Hi all 😊
I wanted to show you today some steps of my very First OIL PAINTING I’m working on “at the moment” / it is a work in progress (in other words: WIP)
I learn using these oil paints by just starting 😉
This still life of Oranges / oil painting I started in October 2015 at the same time I started my Gouache painting of the Kingfisher. See this Post
I worked on this oil painting on and off, until January 2016. Like the kingfisher… it’s story is similar, as why it is not finished yet.
Let me take you on my journey… learning how to use Oil Paints.
~The Dimensions are 46 x 38 cm / 18.1 x 14.9 inch
~Underground is a wooden box panel.
~Oil paints I am using are the water mixable oil Colours from Royal Talens: Cobra
The reference photo is used with permission from Viacheslav.
This is the stage I’m at, at the moment:
As you can see it is not finished yet. It needs a few more layers on the oranges. I need to correct an area from the paper too. Can you spot which area?
And some more layers on the table and background. But this you only see in real life.
Now I show you the steps and how it went for me using oil paints for the first time
First step:
I prepared my “canvas”. (Wooden box panel) I used Gesso in several layers to make a nice underground, which I sanded down between each steps. The result was a very smooth surface. I did do this as I knew I wanted to add lots of very small details to my painting, this goes better with a smooth underground.
Second step:
Here I drew with a soft graphite pencil all the details onto my canvas. To navigate it easier.
Third step:
As mentioned this is my first oil painting, and I’m learning as I go along… I just try and do what I think I should do. 😎😉 This doesn’t always work out, but I never give up and just work with what I have.
I’m SELF TAUGHT in my art
I also don’t practice, I just start with a new technique or medium and it evolves as I go along.
In this stage you see I blocked in a very thin layer of the background… to get rid of the white from the panel. And to feel what the oil paint feels like and what it can do. I did keep in mind the light and shadow areas. And the drying times.
Fourth step:
I added a thin layer onto the objects. The paper and oranges. As you can see clearly, the sketch is showing through and will guide me further when I add details.
I’m not liking how it looks so far, but could just be me.😇
I see stripes and the layer is too thin to actually be able to blend. So I think I should add a thicker layer next time.
Fifth step:
As said I didn’t like how it looked, so I added a thicker layer of oil paint onto the background. Suddenly, as I thought, I could blend the colours better.
The background is dark, so I could play a bit to learn. How thick I needed to go and when it blends the best.
Sixth step:
I did the same now with the paper and oranges.
A thicker layer to be able to blend better.
Slowly I started also adding more details.
Seventh step:
Added another layer onto the paper and the details from the blue lines.
It is not finished yet… more layers to add especially to the oranges
This is also still the stage this oil painting is at right now.
Like with the gouache kingfisher…. I moved around a bit. Was busy with packing and unpacking. Sometimes we moved after 3 months again. Paperwork… also a never ending thing.
Even moved countries 2 times with moves around there. Life happened/ other things needed to get prioritised. So my artwork had to be put on hold 🤓 for the last 4 years.
But the Hive community will help me start again, as I love sharing my art and photography with you all.🥰😎
I did started slowly with some drawings… I show you soon 😎
Thank you for looking and reading.🙏 Hope you enjoyed my SBS.
Any questions or comments, please let me know. Always happy to help.😊 And talk about my art.
If you are curious for my other Artworks, to see some of my paintings and drawings have a look in my other blogs.
Have a great day all 😎👋🏻
Unless stated otherwise: All art and photos used in my posts are taken, created and owned by me. If you wish to use any of my photographs, please contact me first. As I have used some commercially myself.