10 Oil Painting Tips:
Have a look through our art supplies to find oils, brushes, paper and canvas and use these handy tips to get you started on your oil painting. 
- Make sure the area in which you work is well ventilated as some of the materials involved in oil painting can be quite toxic.
- Lay your oil paints in the same order each time you paint so that eventually you will be able to pick up the next colour intuitively. This will lend to a smoother painting process.
- When deciding on an under-layer, choose a colour that has pigments of lead, cobalt or manganese because these dry quicker. You can also use acrylic paint layer which dries very quickly.
- Linseed oil dries the most quickly of all the oil mediums so it’s good for under-painting. Rather use Poppy oil if you are painting with light colours as linseed oil can sometimes yellow.
- Remember that the lower layers of oil draw moisture from the layers that are on top of them; make sure that the top layers have more oil in it than the bottom layers. This is called ‘fat-over-lean’ painting. Top layers dry quicker so this will prevent cracking in the paint.
- If you want to be budget friendly, use student oil paints for your under-painting and higher quality paints over them.
- To clean away a layer of oil use alcohol.
- When it comes to brushes: nylon brushes are better for acrylic painting. Use brush cleaner and preserver to keep your brushes in good shape.
- Hold your brush in the middle or towards the end rather than near the bristles.
- Dry your oil painting in a lit area. Darkness can cause the oil to create a colour-yellowing film.
Have a look at our other guides: 10 Acrylic Painting Tips and 10 Watercolour Painting Tips.