5 Ways to Start an Oil Painting - Art Techniques for Beginners and Advanced

[@Engelhafen]

Yes I like to preserve the white during the entire painting - and that’s why I have paintings that are blank white canvases

[@redwolf344]

Very beautiful work how much.

[@dewarfinch1]

I painted one I entitled "White Rabbit in a Snow Storm".

[@SuchaDoofus]

@@Engelhafen lol

[@czechzican]

i start my paintings by staring at my palette, taking a belt of whiskey and uttering "I'll see you in hell!"

[@deonnatomlinson5762]

GruntTruck Ok 👌 im sold‼️... im gonna try the shot of whiskey 🥃... its bound to ease the pain 😉🤣😂😃😁👍😎

[@jamescarter1603]

I love it!

[@rosered103]

I generally sigh...but a belt of whiskey may not make that sigh last so long.

[@sharonlovesart4985]

LOL...that's truly funny

[@cherylannebarillartist7453]

GruntTruck lol!!!!! I do about the same, except no whiskey and it’s “I’ll see you in heaven!”!😂😂😂 I would never in a million years begin a painting the way described in this video, but kudos to him for doing it none the less!!

[@lauriehuber8048]

I think I’m painting because my sister was an artist and mental illness took her life away too soon...😢 I’ve always loved art whether it was paintings to tattoos... So when my body couldn’t do the work I used to do as a baker and cook... I needed to fill my time with where I used to get my sense of pride...of purpose. I feel as Thomas does and most of the time I don’t feel that I am any good or worthy! But Thomas.... If we don’t try to do something that we love...it will be too late to share our story in our paint.. I continue painting to honour my sister... I love you Carol...wish you were here...💕💕

[@darlenefeezell834]

What a beautiful way to honor your sister. I too lost my sister to a motorcycle accident. I have started to do a painting of her but it’s something so emotional I don’t get very far before I have to quit. Maybe too soon. Good luck to you.

[@davidbradbury3232]

🙏❤️

[@jacobl6714]

I could be wrong, and this is just one thing that occurred to me, but in a way this could be one of the closest techniques you could get to.....well not talking to her, but having some kind of interaction with your memories of her and who she was as a person. Because by thinking about her some/all of the time that you're painting, and doing a thing she did, not to mention it being something 100% creative and therefor the most likely thing to be receptive to.....how she was. That's awesome man. I'm wording this poorly, and struggling to think of how to explain what I'm driving at, but I'm happy for you that you have a connection with her memory that can involve such a closeness and opportunity for whom & how she was to, idk come through I guess : )

[@lauriehuber8048]

@@jacobl6714 Thank You Jacob for your insight and understanding the connection I feel painting and creating keeps me tethered to her spirit… I just received some of her art supplies recently and inherited all her oil paints but I have never painted in oils… Maybe the universe is telling me something… I’m so grateful to KZbin and all the inspiring and talented artists who teach here! Keeps on creating Jacob!❤️

[@rduff1999]

@@lauriehuber8048 Hi Laurie, my condolences on your loss. Honour her memory by continuing your artist journey. I have an aunt who has paintings owned by the National Gallery of Canada. Although she passed several decades ago, sometimes, while painting, I feel that she is guiding my hand. Pax

[@KathrynSpaulding]

Thank you for posting this. I was sketching on canvas at my son's school when his classmate joined me. They said that they were told by their art teacher never to sketch before painting. This made the student so afraid to paint that they have barely touched the canvas again and they have such talent that it saddened me to see them react to an "Everything I do is the only way" art teacher. I told them that it was "ok and that many artists used different methods", and now I can share your wonderful video with them so they can see another artist using the method.

[@leoalvarado6466]

That was cool, good luck n the future!

[@Marcblur]

I've been sketching with watercolor pencil, lately. Used dry, it will stick to acrylic gesso, but the lines can be removed with a brush and water or paper towel and water. Oil solvents will not interfere with or smudge the lines in the early thin wash/tone stage. I found out the hard way some colored pencils had a wax base that would smudge badly with thin oil washes. Silly me for using a red pencil to work on a mostly grey painting. I had a lot of pink to cover up.

