Oil Painting Classes - Tips On Oil Painting Supplies
By Simon Goodwin

When you are starting to learn to oil paint, it can be easy to spend a fortune on oil painting supplies. This really is not necessary. In my oil painting classes I show people how you can get great effects without skinting yourself!

Most magazines, books and videos I have read or seen always say that you should buy the best equipment you can. Which is fine if you can afford it, personally I am a working man with a mortgage and bills to pay. Most people have a budget and I would like to share with you how I managed to balance the bills and my hobby.

Canvas:

Canvases can be bought obviously at art and craft shops, but have a look around, I recently bought some smaller canvases at the local pound shop (small shop where all items cost one pound sterling in the UK). Mention it to friends and family you will be surprised how often people contact me to tell me that a shop has canvas boards on offer!

Oh and if you do use an art shop on a regular basis ask them if they will give you some Student discount, I asked and they gave me 20% on everything I purchase.

You can also paint on plywood, MDF board, and even hardboard. If you buy from a large DIY store they even have the facilities to cut it to size for you. Rather than buy small pieces, buy one large piece and get them to cut it down this will save you money.

All of these surfaces must be prepared properly, you will need to rub them down with fine sandpaper and then apply the base coats. Get a medium sandpaper rub down till you can not feel any "catches" then put on your bases coat (see below).

Basecoats

A lot of artists use Gesso which is a chalk based white liquid, gesso has been used for centuries by painters. The downside is it's quite expensive!

Personally I use Acrylic primer/undercoat. Available from decorators stores, it's water-based and dries very quickly. I usually put six coats on, gently rubbing down with sandpaper to remove any nibs in between coats.

Oil Paints

The oil paints I use are sold in 38ml , I buy student's quality paint as they are about £3.00 a tube sometimes a little bit more depending on the colour. I have found Rowney to be quite good in terms of pigment and price.

Artists quality oil paint can reach as high as £12.00 a tube. This is because the pigments they use are purer. However for hobby purposes you would not really notice the difference.

Brushes

I have purchased expensive brushes and middle price ranged brushes and to be quite honest have found no difference in use.

Over the years I have collected dozens of brushes but at best only ever use about six to complete a painting, and one of those is a fan brush used for softening edges.

Where possible buy student or midpriced brushes they will be more than sufficient in quality terms.

Pallets

Pallets are sold in varies shapes and sizes oblong, round, and kidney shaped, in numerous materials plastic, wood etc, I've tried them all and while the kidney shaped ones do look very arty, in daily use I find them heavy and cumbersome. The problem with proper palletes is you also have to spend half an hour cleaning them. Now I don't know about you but I cant be bothered, I have a life and a limited amount of time to spend painting. I don't want to spend my time cleaning and scraping.

So my personal choice is to use plastic throwaway white plates, the type used at parties. The white helps me to see the exact colour I'm mixing and when I have finished I throw them away, easy huh?

Thinners

Pure Artist Turpentine is made from pine trees and is sold in small bottles in art shops. It's roughly £3.00 for a small bottle.

I buy turps substitute for a £1 a bottle, I mostly use this to clean my brushes not to thin my paint.

Mediums - And I'm not talking Doris Stokes

Mediums are used to thin oil paint and make some lovely glazes, the medium I use is Liquin Original, it's great in use and also helps the paint to dry quicker. People often ask why not use your thinners to to make the paint thinner. You will find that this make the pigment less strong, and doesn't provide your painting with the depth you will get from glazing.

Available from art shops in small and large bottles (brilliant stuff), and much less expensive than buying pure turps.

I think that covers most of the standard supplies you will need.

About the Author:  (c) Simon Goodwin.  This article was written on behalf of Simon's father Trev Goodwin, Trev has been an artist for 40 years, and has been commissioned to paint military paintings, portraits and landscapes.  To see Trev at work please visit http://www.learn-to-oil-paint.co.uk you can get his free video course and newsletter as well as see his 4 hour video course that is for sale.