Posted under:
Oil PaintingSUPPLIES
- Vine charcoal
- Oil paints
- Brushes, in a variety of sizes
- Palette
- Paint thinner
- Linseed oil
- Prepped canvas
- Easel
Overview
Oil painting, like most other art forms, can be tricky for the beginner. Techniques vary greatly and often take years to master, particularly for those who paint only as an occasional hobby. There are some projects that are easily adapted to a beginner's skills, however. One such project is painting flowers, a classic choice for those just getting into oil painting. To learn how to oil paint flowers, complete the following instructions.
Step 1
Choose a reference flower, either a photographic image or a real flower you have set up in your workspace. If you go with a live flower, make sure the light source will be consistent as you work.
Step 2
Make a basic sketch of your flower in light vine charcoal. You really only need the general shape to get started. Then determine the colors you will need to paint your flower, starting with the darkest colors. Spread these out on your palette and mix as needed to create the proper shades.
Step 3
Lay down the background color first, using a large, flat brush around the outline of your flower. Don't worry too much about adding depth to the background at this stage.
Step 4
Choose the darkest flower paint color and begin working with the darkest shadows, starting with those at the back of the flower. Make sure to position the petals in the back first by painting each petal in one stroke. Remember that you are working in layers when you oil paint, so you are building up the image by underpainting. Fill the gaps between the flower and the background with background color as you go.
Step 5
Build up the medium colors all over the flower, adding the lighter shadows and underpainted sections of color that will provide visual depth to your flower.
Step 6
Mix together the lighter, highlight colors. You may choose to do the highlights when the underpainting is dry, but some prefer to work wet so the effect is less stark.
Step 7
Build up the highlights, from darkest to lightest, using small brushes with tapered ends. Create a transparent effect by mixing the paint with linseed oil so the underpainting shows through. Continue working on the background color while you paint the highlights so they stand out better from it. You may wish to add a contrasting color to the background around the flower area to enhance this effect. For example, you can brush in a few layers of blue to set off a yellow flower.
Step 8
Step back and compare your painting to your reference. Using thicker paint colors, add the final details with a small brush.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : If you add new colors to the backdrop area, make sure to next rework the backdrop so you have definition between the flower and its backdrop.
The crispest edges will draw the viewer's eye, so make sure you make your focal point crisp.
Resources
