Oil Painting: How-To

{ from a non-expert }

Learning objectives:

1. Make something beautiful.
2. Let go of expectations for the outcome.
3. Be open to a learning experience.
4. Create a foundation of technical skills.
5. Understand basic analytical concepts for visual art.

This instructable will get you started on a journey towards these learning objectives.
We will never truly "master" art to absolution, because there is always more to learn.

The most important thing about art is to work. Nothing else matters except sitting down every day and trying. -Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

Required Materials

• A surface to paint on
• Gesso
• Paint brush (for the Gesso)
• Oil paints:
• choose some version of the basic colors
  • Red
  • Yellow
  • Blue
  • Black
  • White
• (unless you don't like colors and just want to use B&W
• Palette (a smooth piece of glass is great)
• Something to paint with:
• gloves for your fingers
• paint brush
• miscellaneous objects or materials

Optional Materials

(Though recommended)

• Thinning/thickening mediums
• ie. Linseed Oil, Gamsol, Liquin, etc.
• Apron
• Palette knife
• Rag
• Whatever else you can think of²

• Proceed to Instructions
• Painter Quiz
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