Oil Painting for Beginners – How Do I Get Started?

Oil Painting has been around for hundreds of years and continues to be popular Worldwide. The versatility of Oil paint lets you create paintings with beautiful colors, textural effects, and fine detail. They are slow drying which allows the artist time to refine, adjust, and manipulate the paint with ease. But most of all Oil Painting is so much fun to learn.

If you are a beginner and want to paint in Oils, you probably have some questions in mind. What’s the difference between Oils and other types of mediums? What supplies will I need? How do I get started?

Let’s explore this wonderful medium together so you can paint your own masterpiece!

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links with Michaels and Blicks Art Supplies which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you if you choose to use my link. And if you do, I appreciate you!

Comparing Oil Paints to Other Mediums

Slower Drying Time:

With Oil paints you have more time to blend colors and manipulate the paint. When you paint with Acrylics and Watercolors you do not have the luxury of time. You generally must work quickly to achieve your desired results. Oils paints however allow you to take your time as you paint. With Oils you can rework, correct and even scrape off areas of paint with ease.

Workable Consistency:

Oil Paints are extremely versatile and allow you to use a wide range of techniques. A thicker application of paint will give texture to your painting. While adding thinners and additional oil to your paints can completely change the consistency. This is useful for blending and creating fine details. Acrylics and Watercolors are thinner in consistency which limits their ability to achieve texture and blending. They are usually thinned down and do not have the thick workable texture that Oil paints have.

Greater Opacity:

Oil paints are opaque which gives you the unique ability to alter your composition. Watercolors are transparent in nature and do not give you that option. With Oil paints you can completely remove your paint or rework and area if you choose to without the fear of ruining your painting.

Oil Painting Supplies

Having the knowledge about which products best suit your needs will save you money, time, and frustration. Here are a few basics to help you make the right decision when buying art supplies.

Oil Paints:

It’s important to know that there are different grades of paint. Student Grade, Artist Grade and Professional Grade. The price and quality of the paint will vary depending on the category.

Student Grade: is the least expensive oil paint but beware cheaper is not always better. Student grade uses more fillers and less pure pigments resulting in less vivid colors, less tinting strength, and the least amount of colorful effect overall.

Student Grade Brands: Winsor Newton Winton Oil - Grumbacher Academy - Gamblin 1980

Artist Grade: is more expensive than Student Grade however, Artist Grade produces colors that are much brighter and have more covering strength. They use mostly pure pigment and oil binders of the highest quality. This is my favorite grade of paint and what I recommend to my students.

Artist Grade Brands: Bob Ross - Winsor and Newton Artist Oil Colors - Gamblin Artist Grade

Professional Grade: usually come in smaller tubes and contains mostly pure pigment with superior oil binders. The quality and intensity of Professional Grade paint does improve to some degree from Artist Grade, however there is not a vast difference. As you progress and improve your skills over time you may want to splurge and add some Professional Grade paints to your supplies.

Professional Grade Brands: Sennelier - Schmincke Mussini - Old Holland

Here is a list of basic colors I recommend:

Titanium White Cadmium Yellow Yellow Ochre Alizarin Crimson Cadmium Red Sap Green

Prussian Blue Ultramarine Blue Burnt Sienna

Burnt Umber Van Dyke Brown Phthalo Blue

Oil Painting Brushes

2” Background Brush - Bob Ross

1” Landscape Brush - Bob Ross

#6 Fan Brush - Bob Ross

#4 or #6 Filbert Brush

#2 Script Liner

#2 or #4 Round Brush

#10 Palette Knife - Bob Ross

Miscellaneous Supplies

Easel

Palette

Odorless Paint Thinner (Artist grade only)

Canvas or Canvas Panel

Brush cleaner Screen - Bob Ross

Empty coffee container

Paper Towels (Baby Wipes)

Oil Painting Medium - Bob Ross

Time to Have Fun Creating.… Experience the Joy and Magic of Painting!