Painting with oils is an amazing way to create art. Unfortunately, many people are easily intimidated by oil paints, even if it provides an ideal way to learn the art of painting. In fact, oil painting classes are full of fun activities while allowing you to enjoy the richness and creativity of this kind of art. You can think of it like sculpture where you can use the oil paint to create texture, depth, and add movement to the picture you are going to paint. With that, here are some of the basic techniques you can expect to learn during your oil painting class.
Painting in layers
Painting in layers will enable you to work spontaneously. In broad terms, oil painting can be done in two different approaches. One refers to the traditional way of creating depth with layers wherein you can prevent cracks by creating thinner and faster drying layers of oil paint under thicker and slow-drying layers. The alternative is called ‘alla prima’ painting where you can work in just one single application of the oil paint. Oil painting classes usually introduce these two methods to allow you to explore both ways and find your comfort.
Painting through dry brushing
This painting technique is perfect when adding texture to your paint. In the dry brushing technique, you are going to load your brush with pure paint while leaving some trace over a dry area on the canvas. This results in a powdery stroke that highlights the texture of what you have painted underneath that you wanted to be especially reflected such as smoke or to add final details to your artwork like flowers.
Painting impasto strokes
While not all oil painting classes may touch on this technique, still it is a great way to add depth and energy to your painting. The paint is thickly applied onto the surface producing glossy and shiny marks. The thick strokes also provide more dimension to your artwork due to how the marks reflected upon the light hitting the canvas. Impasto strokes are best done in the last part of your painting on focal points and light areas.
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