Oil painting for a beginner
Oto7085
Hi,
I like to start oil painting and am wondering if they make any sort of painting
guide for beginners, sort of like the "coloring books" that kids use their
crayolas on. A painting book where the basic scenes are outlined and the colors
recommended would go a long way to help a beginner develop proper techniques,
would it not?
Any other recommendations as to paint and equipment would be appreciated.
BTW, are the paints' fumes highly toxic? I live in a small apartment, and
during the winter months, keeping the windows open for ventilation is going be
a problem.
Thanks to all in advance.
Paul Mesken
>
>Hi,
>
>I like to start oil painting and am wondering if they make any sort of painting
>guide for beginners, sort of like the "coloring books" that kids use their
>crayolas on. A painting book where the basic scenes are outlined and the colors
>recommended would go a long way to help a beginner develop proper techniques,
>would it not?
>
Well, if you want to "paint by number" then I guess it's a good way to
start but painting normally isn't about carefully filling regions with
the same color (besides: that isn't even hard).
IMHO a good book for starting with oil is Creevy's "Oil painting book"
ISBN: 0823032744 (the paperback version, it's about 16 U$). It
discusses a number of different techniques and is very easily readable
(although the dude is somewhat obsessed with vegetables ;-)
After that some books of Joseph Sheppard can help out if you're
interested in painting humans, textures and such (he's an absolute
master, Deli would be pleased with him :-)
>Any other recommendations as to paint and equipment would be appreciated.
>
Don't paint on paper (not even special oil paint paper), it's a lousy
medium which is quite easily damaged (even though its smooth surface
invites to do details). Unless you're doing some disposable studies.
It's better to buy some paint from a superior (and expensive) brand
than buy lots from a cheap and thus lousy brand. The difference really
shows in the more chromatic colors (cadmiums, cobalts, phtalos, etc.)
Superior brands are: Blockx, Sennelier, Old Holland (there are some
more but I didn't use those so I can't advice them)
There's no need to buy greens, you can quite easily mix about every
green known to man
Find a good medium that suits you (there's a plethora of them, you can
even use some varnishes as a medium), in most cases oil paint works
quite awkwardly if you apply them straight from the tube. It's better
not to use turp for anything else than the initial sketch or grissaile
(actually, it's better to avoid it at all).
>BTW, are the paints' fumes highly toxic? I live in a small apartment, and
>during the winter months, keeping the windows open for ventilation is going be
>a problem.
>
The paint doesn't fume although it does have a distinct smell :-) Some
painters complain about turps (although that's not highly toxic if you
don't drink it) but stuff like acetone, thinners, certain primers, etc
are somewhat toxic and can give you a headache (perhaps cancer if
you're expose yourself for very long periods to them).
Certain paints are considered toxic (not in a fuming sense) like lead
white and vermillion (the real vermillion that is, but it's quite rare
nowadays)
Besides: painters normally get very old so how unhealthy can their
work be? :-)
Cher Ayde
says...
>BTW, are the paints' fumes highly toxic? I live in a small apartment, and
>during the winter months, keeping the windows open for ventilation is going be
>a problem.
Why don't you consider beginning with acrylics instead
and all of your concerns will go away since they clean
up with soap and water. NO FUMES. Slight smell maybe.
As for 'paint by numbers' you'd be better off going to
the library and checking out whatever "how to" books
for beginning painters they have there. The basic
instructions for oils, watercolors, and acrylics apply
generally across the board.
andre...@my-deja.com
oto...@aol.com (Oto7085) wrote:
> Hello from NewZealand. I am an artist! and I have been painting for a
number of years. See my agency site at www.0800artlease.co.nz
Most good book shops have great titles on painting. Or see Ammazon.com
Oil paints do smell a bit, Its the terpentine mostly. You can use an
odoreless terps to help. I keep mine in the studio, Oil paints are not
Toxic but don't eat it or suck your brushes. If the smell proves to be
a hassle then try acrylic paint. Drys real fast and does not smell. I
personally love the smell of a fresh painting! It goes away after about
six months.
Have fun and always clean your brushes. Use terps then soap. Commertail
handcleaner is also handy. Use surgical gloves to protect skin if you
are doing a lot fo painting
Andrew
> Hi,
>
> I like to start oil painting and am wondering if they make any sort
of painting
> guide for beginners, sort of like the "coloring books" that kids use
their
> crayolas on. A painting book where the basic scenes are outlined and
the colors
> recommended would go a long way to help a beginner develop proper
techniques,
> would it not?
>
> Any other recommendations as to paint and equipment would be
appreciated.
>
> BTW, are the paints' fumes highly toxic? I live in a small apartment,
and
> during the winter months, keeping the windows open for ventilation is
going be
> a problem.
>
> Thanks to all in advance.
>
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