Finishing Layer of Oil Painting LessonsThis is your finishing layer oil painting lesson. Here you will put on your final touches, signature and after painting has dried, the varnish coat.
I then used a very small correcting brush and finally a few wisps of the mop brush.
These softened out nicely. As it is a clay (fired) piece, it's highlights are not as sharp and the dew drops or reflection off of chrome or glass.
Here I have finished the grapes, but have shot some closeups to show the details. On each grape in the final finishing layer I have added certain detail. On the right side is a touch of yellow/red or orange that simulates a secondary light source. This is in addition to the main light from the left. Remember, no two grapes are the same. Each has it's own character!
Also notice that a great deal of the dead layer show through on each grape. This mimics the gray dusty coating on fresh grapes that is usually wiped away in handling or from dew drops dripping down the skin. Below is the completed finishing-layer of the painting. I've added some lighter area's to the background to simulate a window frame. And of coarse the signature on the bottom.
And here is the 2nd painting used for our examples. Both of these paintings I considered successful. Why? Quite simple actually. They both sold within a few weeks of completion! It's said that the greatest compliment an artist can receive is when someone takes out that hard earned cash, and gives it to the artist for something that has no real intrinsic value other than for pleasure for the eyes! I'm thankful for the many people that view this work as having value. May your travels be filled with people that wonder at your work also. Keep within these steps, and you will succeed at this craft we call Oil Painting!
After you've allowed your painting to dry you can put a protective varnish coat. If you used damar varnish in you medium, then you will need to wait several months to allow full drying of the painting. Damar varnish is then brushed on with a large flat brush then laid down to allow the varnish to settle to an even coat. Keep your painting covered with a box to keep dust from settling on it also. If you used the Alkyd medium in your mixtures, you need to wait but a few days. Then re-apply the Liquin directly to the painting using a flat brush. As this medium is very thick, the painting can be leaned against a wall (paint side towards the wall) to dry and prevent dust from getting to it. You can even just oil out your painting as you have been doing in-between layers for a protective coat that is quick, easy, and will work fine for the first number of years to protect your work and bring up the sunken dark areas so that they are deeper in tone. See this video for another artist great explanation of the process, and how he does it!
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