Oil painting techniques for beginners, a frequently asked questions dialog.

Oil painting techniques for beginners may have the answer for you right here.  This page will explain techniques for beginners and seasoned artist's as well.  Folks from around the world have posted questions about oil painting here, and I've compiled them on this page.  If you don't find an answer here for that problem you are facing, fill out the form at the bottom, and I'll do my best to get you a the right answer!


Learn and Master Painting


I've also included a search button that might narrow down your question quickly.  If you use the search box, it will scour the entire site for the answer you are looking for.  It's such a cool tool, I may include it on a number of my pages.

The only draw back is it opens in a new page (on Bing, google was just too intrusive, yea, they track everything) where you can then click on the best answer for your question.  This will then bring you back to the site.  I hope you find the section helpful.  Please don't hesitate to contribute comments also.  If you are a seasoned artist, we'd love to hear from you too! Sometimes some of the best tips come from folks that have been down the path before us.

A large number of questions have been about materials! Either what to do with them, or where to get them.  Ummmm, this is giving me some ideas!  I believe a fairly large section will be in order for the site dedicated to just that.  Art Materials.

In the meantime, put your questions here so that beginners have a place to check first to get answers.

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Oil painting techniques for beginners, our most frequent questions.

Keep watching for the e-zine that will announce when this begins.  In the meantime, I'll try to keep answering these questions as they come in.  Others can comment and leave answers too!  So don't be bashful and get going here!

One thing I know, there are no bad questions.  Most people starting out can feel overwhelmed by the variety of things that come up concerning oil painting.  This is one of the reasons I love the flemish technique so much.  It provides a step by step process to create a wonderful painting.  As time goes by, and you learn and understand what is happening in each of the layers.  When you see with your own two eyes just how successful you can be at this.  You can then change some of the steps, take a few shortcuts.  The shortcuts you take must adhere to the properties of oil paint, but you will learn these as you use the technique.  To learn more click here!

Otherwise, check out what others have had issues with and learn from them.

Below are frequently asked questions about oil painting techniques for beginners!


Frequently asked questions about oil painting techniques.

Have a great question? Post it here, and I'll answer it here!

Other questions already submitted and answered!

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

White titanium paint is goopy when trying to  
Titanium. Paint is goopy when I I try paint over other oil paint on my painting. I have never come across this problem before. If I thin it with terpenoid, …

Can Liquin Original be used in the burnt umber and gray layers? Also, 
Should the waterproof India ink be diluted before retracing the image on gessoed panel?

why do my paintings seem chalky after they dry 
My paintings seem to look chalky after they dry. I am using linseed oil and a little turpenoid. I do not know whether I am not using enough oil or whether …

Critique 
Hi Mr Phelps, I had ordered and received your Secrets of the Old Masters download. So, I have finished the jug and grapes. I like the jug but the grapes …

Can we talk brushes and splayed hairs? 
I have favourite brushes that I really take care of. Like washing them once a month in a good hair shampoo followed by a high quality hair conditioner. …

How to keep paintings wet for quite a long period of time so for example days 
I do paintings that are quite involved and take quite a long time But have a problem keeping the paint surface looking blended and unified as if it was …

wet in wet oil painting of an orange

First time Bob Ross painter 
Can a painting be done over a period of time or is it best to finish at one sitting. Never worked with wet in wet.

copying a photo to canvas 
Hi, I'ld like to know what Computer program should I buy, that prints out my photo in different sizes (bigger and/or smaller) so that I can copy it on …

Alternative mediums for oiling out and under layer  
Hi Delmus, for the burnt umber underlayer, since I don't have Damar varnish or linseed oil, could I use 25% stand oil and 25% liquin original with my 50% …

Close up of a portrait of a young lady.

I have a problem with flemish technique...  
After i have finish a dead underlayer, i have a problem with first color layer... actually what are the rules for applying and mixing the paint for the …

Mediums to use in oil painting. 
Hi Delmus, I recently purchased your e-book and dvd. The dvd hasn't come in the mail yet, but on your e-book I can't find where you say what your medium …

what is damar crystal? Indian Stores don't have anything by this name. 
Hi Delmus, I am again posting my work here. this is 30x48 inches. When I painted this I had the wish to correct the problem of the turpentine or the …

Apple Slice painting with wood example

Can these techniques apply to other mediums and how do you paint wood to look like wood?  
Questions: I always thought that lighter colours would be more transparent and darker colours opaque, but have trouble understanding why the opposite …

Questions on the Transferring/Drawing Process + First Couple of Painting Layers.... 
Hi there, So once I've primed my canvas I need to transfer the drawing, I have a couple of questions about that process... Firstly, should I use …

painting a rose and dew drops

Painting dew drops 
I know its here some where. I caught a glimpse of it but now for the life of me can't find it. If someone can give me the url to the page I will be so …

