The Main Oil Painting Techniques Used In Modern Art

By Christine Ward


Oil painting is one of the most popular forms of modern art. The technique involves the use of pigments produced from various seeds that include, among others, poppy seed, linseed, walnut and safflower. The paints may be developed by the artists themselves or they may be bought from commercial art outlets. If you are just starting out, there are a number of different oil painting techniques that you may wish to try out.

One of the most popular techniques is the use of layers. In this method, the artist will first paint one layer on the canvas and let it dry. Other colors are then applied in an overlapping manner so that they completely cover those underneath them. The general advice when this method is used is that one chooses lighter colors and then progressively moves to darker colors. Layering is preferably used for a painting that requires fine details and a fine surface finish.

Glazing is another way of creating great pieces. When one intends to demonstrate the transparency of an object, they apply a transparent color over an opaque one. Glazes are generally used to modify various aspects of a paint such as the hue, the texture, the chroma and the value among others. If you wish to give the impression of a transparent glass, make sure that your paint color is pure. Contrasting colors should be added last so as to add 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.

Color blocking is a technique that is used to emphasize the outline of objects appearing on a work of art. In an oil painting, it can be achieved using diluted brush strokes. This will ensure that the desired effect is achieved without adding too much paint to the object. It is generally recommended that one uses a color similar to that used for the object.

Chiaroscuro is a technique that has been used for many years. It is mainly used when there is a need to bring volume to an object. The main consideration when applying this technique is the application of light and dark contrasting to demonstrate the movement of light across the object. Choose a neutral background and ensure that the shadows are completely black.

Monochromatic painting is a technique that is employed in many forms of art and may be employed in this type as well. It entails the use of a single color except in a few cases where white paints may be included. Dilutions are usually done to have a wider variety of shades. The role of the white color when used is to add volume and emphasize the lighter shades.

There are different brush stroke sizes that can used in defining and differentiating objects within a painting. Long strokes, short jabs and even dots can be used depending on the desired effect. Small strokes are preferred for objects that are in the foreground. Non-representational strokes can be used to produce the color and the object simultaneously.




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