The Main Oil Painting Techniques Used In Modern Art

By Christine Ward


Oil painting produces some of the most magnificent pieces of art. The technique has been in existence for centuries and used pigments obtained from various types of seeds. Examples of these seeds include linseed, poppy seed, safflower and walnut among others. It is possible for the artist to prepare the oil paints themselves or to buy them from art supply stores. We will look at examples of oil painting techniques that are commonly used.

Layering is one of the techniques that you may consider as a beginner. As the name suggests, this technique involves the applications of different paints on the canvas in layers that overlap or overlie each other. Lighter colors or shades of a color are applied first to create the background and then allowed to dry before the addition of the denser colors. The method is usually used when great detail is required in finishing a work of art.

Glazing is another popular technique that is easy to apply. It entails the addition of a transparent paint on top of an opaque one with the aim of modifying some aspects. Such may include texture, chroma and hue among others. It is possible to create the impression of a transparent glass using this technique. This done by using a pure transparent color against a background of dark contrast so as to create an impression of density.

Color intensification is necessary in most cases. It is done by diluting a given color or set of colors so as to increase the variety of shades that are available. In general, the lighter shades will be used for the background while the dark shades are for the foreground.

As is the case in other types of painting, color blocking can be done. This is achieved by using diluted brush strokes to repaint the outlines of objects so as to emphasize them. This eliminates the need for extra paint to be used for the same purpose. It is important that one uses the same color that has been used to paint the inside of the object for color blocking.

Chiaroscuro is a unique technique that has been used for a long type in this type of art. Its major role is to bring out the volume of objects. It is achieved by demonstrating the direction of light movement. Dark and light contrasting is applied to the objects depending on the source of the light. A neutral color should be chosen for the background and shadows painted in a completely black paint.

Monochromatic painting is a feature that can be easily applied here. Some subjects are only brought out by a single color. You can dilute the color chosen severally so as to achieve as many shades as possible. White paint may be helpful in adding volume and relief through the emphasis of white shades. This is done by applying thick white paint over the lighter shades. Be cautious not to overuse the white paint.

Various brush stroke sizes can be tried out in a bid to differentiate various aspects of the painting. Generally, long strokes are mainly used when dealing with the background while the shorter strokes are best used for foreground objects. Small and large dots may also be used to bring out different effects. Irregular stroke patterns are sometimes used to enhance color.




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