Large Oil Canvas

Large Oil Canvas

Learning The Medium To Create Oil Canvas Paintings

Painting on canvas with oil is a beautiful medium of art. It has been around for centuries and has a classic look that does not compare to any other medium. From the Mona Lisa to Van Gough, oil canvas paintings have made a mark on our world with their beauty. The same can be said if you are interested in this medium and want to learn more about it.

In early European days the medium of canvas oil painting made its way to the brushes of the masters from the Middle East. It has since become a classic feel of what a true painter can experience. It is basically described as using oils that dry onto a canvas with linseed oil. Currently many materials use flaxseed oil instead of linseed. An artist desires this specific look and will wait for the canvas to dry and then seal it with varnish. This process can take up to a year in some cases.

These time frames are for specific purposes and often a large canvas. A smaller canvas has less drying time. There is a basic supply list that you will need if you choose to dabble in this type of painting medium.

When you first begin to look at the vast array of supplies available to paint in oils it may be a little overwhelming. There are many different tools you can use. It is best, however, for the beginner to begin with a small kit. These kits have all of the basics you will need to get started. The kits will comprise of paints, brushes, and a palette for mixing paints and typically brush cleaner.

Some kits will include basic brush strokes or a technique book for beginners. This can also be found online with tutorials that will give you detailed example of how to perform the strokes. Like learning many things, knowing the basics is the key to your mastering the skill. It may be tedious at first but it is necessary, like practicing scales on a piano.

The paints themselves for oil canvas painting have different fluidities which are called mediums or qualities. A beginner's paint quality will be more cost effective but may not have the brilliancy as a medium or professional grade. It may be frustrating to the beginner, but practicing strokes with a beginning quality will be more cost effective. When you have mastered the strokes you may want to invest in a medium or professional paint grade that can give you brilliant results.

A basic kit for oil painting on canvas will cost you anywhere between fifty to a little less than two hundred dollars. It is an investment for the hobby that you wish to pursue. Once you have the basic kit and get a feel for the painting you may want to add on to your basic kit with more paints and different brushes. These can be found in art stores in your area and online.

Canvas painting with oils can be a pleasurable experience and becoming your own artist is rewarding. Learn the basics and then branch out into your own style just as the masters have done in the past. Look for special incentives and discounts in supplies to save you money while you enjoy learning this wonderful skill. Who knows, you could be displaying and selling your own oil canvas paintings before you know it.

About the Author

Al Smitty is a writer who loves to discuss many topics ranging from oil on canvas paintings to American football. Thanks for reading!

How do you scan or make paintings digital?

I recently finished some very large oil paintings on canvas, and I was considering starting a website where I can show off my work. How do I go about scanning my pictures? I want to make sure they are high quality, so how do all you guys out there do this? Do you just take a digital pic in a studio. Im new at this, so be kind...

Yes, I've found the only real way to do this is to take a picture of your painting with a high resolution digital camera.
You'll have to adjust lighting and stuff like that, since a black area in a painting can reflect the flash of a camera and then the black area "shines" in the picture, but you can figure that stuff out by trial and error. There aren't really any scanners I know of that can scan giant paintings.