Big problem!!! 
I have a very big problem... For this painting, I'm now doing the dead layer, I used a special transfer paper that I purchased in a painting utilities …

Cooking Oil as a medium? 
Customer writes: I can't believe I received a response much less in the length of time you responded in. I'm 52 and just purchased my first computer …

What kind of brushes do you use? and their sizes? 
What type of brush hair, do you use to paint the petals and which kind do you use for the dry brush work? the brush I used to apply paint are "0" …

Linseed oil cup

How often to dip your brush into the medium? 
Customer wrote: In your DVD demonstration I cannot see, when and how often you dip your brush into your medium (liquin, paint thinner, lavender mixture)? …

Transparent grays in the dead layer, can I use Liquin instead of Damar varnish, and what type of brushes? 
1) In the dead layer am I still using a transparent application of the grays? In the dark area's, yes, in the light area's, no, it is more opaque. …

What kind of pen and ink for underdrawing of oil painting. 
Can you use a fine point sharpie instead of the magic ink? Please , don't laugh I'll get this ink all over me, I just know it! Answer: Sharpie brand …

What is the purpose of the umber underpainting? 
Your question is a very good one, and without an understanding as to the why, most people would not do the step. I'll give the "why" as I understand them. …

Gesso with Modeling Paste

Does the modeling paste need to be a flexible modeling paste? Not rated yet
Question: Does the modeling paste need to be a flexible modeling paste? I purchased Liquitex Modeling Paste and on the side it says not to apply …

oil paint color mixing

Placement of Cold/Warm Colors on the Palette? Not rated yet
PLEASE, CAN ANYBODY TELL ME HOW TO PLACE WARM AND COLD OIL PAINT COLORS IN THE PALETTE...?? LEFT TO RIGHT,,,,,,,,, Editors Note: This is a big …

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Varnishing, why do we varnish, and why would we not? Not rated yet
Hi Delmus, could you please tell us what you use for varnishing? How do you apply it? Do you wait 6 to 12 months? Do you use a touch-up varnish? …

Can I paint over a painting done several years ago? Not rated yet
Several years ago I took the Bob Ross coarse and loved it. I was pleased with the class and was very proud of my work. Now after all of these years, …

brown vase oil painting by D.G. Phelps with cloth drape folds

What tip can you give on how to represent good wrinkles in cloth? Not rated yet
Well, the simplest answer is to paint what you see. But that usually isn't enough. Just remember, with cloth, and wrinkles, you will have a complete …

gesso types, canvas preparation

Differences between a thick gesso, and a runny gesso? Not rated yet
I purchased your lesson yesterday and have a question regarding the gesso/modeling paste combination. I have used this formula on a canvas board and …

How do you keep dust off a drying painting? Is there a way to keep dust out of a room? Is this a problem unique to Maui? Not rated yet
How do you keep dust off a drying painting? Is there a way to keep dust out of a room? Is this a problem unique to Maui? ______________________________________________ …

Cleaning brush hairs off of painting before starting next layer Not rated yet
Hey, I was wondering how you remove the brush hairs between layers without removing paint too? I tried use a razor blade (to clean brush hairs …

Why does it take so long for oil paint to dry on canvas, days? Not rated yet
Why does it take oil base paint so long to dry (days)? Answer: Oils don't "dry" like something that is wet with water, and the water evaporates. …

picture of palette cups for oil painting

Little palette cups for oil painting. Not rated yet
The only "little" ones I see on-line have a little clip on the bottom that would attach to my palette. I don't want that! (Because of arthritis in my …

newletter picture, ezine picture

Oil painting lessons Ezine back issues: will you keep this list "forever," so that it may be accessed in the future? Not rated yet
How can I get the old E-zine issues, Or, if I want all of them sent to my e-mail, how do I go about this? (As you can tell, I am new to using a computer!) …

alla prima lily painting

Alla Prima oil painting Not rated yet
I am an Alla-Prima painter and I was wondering what medium mixture you used to tone/seal the canvas in your demo, and what suggestions you would have …

Could you give me some tips on using water soluable oils? Does this medium work? with the Flemish technique? Not rated yet
Water soluble oil paints, can these be used in this technique? And, what mediums would you use? Can you still use linseed oil? _______________________________________ …

Oil painting mediums and their uses. Not rated yet
Dear Sir I have a problem varnishing my oil paintings, I used Delmar varnish and it was still sticky six weeks later, I tried to thin it with solvent …

How can I apply gesso to a masonite board? and needing help with a canvas prep. Not rated yet
I bought your yellow rose video and decided to start right away. Instead of doing a rose, I am doing a portrait of one of our dogs. It's coming out great. …

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The WetCanvas art forum "frequently asked questions" on oil painting.

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