Loadsa arty stuff, the June McEwan way: Using Oil Paints, Core Techniques
Using Oil Paints: Core Techniques
June McEwan 8 Mitchell St Crieff PH7 3AG
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Using Oil Paints: Core Techniques
Although oil paint had been around, it wasn't until the Rennaissance that it's use became regular. And due to the long time it takes to dry, it didn't become popular until the 19th century. The invention of tubes and the appreciation of expressive brushwork meant that artists could more easily carry their materials outside and began to work alla prima (all at once). The process of building the painting in layers and glazes was replaced by spontaneity.
Fat over Lean
This is the most important of all oil-painting rules regardless of style or technique. Begin by working with paint straight from the tube, or add a bit of thinner, then gradually increase the oil or medium content as the painting progresses.
Underpainting is done using paint thinned with white spirit or turpentine. It's usually a tonal version in colour or monochrome laying out the composition.
Alla Prima
'At the first' or 'all at once'. Made popular by the impressionists, is a style of direct painting done in one session. It calls for concentration and decisiveness. Mistakes are rarely altered.
Means 'dough' and describes the consistency of thick paint usually applied using big brushes or painting knives. Marble dust, talcum, fine sand and modern alkyd mediums can be used to make the paint go further and dry quicker. Some impasto work may take years to dry.
Blending
Can be achieved very easily using direct brush work with large bristle brushes. To achieve subtle blending use soft brushes and gentle strokes.
Glazing
A slow, traditional process involving waiting for each glaze to dry before the next, thereby building up colour and depth. A single glaze over the whole surface can be useful in unifying a painting and creating harmony.
Along with impaso techniques, texture is created any way you can!Use brushes differently, stipple or dab them, scratch into paint using the handle. Try the edge of a ruler, scrape using a painting knife, press grass, sand, sawdust into the paint..look around and use anything that's to hand!
