Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Commonly Used Oil Painting Techniques

By Christine Ward


Oil painting produces some of the most magnificent pieces of art. The technique has been in existence for centuries and used pigments obtained from various types of seeds. Examples of these seeds include linseed, poppy seed, safflower and walnut among others. It is possible for the artist to prepare the oil paints themselves or to buy them from art supply stores. We will look at examples of oil painting techniques that are commonly used.

One of the most popular techniques is the use of layers. In this method, the artist will first paint one layer on the canvas and let it dry. Other colors are then applied in an overlapping manner so that they completely cover those underneath them. The general advice when this method is used is that one chooses lighter colors and then progressively moves to darker colors. Layering is preferably used for a painting that requires fine details and a fine surface finish.

Glazing is another popular technique that is easy to apply. It entails the addition of a transparent paint on top of an opaque one with the aim of modifying some aspects. Such may include texture, chroma and hue among others. It is possible to create the impression of a transparent glass using this technique. This done by using a pure transparent color against a background of dark contrast so as to create an impression of density.

Color intensification can be easily achieved using oil paints. The idea is to create different shades of the same color. This is achieved by diluting the paint in various stages. The background contains the most diluted density such that it contrasts with the denser objects in the foreground.

Just as is the case with many other forms of painting, it is possible to achieve color blocking using this technique. This can be done easily using diluted brush strokes and following the outlines of objects in the paintings. This technique makes it possible to clearly define the edges of objects without necessarily using thicker paint. Use the same color that are used inside the object.

Chiaroscuro is a unique technique that has been used for a long type in this type of art. Its major role is to bring out the volume of objects. It is achieved by demonstrating the direction of light movement. Dark and light contrasting is applied to the objects depending on the source of the light. A neutral color should be chosen for the background and shadows painted in a completely black paint.

Monochromatic painting is a feature that can be easily applied here. Some subjects are only brought out by a single color. You can dilute the color chosen severally so as to achieve as many shades as possible. White paint may be helpful in adding volume and relief through the emphasis of white shades. This is done by applying thick white paint over the lighter shades. Be cautious not to overuse the white paint.

Various brush stroke sizes can be tried out in a bid to differentiate various aspects of the painting. Generally, long strokes are mainly used when dealing with the background while the shorter strokes are best used for foreground objects. Small and large dots may also be used to bring out different effects. Irregular stroke patterns are sometimes used to enhance color.




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