[@jacobl6714]

wow i'd never even i guess heard of such a thing. How would you say its feel/usage compares to traditional pencil/pen/brushes? And I was just curious, but do you think there are advantages to that waxy base that regular colored pencils have, that interacts with oil washes? Like, for everything that doesn't do what you want, there are a bunch of ways that it could look really cool or save you time if used intentionally

[@miltondavison4734]

My daughter uses watercolor pencil and it's useful for oil painting.

[@thirdyapuli7146]

Outline Tone Construction 0:59 Outline 1:03 Tone 1:20 Construction 1:46 OPTION 1 {Draw with Graphite or Charcoal} 2:04 OPTION 2 {Draw with Colored Pencils} 3:08 OPTION 3 {Draw on a Surface toned with Acrylic Paint} 3:37 OPTION 4 {Do an Oil Transfer} 4:19 OPTION 5 {Do an “Imprimatura” and Draw with Paint Directly} 5:03

[@pchabanowich]

Over decades of dabbling and failures (it was not my career), I've come to the place where I'm confident enough in my drawing skills to begin with sketching with thin paint, blocking in the composition with the main shapes. This I've absorbed from many tutorials, and I begin with pencil sketches (or digital, working out a colour scheme). A good basic sketch gives me the wherewithal to tone the support, then block in the shapes. It makes the most sense to me, and it feels grounded enough to allow for the actual fun to begin. Thanks for these options.💐

[@moty2244]

Excellent! I've learned a lot from you. You are very good teacher.

[@murderballad1154]

i start and end all my paintings by setting fire to the whole studio and starting again and again.. i'm an arsonist.

[@catsmad48]

🤣🤣

[@nataliehallowes3581]

😂

[@anthonyboylan1105]

Lol. But I bet your better now than when you started, keep going :)

[@jacobl6714]

Yes, but do you think you could work more on your fundamentals, when arsoning?

[@digi_edits]

damn lol

[@TheMarkEH]

I am about to try using oil paints, and as a hobby artist I found this tutorial extremely helpful. Thank you.

[@seankalleyart]

Great video. Easy to follow and understand with multiple ways to try. Normally, I have an idea and just go for it. 15 years into painting everyday, now I’m starting to take more time with sketching out or under paintings. Thank you for sharing the knowledge.

[@KingdomDV]

I use a blue seamstress marking pencil it doesn’t smudge and totally disappears. It works best on a smoother surface otherwise it must be sharpened repeatedly as it wears down quickly. I find it very effective if doing a complicated work where accurate positioning is necessary

[@saltandiron3379]

Thank you for mentioning all of these options.

[@TartantazCreates]

How I start a painting really depends on how I feel at the time and whether I'm using oils or acrylics. I guess the complexity of the pose also influences how I chose to start. I have used drawing first as well as drawing directly with the paint as you did in your demonstration. I like both ways for different reasons. 😊

[@leoalvarado6466]

Nice work! Hope to see more of your oil portrait techniques.

[@skylorkatz1758]

Thanks!

[@FlorentFargesarts]

Thank you for your support!

[@thebunz7]

Thanks for the tips. Painting has been a journey and I always make sure to have fun.

[@priscillaallen5276]

Oh boy! I've always used you last method. But had recently been convinced to start more carefully. Guess I'll go back to my old ways. Getting the paint on the canvas is the fun bit! Thank you for all you are teaching us.

[@Painter0fTheWind]

Before I watched this video, I always used the last technique by default...you introduced me new techniques that I don’t think I’ll use but good to know.

[@triconcert]

I find that first using acrylic gesso as a base really gives the oils luminosity and vibrancy!

[@MrAcdc2323]

Your brushes in the background are clean!

[@johnnyk7480]

Thanks for making the effort to demonstrate. Useful tips. Bravo!

[@CakesByMichele]

Excellent, so much very good advice for a 8 minute video.

