Basics of Painting with Oil Paints

Posted July 5, 2010 By admin

Some tools you need for Oil Painting

Some tools you need for Oil Painting

Oil paintings are nice to look at, but also fun to do. If you have ever thought about maybe painting with oil, then here are some basics to get you started.

First of all, think about where you might do your oil painting. You need an area that is well ventilated, both for the smell and for the work to dry. Preferably you can find a semi outdoor area. If you have to work outside, then make sure you can secure everything quickly in case of wind or rain. You should also be wary of flying insects if you are working outdoors.

Once you have get yourself organized in your new work area, the first thing to do is to lay down your drop cloth, tarp and a plastic bag. Secure the drop cloth by masking taping the edges to prevent it from bunching up. Then set up your oil paintings work area on the drop cloth so it is important that you have enough room to work in comfortably. If you are going to work on your oil paintings with a table easel set up on a table, you’ll want to cover the floor below the table top and the place where you will stand or sit.

Dress in your old clothes or wear an apron and gloves. You’ll also need a container that has paint thinner and a container that holds a combination of two parts paint thinner and one part walnut oil. These containers should be about three inches high and two inches around. Each should be filled to the half way mark. You’ll need a comfortable set up with an easy reach for your paint palette and knife, your brushes, the two containers, as well as paint rags and tubes.

Then you can set up the paints you’ll use for your oil paintings. If you have a variety of colors, you don’t need all of them squeezed out onto your paint palette. Start with just two or three colors. It might be easiest to start with primary colors like cadmium red, yellow and blue. A dime size spot of each color would be sufficient to start with. Space them as far from each other on the palette as possible, as if you are putting dots on the three points of a triangle. In the center of this paint triangle squeeze a nickel-size spot of Titanium white oil paint. When you are ready you can mix the paint as required with your knife.

Congratulations, you are now ready to paint!

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: , , ,

Preserving And Protecting Your Beloved Oil Paintings

Posted June 22, 2010 By admin

Oil Painting by my Grandfather H Malek of the view from his yard

Oil Painting by my Grandfather H Malek of the view from his yard

It is important to know how to look after your oil painting properly once you own one. You may have just purchased your first oil painting, to add that touch of style to your study, living room, or bedroom. Oil paintings are beautiful additions to the house, and are great conversation pieces as well (remember my post about bringing one of my Grandfather’s painting to work). They can also be a great investment if they are kept in their top condition. Here are some simple steps you can take to preserve the appearance of you oil paintings.

You should always check the location where you intend to place your painting and avoid any area that is prone to extreme heat or cold, or humidity. This includes places like over the fireplace and in direct line of an air conditioner.You should also keep in mind that prolonged sunlight will cause the paint to fade, and choose the location accordingly.

A layer of dust will also spoil the painting, as it will dry the oil colors out and therefore fade the painting. Dust your painting regularly, but remember not to use surface cleaners. A dry and soft cloth will suffice.

When moving the painting from one place to another, whether to a different room or a different building altogether, make sure you lay a flat piece of cardboard, a mat, or other firm material on both the front and the back of the picture, and then wrap it in Styrofoam or bubble wrap. Remember that any moisture build up could damage the painting so if it must be left wrapped up for a long period of time then store it in a dry place.

If your painting is damaged despite your best efforts, do not try to retouch or repair it yourself.  You should take it to a professional conservator who can do any necessary repair on the painting properly.

If you follow these simple instructions in caring for your oil paintings, they should remain in top condition and available for your enjoyment for many years to come.

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , ,

Oil Paintings

Posted June 19, 2010 By admin

Paintings are one of the most beautiful creations of man, the Vatican City demonstrates this perfectly. A good painting has the power to trigger extreme emotions from its spectator. Oil paintings are beautiful art forms, and these antique elements continue to mark their stand through generations.

The Creation of Man by Michelangelo at the Sistine Chapel

Why Oil Paintings you ask?

The great painters and the artists of the past chose to work on oil paintings because it rendered a very realistic output. The paintings differed from those produced by water colors, because oil paintings provided a rich and vivid visual effect.

Oil paintings originated during the middle ages when there was a high demand for waterproof artwork. Oil paint became known for its durability and long lasting resistance. But for the durability of oil paints, we would not be privileged to see paintings from hundreds of years ago. Having said this, some famous paintings do get touched up from time to time so they are at their best presentation.

Behind the beauty of oil paintings is the hard work of the artist. A classical work may take several weeks to months to complete. Color pigments and binders are the constituents of the oil paints. Linseed oils, poppy seed oils, safflower oils and walnut oils are the oils that get mixed with the pigments. Brushers made up of different fibers are used to paint. Oil painting is said to take a lot of work because it does not dry up easily, and if the artists want to paint in layers, they would have to wait for the paints to dry at each level which may take up to a week. The oils used would dry at their own pace.

Unlike water paintings, changes to oil paintings can be made during its drying period.  Oil paintings do not dry through evaporation, they have to be oxidized. And then these paints are varnished after six months or a year. Some art conservators consider an oil painting to be dry only after its 60-80 years old.

