How To Do Canvas Painting with Oil Paints

If you want to make an oil painting, use these tips to learn how to paint on a canvas with oil paints.

1. Prepare materials. Before starting the actual painting, you need to prepare all the materials needed for your painting. Lack of materials can ruin the painter's mood for painting. Here are some materials to look for: set of brushes, several oil paints, artist palette, canvas, and other solvent elements to mix with your paint like paint thinner, linseed oil and so many others, depending on your preference.
2. Make a sketch. Before starting to paint, make a sketch of your desired painting using pencil, charcoal or a thinned paint but not an Ivory Black material because it dries up slower than other oil paints. While doing this sketch for painting or pastel painting, you will have a better idea for your desired image. Applying canvas fixer spray will help your sketch marks retain regardless of how strong your paint can be.
3. Put colors on artist palettes. Put all the needed oil paints in your palette so that you can easily access the colors you need. Lay your oil paints in the same order so that in time, you will pick color instinctively. When mixing, avoid putting too much oil since your paint can dry which causes wrinkles to your paint.
4. Start painting. After you have prepared and mixed your color, you can start your artist canvas painting. Start painting on the lower section of your design. When painting with oil, always remember the "fat over lean" concept. This means that the proportion of oil should be increased for subsequent layer because lower layers absorb oil on the layers on top of them. Manganese, cobalt and lead are easy drier pigments thus mixing paints with these elements is advisable for under layer paintings since paints dry up easily. Have the basic instincts for complementary and contrasting colors.
5. Dry up your work. With oil paintings, drying time may take longer. One week to twelve hours of drying oil paint is needed. Never touch your oil paintings just to check if your paintings are drying up. Do not put your paintings in a dark place while drying because it can create a yellowish effect on your masterpiece.

Being a painter is a gift they say, having those gifted hands to create a masterpiece is really outstanding. Painting is also a good method of therapy. It helps release negative vibes in your body. Paintings are art and masterpieces. It is an inspiration for many who are seeing it; if you have the passion for canvas painting, whether it is a hobby, your craft or anything, pursue it because it is a gift.