[@pravinmedia8inproduction406]

Yes I did few times the last technique but for complex ones ,it is hard so I use only pencil. Thanks for all this precious knowledge ❤️

[@shazlee100]

I'm a beginner, I'm going with the last option. Thank you fot your tutorial!

[@nadie0595]

worked for me, im a sketch artist, and very new at oil, this last technique was amazing for me

[@ChristopherMartone]

Finding this in 2022, jump to 4:18 to learn how to do an oil transfer. Much needed in these desperate times.

[@tuckersossaman4485]

I’m brand new to painting and have only used the last technique, but I am excited to give the rest of these a chance, and let it evolve! Thanks for the tips

[@patriotson1875]

Enjoy your classes and advice. I use a tonning color of grey to eliminate the sharp white canvas. The color is like the gray beneath my glass palette.

[@denizkaptan5482]

Thank you Florent! This video is really straight to the point and helpful.

[@jimwarrong]

Dear Florent, A water soluble colour pencil of whatever chroma suits and is excellent because a damp cloth will erase it. I am an amateur painter but am always experimenting. My latest experiments are based around using 'clear paint' (Art Spectrum makes it) in glazes as it adds depth. Also trying it mixed with damar varnish to add a bit of polish when I want it. The water soluble pencil however is tried and true. Regards Jim at Warrong in Australia.

[@johnsmithart]

Currently I draw on paper and then do an oil transfer followed by a verdacio underpainting. I'm hoping to progress soon to drawing straight onto a toned canvas. Thanks for all your videos Florent. They are top quality and full of great instruction and tips.

[@lavonnecarrick2238]

John Smith What is in oil transfer can you define that term oil transfer.

[@johnsmithart]

@@lavonnecarrick2238 Hi @lavonne carrick an oil transfer is when you take your drawing and apply oil paint to the back of the paper, usually raw umber or burnt umber, and then rub most of it off. Then position your drawing over your canvas with a few bits of tape on the edges to hold it in place. Then go over your drawing carefully but firmly with a ballpoint pen and when you lift the drawing paper off, you'll find the drawing has been reproduced on the canvas in oil paint - hence an 'oil transfer'. I find you get a much cleaner transfer and as its oil paint, there's no need to reinforce charcoal lines with acrylic paint or use fixative.

[@amaramillan]

I love the way you teach! 😌

[@alftan2883]

I was astonished when I first saw the artwork since We find it to be quite soothing. The acrylic painting was created by the artist. Using the colors violet, white, and black in art ultramarine. They also employ the 20mm plat brush, 20mm fan brush, and the final line brush as their primary brushstrokes.

[@Missykris102]

This is amazing- I’m totally going to use the last technique!!

[@FLRSUPR]

Hey I know it's a whole year later, but I start my paintings with the last method. BUT I paint with acrylic. So my method is to start with very light washes from the beginning and go darker towards the end. Today however, I did need to "erase" some parts so I just painted over with white. It's similar to the oil method, but since acrylic dries instantly you can't rub it away. Also after doing the sketch I literally cover the whole face in a midtone, erasing fine sketch. But I find that restarting can improve it even more (you don't feel tied to a possibly ill-proportioned painting). Btw, your paintings, wow, it's like photo-realism without being so tied to that idea. Just a really well-trained eye/hand and a love/spirit for the act of painting. Love love love.

[@jillellen2631]

Great content. I'm a new fan!!

[@virginiarparker9503]

Very good. Makes one think about things to do and how to do it in advance. A beginner here.

[@susanwong6471]

Thank you for the video- the last method is definitely what most of the advance artists do- maybe one day, I will get there😊

[@KathyBrooksArt]

#4 was so interesting, did not know about that. I, too, like #5. Great video, thanks much!

[@helenegagnon5721]

j'ai beaucoup apprécié cette vidéo, merci de nous partager tes trucs

[@rodrigocolindres5981]

Amazing!! Thank you very much!!

