Oil Painting Without the Drama: A Beginner's Guide That Will Ease the Scaries • Art Makes People

Okay, my little Van Goghs. It’s time to talk oil painting. Maybe you’ve watched those mesmerizing painting videos online where someone whips up a masterpiece in 3 minutes flat. Truth: those artists definitely ruined their first paintings too.

Oil painting is like cooking – sure, you could mess up, but you can also fix almost anything. Add more color, scrape some off, blend it differently. The paint stays wet long enough for you to actually play around with it. And honestly? Some of the best effects happen by accident when you’re just experimenting. So let’s get into what you actually need – from supplies to setup to your first brushstroke.

oil paints mixed on wood palette with paintbrush bristles

Why Choose Oil Painting?

This may come as a shock but oil paint is probably easier to get started with than acrylic. Since the paint takes forever to dry, you can keep playing around with it until you get something you like. I’ve literally scraped off whole sections the next day when I wasn’t happy with them. Plus, you can blend colors right on the canvas, which is way more fun than trying to mix everything perfectly on your palette first.

The best part? Once you get the hang of it, oils can look incredible – they have a lovely depth that you just can’t get with acrylics. You can build up layers, add texture, or keep things smooth and blended.

Also see: Acrylic vs. Oil Paint – What’s the Difference?

Essential Supplies for Oil Painting

You don’t need to spend a fortune to start oil painting. Here’s what you’ll need:

1. Oil Paints

Start with student-grade paints (Winsor & Newton Winton or Gamblin 1980 are good options). Get these colors:

2. Brushes

For brushes, synthetic ones made for oils are perfect. Don’t waste money on expensive natural bristles yet. Grab:

A big flat brush (#8 or #10) for covering space
A medium round (#4 or #6) for details
A small round (#2) for tiny stuff

3. Canvas

Canvas-wise, get several small canvas boards (8×10″ or 9×12″). They’re cheap and way less scary to work with than huge canvases.

4. Other stuff you need:

Glass palette (super easy to clean) or wooden if you’re on a budget
Metal palette knife for mixing
Gamsol – it’s odorless and safer than turpentine
Small bottle of linseed oil
Two metal cups with lids for your Gamsol and oil
Paper towels or old rags
Brush soap
Something to clean brushes in (glass jar works perfectly)

Remember to always work in a ventilated space. You’ll also want a sturdy surface to paint on and an apron or old shirt – oil paint stains don’t come out!

Setting Up Your Workspace

Right, let’s get your painting spot ready.

You need decent ventilation – a window or fan works. Even with the Gamsol being odorless, you want air moving around. Protect your table with an old sheet, kraft paper, or even a flattened cardboard box (thanks, Amazon). Oil paint is basically permanent on anything it touches.

Set up your space like this:

Main table just for painting
Small table or cart nearby for supplies
Palette on your non-dominant side
Two jars: one for clean Gamsol, one for brush cleaning
Paper towels between you and your palette
Canvas propped up on books or a small easel
Cleaning station in a corner with soap and rags

Keep a trash can handy for used paper towels and set up somewhere to lay wet brushes flat between sessions.

Also see: The toxicity of 5 different art paints

Getting Started: Your First Oil Painting

Oooheeeee! time to get paint on canvas. Don’t overthink this part – activating brain turn-off mode.

Grab a pencil and sketch your subject super lightly on the canvas. Use barely-visible lines here. Basic shapes are the best: a circle for an apple, a few wavy lines for hills. Whatever you’re painting, break it down into simple shapes or even just suggestions of shapes at first.

Setting up your palette:

Squeeze out tiny amounts of paint – teeny tiny
Put white in the middle (you’ll use tons of it)
Other colors around the edges
Leave plenty of mixing space
Mix colors with your palette knife, not your brush

Now for the actual painting part:
Start with the middle values – not the super dark or bright parts. Your paint should be thin enough to spread easily but not so thin it drips. If it’s making peaks like delicious peanut butter, it’s too thick.

Quick tips that’ll save you some headaches:

Work from big shapes to small details
Clean your brush when switching colors (or you’ll make mud)
If something looks wrong, just wipe it off and try again
Keep your brushstrokes visible – paintings look better with some texture
Step back every few minutes to check your work

abstract oil painting of a landscape in blues and neutrals — Landscape from Christiansø (1913 – 1914) Edvard Weie (Danish, 1879 – 1943)

Tips That Actually Matter

Here’s what really makes a difference when you’re starting out:

Take photos of your progress. You’ll feel way better about your painting journey when you can see how far you’ve come. Plus it helps you spot what’s working and what isn’t.

Start stupid simple. One apple. Three stripes for a sunset. A basic landscape with just ground and sky. You’ll learn more from finishing five simple paintings than from one complicated mess that makes you want to quit.

About your brushes (because they’re not cheap):

Get most of the paint off with a paper towel first
Swish around in solvent to remove the paint
Wash with soap and warm water
Reshape them while wet
Store them flat or standing up (bristles up!)

Keep things safe and organized, (and enjoy the overuse of parenthesis):

Label your solvent jars (so you don’t accidentally guzzle them)
Lids on everything when you’re not using them (so your freaky little jazz hands don’t knock everything over)
Skip the coffee near your painting setup (I don’t personally follow this rule. shhhhhh)
Keep rags handy for spills (your husband won’t mind if you use his new t-shirt)
Open that window! (and scream to the world that you’re about to start painting!)

oil painting of bathing boys by Edvard munch — Bathing Boys
Edvard Munch (Norwegian, 1863 – 1944)

Want to improve? Pick ONE thing to focus on in each painting. Could be blending. Could be brush strokes. Could be getting your colors right. Just one thing. Master that, then move on to the next challenge.

Remember: Nobody’s first painting ends up in a museum. (or has one? I would like to know the answer to this.) But every decent painter started somewhere, probably making the same mistakes you’re about to make. Just get in there and start painting already.

Byeeeeeee

Oh, and show me your paintings! Tag me on the Instagram, email me.