Murphy - Portfolio: Beginning Oil

Tips and techniques for learning to paint in oil

2017 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

Published by Walter Foster Publishing,
a division of Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

All rights reserved. Walter Foster is a registered trademark.

Artwork Jan Murphy

Design: Melissa Gerber

Digital edition: 978-1-63322-427-8

Softcover edition: 978-1-63322-193-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

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This book has been produced to aid the aspiring artist. Reproduction of work for study or finished art is permissible. Any art produced or photomechanically reproduced from this publication for commercial purposes is forbidden without written consent from the publisher, Walter Foster Publishing.

IF YOU HEAR A VOICE WITHIN YOU SAY, YOU CANNOT PAINT, THEN BY ALL MEANS PAINT, AND THAT VOICE WILL BE SILENCED.

Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter

Oil paint is a forgiving and versatile medium. Its slow drying time and vibrant colors make it ideal for beginning artists. This book will teach you myriad oil-painting concepts and techniques, including brushstrokes, understanding form, painting various subjects, and more. There are many styles of painting, from abstract to hyperrealism. The lessons demonstrated in this book are primarily landscapes and objects.

Just as athletes must practice at their chosen sport to improve their skills and strength, artists of all levels must practice, practice, practice. The exercises in this book will help you improve as an artist as you practice them multiple times and on different surfaces.

Set target dates for completing the lessons. Choose times to practice painting when you wont be disturbed. Select music that inspires you.

A blank canvas on an easel can be a challenging sight for an artist of any skill level. Placing a three-dimensional world into a two-dimensional one requires knowledge. Learning to paint is essentially knowing how to observe and see relationships between objects.

Artists of all levels become frustrated at times. Realize that this can happen, but that you have the ability to work through that frustration. Always have at least three canvases on hand, and work on several pieces at a time. Then, if you get stuck on one painting, you can take a break and move to another.

No two painters are alike. Some work in detail, such as John James Audubon in his book The Birds of America. Some painters paint quickly without much detail. Most are somewhere in between. You will find your style. Begin by studying technique, composition, color, and value. You have an unlimited number of subjects to observe and from which to create unique impressions. Your paintings will be unlike anyone elses work.

Congratulations on your new exploration into oil painting. The world needs more artists like you.

EVERY ARTIST WAS FIRST AN AMATEUR.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist and poet

If youre happy with the quality of your materials, youre more likely to get out there and paint. If you simply walk into your local art-supply store, you might become overwhelmed with the amount of equipment available for oil painters. Its not important to get every possible piece of equipment when youre just starting out. Its more important and economical over time to get the essential items. When purchasing supplies, choose the best possible quality for your budget. Poor-quality materials can cause you unnecessary frustration. Good tools, however, will make your work easier and more fun.

tip

FOCUS ON THESE ITEMS FIRST: PAINTS, BRUSHES, SURFACES, AN EASEL, AND A PALETTE.

PAINTS

Oil paint is made by grinding pigment (color) with natural oil. The final color can be transparent, translucent, or opaque. The benefit of painting with oil is that it dries slower than acrylics and watercolor. This allows you to work on your painting for a longer period of time and to rework areas if necessary. One of the drawbacks, however, is that cleanup can be messier and may involve the use of solvents, such as turpentine.