[@ritzyllama]

I'm a fan of using soft-body acrylics for blocking in before getting to work on mid-layers and final details. Love the vid brother!

[@babycabbage220]

Love this i was taught and am comfortable with way number 5 but these other ways r a really cool approach

[@timwelford6396]

Love your videos. I usually start mine, paint direct to toned canvas as In your last demonstration. But the last three oil paintings I’ve done I drew in charcoal and a good fixative if you haven’t got fixative is hair spray 😊👍🏼👍🏼

[@merlinmiller123]

If I start by drawing , I use hairspray from the dollar store. Just as good and tightens the canvas and smooths it out and nothing smudges no matter how hard my brush goes over it

[@rosered103]

@ Krissy thanks for the tip. Do you know if it cracks or discolours paint over time?

[@babycabbage220]

Dope!

[@alan90mer]

Thanks for the knowledge, you are a good teacher

[@TarlaStar]

I have two methods. My preferred of the two is the "rub-out". I cover the canvas with the darkest colour I will be using and then use a rag to pull the paint off as I create the tone painting. I can add the colour back in with the brush, but the first session looks more like a charcoal drawing.

[@InLawsAttic]

What fixative is best over pastel pencil? Thank you so much for this video!!

[@brettwalsh8679]

Super comme d'hab ;) un grand merci pour ces conseils, je choisis la dernière option...

[@ontisitsemanyeneng3154]

I prime my canvas with white acrylic pva, sometimes gessoe. Then I wash it with burnt umber, raw umber or burnt sienna thinned out with a solvent. I then block in with burnt umber or ivory white,then move on to modelling and other stages as i progress with the painting process.

[@souldrip]

May I ask how does one do a wash? I don't know how to do a wash in oil colours

[@ontisitsemanyeneng3154]

You can use Turpentine and Burnt umber or mineral spirits and burnt umber.

[@souldrip]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@ontisitsemanyeneng3154]

You're most welcome,Sir.

[@HUMPTYNUGGET]

@@souldrip nothing stopping you doing the wash in acrylics if thats what you are more comfortable with , then using oils ontop

[@thetimeisnowamerica7035]

I usually use ACRYLIC and I draw with my brush on toned or plain white canvas. The last option you used, except with ACRYLIC. But, I have done a few oils and still do the last option. I was watching this because I dont use oil much and I recently bought some nice linen boards and wanted to get a refresher before I start! Thank you so much for this video!🎨🖌

[@dayers8715]

Thank you. Nice tips

[@uuh.okayiguess]

I think I'm going to try the imprimatura option, thanks!

[@arts5980]

Very useful tips. Thank you.

[@figurativeartistbenjaminel8395]

Got to have room to change lanes if you get stuck. Having multiple ways to get where you’re going. Awesome video. Might do something similar of my channel.

[@delorisgilmore4959]

Thank you! I usually draw my composition on my canvas. I liked number 5 and I want to try it.

[@jtroueche1980]

I went to SCAD as an illustration major 15 years ago, I'm somewhat interested in getting back into the routine of creation I had ten years ago. I think I'm going to just throw the paint on with my subject matter in my mind.

[@therealjamespickering]

Easy! Top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right, and in the middle.

[@marilyndupreez-s8p]

Ahh i am struggling with eyes on a portrait .. i was having problems with the proportions then decided to paint it out start again . Well, lets say it helps to sketch it out first. Not confident to go straight onto canvas . Realising that its a life work of learning. Learning a lot from your video, Thanks !

[@marilyndupreez-s8p]

@Michael Jones and if theyre not aligned and in proportion ... heaven forbid

[@rosered103]

@Marilyn du Preez I can do lovely eyes, that follow you around the room, and the hands and feet are great, but the rest....oh dear

[@LearningPleinAir]

very educational thank you for sharing those great ideas 👍👍

[@mariolastepaniuk4957]

Very helpful, Thank you👍🏼

[@anupama.sharma2350]

Thanks...I will go with the last method 🙏

[@joseluisderivera465]

Very helpful!! All the best. Greetings from Mexico

[@glennpierce1500]

Nicely done, I liked the burnt umber sketch on paper as a finished painting in the expressionist mode. Keep it loose Florent.

