How to Oil Paint : The Complete Beginners Guide (Skillshare)

Together we will make simple color and tonal values mixes and will create a painting from a copyright free image I provide for you to use. I'll take you step-by-step through precisely how I mix, apply, and blend the paint while going over how to represent a variety of textures through painting this still life together. As a bonus, I'll show you how to mix any skin tone using our 5-color basic palette, as well as my recommendations for when you're ready to expand your palette as you get more advanced. When our project is finished, I'll even show you how to safely clean up your studio and dispose of any rags.

Join me on this 16 video workshop to paint this 'Sunflower in a Vase' and along the way I'll teach you everything you need to know to become a fantastic oil painter!

Let's create this Sunflower in a Vase painting together! But first....

You need to learn how to oil paint! I'm going to take you through everything you need to know to recreate this photograph in oil like a pro!

First we'll go over all the studio supplies you'll need to have - from choosing a painting surface, a palette, mediums, thinners, brushes, and paints, as well as how to set up your studio for ergonomic success as an oil painter. Then I show you how to use proper oil painting brushes and how to practice mixing a variety of colors from a simple 5 color palette.

After practicing with the oil paints, it's time to print out the copyright free photo reference I provide for the project (find it in the 'Resources' section!) and together we will transfer this image into a drawing and then onto your canvas for painting. We will then mix all the colors and tonal values to match the sunflower, vase, leaves, and background.

Next we'll go through each and every brushstroke to create this 'Sunflower in a Vase' painting together. I share with you all the techniques I have learned over 15 years as an oil painter in order to depict a variety of textures represented by this photo. We will take a step-by-step approach to laying each color, utilizing the blending techniques we practice in the first videos.

Once we finish the sunflower painting, I'll show you how to properly and safely clean your oil painting studio. As a bonus, I even include two videos on simple skin tone mixes and what paints to buy when you're ready to expand your palette so you'll be ready to tackle your next oil painting like a pro!

Here is my completed sunflower painting. Whenever you've finished yours, please add a photo in the Class Discussions to share with other students so we can all see each other's progress! Feel free to share your paint mix practice too... sometimes it's so satisfying to see the rainbows we all create:)