancy to your artwork, and allows you to work in various techniques.
Sections
8
Oil Paint
Brushes & Palette Knives
Canvas & Surfaces
Accessories & Storage
Additives & Solvents
Easels
Oil Paint
The main course.
Try a basic set of oil paints. Make sure you include the primary colors, white, black and some ochres, umbers and siennas for natural tones and hues.
Blick Studio Oil Colors - Basic Set of 24 Tubes
I like Winsor Newton oil paints, you can choose your own individual colors instead of a set if you like. Make sure you stock up on that Titanium White.
Winsor & Newton® Winton Oil Colour™ Tube, 37mL
Water and oil paints are usually unable to be combined. Water and oil, you know? The H2O will not blend into the paint and will compromise the quality of your work. This set allows you to use water, however, for an easier mixing and cleanup situation...
Winsor & Newton Artisan Water Mixable Oil Paints and Sets
Large individual tubes of paint help you feel free with your color usage and handmade paints usually have a wonderful creamy texture and depending on the brand can help support small artisans.
Williamsburg Handmade Oil Paints - Alizarian Orange, 150 ml tube
If you want a pretty solid starting kit that will help you practice sketching for your underdrawings as well. Acrylic can also sometimes be used as a base for oil paint, but never over it if you want to maintain the integrity of the work.
95 Piece Wood Box Easel Painting Set - Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor Paint Colors & Paint Brushes, Oil Artist Pastels, Pencils, Watercolor & Sketch Pads
Oil paint comes in stick form.
Shiva Oilstik Oil Paint - Professional Set, Set of 12 Colors
Brushes & Palette Knives
You need a "brush with guts" as my teacher used to say.
Natural bristle brushes are best for oil painting. Specifically boar bristle. You can definitely use other materials, a stronger brush will help you manipulate the paint better. Having a variety of brush styles leaves your technique options open.
Utrecht Natural Chungking Pure Bristle Brushes and Sets
Synthetic brush set instead of natural hair options. Can be used with oil or acrylic paint.
Princeton Catalyst Polytip Bristle Brushes and Sets
A set of wider brushes helps with preparing surfaces and covering large areas.
Chip Brush Variety 20 Piece Set by Craft Smart®
I like to have a variety of metal palette knives to work with. Make sure you don't leave them in liquid or they rust and get ruined.
Metal Palette Knife Set by Artist's Loft™
Stir or spread with silicone.
Reusable Silicone Mixing Sticks / Stir Sticks / Silicone Spatula (5 Colours Available) - Resin Mixing Stick, Painting Spatula, Cream Spatula
This nice set mimics sable hair.
Acrylic & Oil Paint Brushes - Set of 12
Canvas & Surfaces
Heavy duty canvas so your work will last.
Level 3 Gallery Wrapped Heavy Duty Canvas by Artist's Loft®
These are available in multiple sizes and you can also find them with varying thicknesses.
Ampersand™ Gessobord™ 1/8" Flat Oil & Acrylic Painting Panel
I really like painting on linen for the texture. These stretches linen's will take your artwork to another level.
Senso Clear Primed Linen 24"x30", Stretched Canvas - 1-1/2" Deep (Box of 3)
Properly prepared Masonite is a long lasting surface to paint on.
Ampersand Value Series Artist Panel Smooth Finish - 7/8" Cradle 8" x 8"
You can prime these how you want but you don't always have to worry about archivability. You can do what you like and paint on these raw if you wish.
Unfinished Wood Art Panel Pack by Artist's Loft™ Necessities™
Accessories & Storage
Other necessities and useful items.
Paintv mixed on palette paper can be saved by folding over the paper and pressing lightly around the paint. This is a good temporary or quick paint mixing surface, though if left for too long it will suck the oil from the paint.
Paper Palette Pad by Artist's Loft®, 9" x 12"
A tempered glass palette is reusable and the perfect material to mix your paint on
Tempered Glass Palette
A nice brush holder with a bit of storage space.
Paint Brush Holder with Lid by Artist's Loft™
A box that will last that can be taken on the go.
Medium Art Storage Box by Artist's Loft™
Good lighting that can be adjusted to your needs is essential.
Champion Electronics 8.5" Aluminum Clamp Light - 150 Watt Max - Bulb Not Included
Metal storage cart with easy access and rolling capabilities.
Gramercy Rolling Cart by Simply Tidy™
Make sure you have lots of ventilation when working with oil paints, mediums and solvents. Add an air purifier tpnyour workspace to keep down the dust, pollen and dander.
Shark Clean Sense Air Purifier 500, Clean Sense IQ, NanoSeal True HEPA, 500 sq. ft., Filters 99.9% of allergens, Pro Odor Lock White HP102 - Best Buy
Additives & Solvents
For cleaning your brushes.
Weber® Turpenoid® Paint Thinner
Mineral spirits for a safe solvent.
Gamblin Gamsol
For thinning your paint and speeding the drying time.
Winsor & Newton Liquin Original Medium
Linseed oil is good for glazes, slows drying speed and generally makes paint more transparent.
Winsor & Newton™ Refined Linseed Oil
Easels
A sturdy table easel with a storage drawer for smaller works.
Deluxe Box Table Easel by Artist's Loft® | Michaels
A nice compact plein air easel with a strap for working outdoors.
Cezanne Half Box French Travel Easel, All Wood
A metal easel with sturdy legs doesn't wobble can be left in place so you can pick where you left off easily.
Gigante Studio Easel by Artist's Loft™
This convertible easel can be positioned upright, angled, or flat if you like to work that way or varnishing and surface prep.
Blick Studio Convertible Studio Easel
This drafting table is like a tiny studio space with small storage and expandable areas.
Arts & Crafts Creative Center by Artist's Loft™
Cleaning & Disposal
When its time to dispose of the evidence.
If you are using shorter or smaller brushes you may prefer a brush washer like this.
Silicoil Brush Cleaning Tank
Oil paint can be tough to get off skin but this soap does the trick.
The Masters Artist's Hand Soap - Bar, 4.5 oz
Stock up on some Dawn dish soap the best thing to wash your brushes with.
Dawn Ultra Dish Soap Dishwashing Liquid, Original Scent, 70 fl oz
You want to keep any flammable waste in the right place and this is good for oil and solvent refuse.
Oily Waste Can - Red, 6 Gallon
Guides and Tutorials
An encouraging basic guide
Oil Painting for Beginners - Basic Techniques + Step by Step Demonstration
Detailed information to help you begin oil painting.
Oil Painting for Beginners - A Novice's Guide on How to Use Oil Paints
A supply list.
Oil Painting Supply List – Everything You Need To Start Oil Painting
Different techniques to try.
Easy Oil Painting Techniques EVERYONE Should Know! (Step by Step Oil Painting Tutorial)
Learn some tips for painting outdoors.
Plein Air Painting Techniques: 16 Tips For Success