Oil painting can be a fun and rewarding way to express your creativity, but if you’re new to it, figuring out which supplies you need might feel overwhelming. Here’s a guide to the 8 essential oil painting supplies every beginner should have in their art kit.
1. Oil Paints
Oil paints are the heart of any oil painting project. When you’re starting, it’s best to begin with a small selection of colours to learn how to mix them. A beginner’s set of primary colours (red, yellow, and blue), along with white and black, is a great starting point. Buy artist quality paints whenever possible. We recommend Art Spectrum’s range of professional quality oil colours.
2. Brushes
You’ll need brushes specifically designed for oil painting. The two most common types are natural bristle brushes and synthetic brushes, each giving different effects. Natural bristle brushes are great for bold strokes and texture, while synthetic brushes work well for smooth, detailed work. Make sure to grab a variety of shapes including round, flat, filbert, liner, dagger, deerfoot and fan brushes, to cover all your bases.
READ MORE: A Beginner’s Guide to Paint Brush Types & Uses
3. Surface to Paint On
You can paint on various surfaces, but stretched canvas is a classic choice for oil painting. It’s already prepped and ready for you to start. If you’re a Beginner or just looking to experiment, canvas boards or oil paper are excellent alternatives. These surfaces are more affordable and perfect for practicing your skills.
READ MORE: Stretched Canvas: What to Look for Before You Buy
4. Palette
A large palette to mix your colours before applying them to your canvas. You can choose a wooden palette, which is reusable and great for traditionalists, or disposable palettes, which make clean-up quick and easy. We recommend using a white or clear palette, so your paints aren’t affected by the tone of the palette underneath. A Palette Knife can also assist with mixing paint colours.
5. Mediums and Solvents
Mediums help change the consistency, drying time, and finish of your oil paint. These 3 products are essential for your oil painting kit.
Liquol is a fast-drying medium that adds a glossy finish. We use Liquol to thin out oil paint and create glazes.
Incredible Brush Cleaner is great for cleaning brushes. It softens hardened brushes & cleans out old oil or lacquer from the bristles.
Mineral Turpentine is used to fully break down oil paint, so only use it for cleaning brushes and palettes.
READ MORE: Gum Turpentine vs Mineral Turpentine: What’s The Difference?
6. Gesso
If you’re using raw canvas, Gesso is an essential primer that prepares the surface for oil painting. It seals the canvas and provides a slightly textured surface for the paint to grip onto. Many canvases come pre-primed, but if you’re preparing your own, you’ll want to apply a few coats of gesso.
7. Graphite Pencils
Before diving in with paint, sketch out your design first using graphite pencils. We recommend using HB or 2B pencils.
Pencils allow you to plan your composition and placement without committing to anything permanent. Just remember to sketch lightly so the pencil marks don’t show through the oil paint layers.
8. Rags
Painting with oils can get messy. Keep plenty of rags or paper towels nearby to wipe off excess paint, clean your brushes between colour changes, and manage any accidental spills. Rags are excellent for wiping off brushes, doing wipe backs on canvas, cleaning hands and your palette too.
TIP: Cut up old shirts and sheets and use them as rags!
These 8 essential supplies are your first steps into the world of oil painting. When you’re a beginner, having the right tools will help you create with confidence. So, gather your supplies and start exploring the wonderful world of oil paints!