[@shobestudiosartphotography2972]

Thank you for all of your helpful painting videos Florent! Just curious... what's being played through your headphones while you paint? ✌🏻 🎨

[@claramontanes6740]

I love all your videos....thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!!!

[@margaretspurling8162]

Thank you for the encouragment.

[@michaelrutledge3750]

I used pencil and set it with turpentine. It smudged a little, but once it dried, it stayed set for my purposes. I could do a thin color block wash over it. Sometimes I just did the color wash directly and tried to keep the smudges minimal.

[@cmdesign01]

Love your channel

[@chrisgriffith1573]

Because I work on homemade panels, I sometimes use pencil for the initial drawing direct to the surface. Then I seal it using wood glue. I primer over that, or just go with an acrylic glaze if I like the yellow of the panel. The cool thing is I can sand it completely smooth for a glass like finish. The pencil is also down under a clear layer which lets the paint stand over top of it. I have also made special works where I primer a panel then work complete pencil drawings up to tonal values, then wash more primer over that and bring the pencil line back up, creating a depth of value which is unique, if I need to, I can also add value to the primer, like burnt sienna or phalo blue, to tint the work, as long as the paint is flat, it can take more pencil. Then I can seal it using acrylic glaze and begin oils. I never use hairspray or fixatives, if I go with something to spray on, I use Crystal Clear by Krylon.

[@dan2buys]

Interesting technique. Any reason you would use acrylic glaze medium over,say,acrylic matte medium which can be used as a primer?

[@chrisgriffith1573]

@@dan2buys My glaze medium... I buy it from the paint store, and it's sold by the gallon as "clear foe finish" or "clear acrylic varnish", depending on the store, it comes in several brands. I have only seen gloss and satin as choices, but I don't really do satin or matte finishes, I like gloss and my acrylic goes on over it, and I use the clear to thin and glaze my acrylics anyway, so its all the same medium going into the piece.

[@rduff1999]

@@chrisgriffith1573You say that the glazing medium that you use comes from a paint store. Do you mean some place like a Home Depot or Lowes? Pax

[@chrisgriffith1573]

@@rduff1999 I did, however, recently I have switched to making my own gesso, and use only PVA glue, gypsum, plaster and chalk to make it. I add pumice for a little tooth, and the mixture is good for about 3 to 4 days before it gels up and is unusable. The reason I switched is to make a more stable ground to paint upon, acrylics are not nearly as good as PVA. (Poly-vinyl-acrylite, or wood glue or white glue- not "water washable school glue") Acrylic grounds can shrink over the long term and delimitation problems can arise as a result. Check Rublev's Natural Pigments site for more accurate info on this. Also I do not use pencil for laying out the sketch any more, I go directly into paint. You could actually use chalk if you like.

[@AnnaPoli800]

That was ever so helpful

[@doubleportraitartist9053]

Great video, thanks for sharing

[@flowercamelliaispure8209]

Your tutorials are actually amazing! So much to learn from you.

[@jamesmcinnis208]

"actually"

[@mohammedbousmaha5668]

Super vidéo merci !!

[@lisengel2498]

Thank you very much - I normally draw with thin paint but I have never thought of using color pencils and it sounds interesting Ed

[@luisadebarnot3251]

Bonjour. Merci pour toute cette information . J'aurais une question : dans l'option 3, pourquoi est-ce important de couvrir la toile avec de l'acrylique mat et non glossy ? Merci d'avance.

[@anastasiyasaturn8129]

Thank you for sharing, really useful!!

[@henrytjernlund]

Wow, you make it look so easy. Some other tutorials give the advice that you develop the paint with 3 considerations. Background to foreground. Lighter to darker. and thinner to thicker. ("Fat over lean" is how the last one is sometimes said.) My drawing skills have gone rusty. I again have trouble getting proportions correct. Bought a Proportional Divider tool (about $10) but haven't tried it yet. Long ago I found a clear gesso (Liquitex.) Haven't tried it yet and I've had it for years.