Oil paintings reached the pinnacle during the renaissance, where artists began to select wooden panels as their base medium. They would stretch their canvas over the wooden panel. Artists used a variety of brushes to produce different kinds of unique effects, knives and blades were also used. Some artists painted with their fingers too.

Typically, my Grandfather painted on canvas, but when he ran out and we haven’t had time to buy new ones for him, he would paint on anything! He has painted on wooden boards, back of other paintings, and believe it or not, he’s painted directly onto the wall of his dining room!

Oil paintings today

Oil painting is an astonishing art form and even today there are many artists who work fabulously with oil paints. But now there are more sophisticated tools to produce oil paintings such as water miscible oil paints. These paints can be thinned and cleaned up with water rather than using the turpentine. Earlier turpentine was used as a cleaner and / or thinner in oil paintings. These water miscible oil paints reduce the deep odor of toxic chemicals. Those days artist coated a blended mixture on the canvas before they started painting, this was done to protect the canvas from the toxic nature of the paints. But with the improvements of paints, some of the older safety measures are no longer required.

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: , , , ,

Frame Painting - Art Prints Framed

Posted June 1, 2010 By admin

Painting with a Textured Frame

Purchasing a framed painting (a large one anyway) may seem daunting to the first timer and may affect the decision they make in purchasing the painting itself. What I do is look at the painting and frame in isolation and then together as one piece.  If the choice is available, I usually like buying the painting unframed and then framing separately.

It is fairly simple to frame and relatively inexpensive. Many of the art frames can be purchased to match your décor and/or other artwork adjacent. Sometimes an ordinary piece of art can become somewhat if you choose the right frame. The choices are limitless when it comes to finding the right frame online or offline. Having said this, I have bought paintings before with the frame because I happened to like the combination which was a bonus.

If you are purchasing an unframed work directly from the artist it never hurts to ask if they have a connection to get you a good priced frame. Artists that sell a lot will not purchase frames at retail price. They usually have a friendly source or a good business connection that deals with frames, so talk to him or her and see if you can get you a discount. It never hurts to ask.

If you prefer to look for a frame yourself then I’m sure you won’t have a problem

Painting with a Sophisdicated Golden Frame

finding a professional framers in your area. They are quite common place nowadays. As with any service or profession some are good and some are not so good. Shop around for the best service, best price, and look for value as you would for any other product or service.

Below are just a few tips to help you choose your frame.

Size

Making any sized frame “work” with a piece you must ultimately control the proportions with matting. A wide frame requires more matting than a narrow frame.

Style

By looking at your painting you will see how the coloring, theme and medium will most often direct you toward a particular  type of frames. Generally the frame should go with the theme, medium and style of

Painting with a Simple Black Frame

the painting. If you are still having a hard time with choosing your frame you can also use the décor of your room in which the piece will hang as your guide. For example, you wouldn’t use a wooden frame with an unfinished look more suitable for a cottage in a condo with a modern decor.

Wooden frames will look good with most paintings, it’s more a matter of the color of the wood and how the wood is finished.  Wood can be stained in colors like walnut, cherry, oak, ash, basswood, poplar, and pine. Stained wood can be plain, carved, simple or ornate. And, many wood frames are available in lacquer finishes, faux finishes, and gold or sliver leaf.

Metal frames work well with certain décor, or with more  modern pieces and posters can also be a good choice. I would however stay well away from plastic or acrylic frames. They just don’t do anything for your feel, decor or the value of your painting.

If you are going to buy your frame online, make sure you know exactly what you are buying. You would preferably have checked out different frames at a store before making your purchase online.

Painting with a Walnut & Gold Swept Frame

Painting with Raw Wooden Frame

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , ,

Where To Buy Oil Paintings?

Posted May 2, 2010 By admin
We have a custom made replica oil painting displayed in our library.  It’s a portrait of a woman in the 1770s in Spanish Costume reading. Every single day I look at her and I am amazed as to what she might be reading and thinking, sometimes I feel as though the painting has changed somehow, maybe she’s turned a page, maybe the story in her book developed since yesterday. It gives new meaning every time I see it. Every person who has looked at it had a different interpretation of what she might be feeling, or what her story is. It sparks the imagination. It triggers your emotion and makes you think. Such is the power of portraits created by the brilliant artists.

The Woman Reading

Oil Paintings give visual appeal to any room in your home or work place. If you place a painting on a wall strategically it will create a serene and inviting ambiance to your home.  Our friends have always verbalized the fact that they feel very at ease and unusually at home at our place but couldn’t pin point what it was exactly that makes them feel that way. If this is applied in a commercial setting, it might even give you an edge over your competitors because your customers or clients feel at ease in your office!

Did you ever wonder how you could buy those high quality, stunning oil paintings? Most galleries present you with only a limited range of painting. Only the exclusive and famous artists have the opportunity to display the art in such places. The only place you could find work of art from both prominent as well as upcoming artist are real high quality websites. I have bought one of our paintings online (actually through eBay), but make sure you do your research before you hand over your money.