[@zazaincalifornia]

Florent has a very good video in drawing you can look it up :) I improved a lot my proportions with his tips

[@arcy9289]

Okay the comment section is fun and all but why aren't we talking about how good of a teacher he is

[@paintingsofwaves_mikewoning]

I often start with an acrylic wash, where I've marked the intersections of a pretty large grid. I then use the last technique and just paint on what I am going to do.

[@giuliacortina.9765]

Bravissimo :) :)!! Spieghi Davvero Molto Bene.. e Hai un Talento Grandioso! ;) ;)!! Grazie^.^^.^!!!!

[@yamigrt2281]

i use one of those continuous spray bottles mixed with water and a little bit of neutral toned acrylic... i can lightly remoisten and erase instantly

[@yamigrt2281]

i can make crisp edits to pieces i paused weeks prior

[@nn2258]

I love ur videos , can u make a video about water soluble oil paints

[@deonnatomlinson5762]

Thank u awesome video... 😃😁🥰👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍😇🙏😎

[@meand3786]

Thanks for sharing

[@shahzadqurashi7728]

Very very helpful

[@2013democracy]

What l do is to draw the subject on paper then trace it on to my board. After that l mix up some thin acrylic paint to tone the board and fix the drawing at the same time. Works well.

[@rosered103]

@Mike Anderson I do the same as you. Works for me that way also.

[@sursurrus]

I discovered this week that using serral paper (similar to carbon) and attempting to trace my image on an oil paint toned background actually leaves faint white lines instead of the dark, permanent red or blue of the serral paper. I think these lines are from the paint sticking to the serral paper, so it's kind of a reverse outline. But it's perfect for my purposes, because I can worry about the big shapes first and then trace in details, and in fact repeat the process for ever finer level of detail

[@TheJoshuaJames]

Chalk markers draw on dried oil paint really well, and wipe off clean with a damp paper towel

[@dagoelius]

Currently I use the tonal wipeout method to start my paintings.

[@MichaelMoesslang]

I start with a water paint such as gouache to draw/paint the outlines. I use a light grey or something like this. It's easy to erase: a brush with water or a wet towel is enough. After it's dry I cover the canvas with a very thin layer of oil paint using a paper towel (siena, umber ...). Instead of the typical wash I don't need any thinner. The pip paint won't destroy the gouache. Another technique I use is grisaille: I prime the canvas with acrylic white to have a smooth surface. Then I start to draw with burnt umber oil paint. As long as it is wet I can correct: paint, wipe away, paint. The result is a very detailed tonal painting with lights and shadows. After its dry I can easily paint the rest. I use grisaille method for portraits where the likability has to be perfect.

[@AmandaMG6]

This is brunaille ☺️

[@barrineingram2650]

I start with bold primary colours in a thin transparent layer, drawing in paint directly like #5, but using dark pure transparent colour to block in the dark areas. I haven’t painted for quite a while and I’m picking up a paintbrush for the first time in years today. I better finish up my tea and stop procrastinating 😀

[@mikaelkallio9101]

Thank you! I go directly on canvas with water-, acrylic- or oilcolor.

[@allisonprior]

Great Video, thank you...

[@vflytrap7158]

excellent video

[@akaashak7472]

I like the way you say 'Tech-ni-che'.

[@christinegalysh7433]

This video really is helpful. The difference between step one and step five is that step one uses graphite or charcoal, where step five just uses oil paint and solvent of choice? Or in my case no solvent , use gamsol. Thank you . You are a good teacher

[@jimqartworks]

Thanks! great teacher!

[@doveandiamond]

Try water color pencil. I use white pencil on black gesso canvas

[@kznsq77]

Recently I realized that I can relatively easily paint with a grid method 4x4 squares, square by square directly with a final colors and values. And with some adjustments at the end.