At first even I was of the opinion that online purchase of such work of art may not be the best-suited method to get genuine high quality work. But when I heard about custom designs from well-known artists that could be offered right to your doorstep I was just thrilled. There is also a money back guarantee if there is any dissatisfaction towards the delivered material. Obviously the money back guarantee is only useful if the seller is actually trust worthy. The eBay buying platform is good because it is based on a feedback system, so we bought from someone who has had good feedback from buyers who bought from them for paintings of similar price.

The purchased painting was shipped to us in sturdy tube containers for a small additional cost. Every care was taken to deliver the work of art safely to us. There was also a choice of framing services but we chose to frame the painting afterwards ourselves to save on postage costs.

We always used to worry that a transaction was not safe over the Internet. But now we think that if you are wary and do your due diligence, the chances of getting cheated are minimized. Online transactions are now quite protected with secure payment systems such as PayPal. So if you don’t end up receiving your painting I think you can dispute it through the secure payment system. If you paid by your credit card, you should also be able to get your money back by lodging a dispute with the credit card company with the details of the transaction and asserting that you did not receive your goods.

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: , , ,

My Love for Oil Paintings Soothes the Soul

Posted April 16, 2010 By admin

Painting by my Grandfather H Malek

I can absolutely get lost in a beautiful painting like the one I’m sharing with you here. There is something about being at a Art Gallery. I know some may find it boring, but if you are reading my posts, then chances are you love visiting Art Galleries and appreciating each piece just like me.

Each time we travel, we indulge ourselves by spending a day at the Gallery. Recently, we visited Canberra, the Capital City of Australia, where their National Gallery was exhibiting 112 Masterpieces from Paris, featuring original paintings by Van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet and many more. These paintings are usually exhibited in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris but were lent to the Australian National Gallery during its renovations. What a treat it was!

I truly believe that beautiful paintings soothe the soul. That is why you get that peaceful and calm feeling when you are in a Gallery. You see my theory about this is backed up by the fact that Hospitals and Hotels alike are filled with beautiful oil paintings, or replicas to them, thereby creating a healthier environment for patients in hospitals and a relaxing environment for hotel guests. The simple act of hanging beautiful oil paintings on the wall may make a huge difference in a person’s overall disposition.

This is why I advocate for decorating one’s home with oil paintings (especially ones with beautiful scenic views or of the sky or a beautiful flower bouquet). If you have a painting on the wall in the lounge room, or the hallway it immediately lifts the spirit of your home and make you feel like you are in a hotel or Bed & Breakfast somewhere. I truly believe art can have a positive effect on both our health and well being.  I have even heard that studies have been made which shown that oil paintings and art have a beneficial impact on patients, such as helping patients fade levels of anxiety and depression during the wait prior to surgery.

The way art makes me feel empowers me to dream and feel positive about my life in general.

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , ,

Personalize and Decorate your Home with Oil Paintings

Posted March 28, 2010 By admin

Replica oil painting of Gauguin's Bouquet of Flowers by Fabulous Masterpieces

There are many different ways that you can decorate the walls of your home. If you are a homeowner, you may have already looked into some of the available options. A simple change or add-on to the decorations on your walls could go a long way in making your entire home much more appealing. The only question is, what are you going to do make this change?

One of the most obvious but overlooked options is adding oil paintings to your walls. This is something that a lot of people have not considered, but it is definitely an option that will brighten up your home. The main reason that most people do not look into adding oil paintings is that they have no idea on where to start - if they get a cheap painting then it will probably ruin the entire ambiance of the home, and if they get an expensive painting, then how expensive? and are they going to overpaid for a painting that is really not worth that much? These matters should not stop you from considering the options of oil paintings. Instead, you should learn a lot about oil paintings so that you have the knowledge needed to buy the ones that will match your personality and the general decor of your home.

First of all, you should consider what your room already looks like. In other words, you cannot simply buy an oil painting and assume that it is going to look right just because the painting looks nice on its own. You need to consider the current décor of your room. For instance, what color are the walls? What about the carpeting and furniture? You will want your oil paintings to match everything else that is in your room. If you do not do this, you will not be completely satisfied with the way that your oil paintings look.

Annie's Painting painted by her friend Glo

Although oil paintings are a great way to color your wall, you need to consider other details at the same time. Although size usually does not matter, it is something that you need to take a closer look at. In many cases, a large oil painting will overpower the rest of your room. If this is the sort of look you are going for, there is nothing wrong with this. But of course, your best bet would be to find the perfect sized oil painting. The best way to do this is by measuring your walls, and then choosing the size that is going to fit proportionately.

A high quality oil painting is certainly a great way to bring color to any room. For some, hanging an oil painting on every wall of the home is a great way to “personalize” the home; for others, a scarce piece of art only in the most commonly trafficked areas of the home is preferred. There is no right or wrong way, the choice is up to you.
Hopefully with what has been said, I have convinced you to at least consider using an oil painting to add color or update the decor of your home before considering other more painstaking options.

Painting from Ann Althouse

Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , ,