Oil painting produces some of the most magnificent pieces of art. The technique has been in existence for centuries and used pigments obtained from various types of seeds. Examples of these seeds include linseed, poppy seed, safflower and walnut among others. It is possible for the artist to prepare the oil paints themselves or to buy them from art supply stores. We will look at examples of oil painting techniques that are commonly used.

Layering is one of the techniques that you may consider as a beginner. As the name suggests, this technique involves the applications of different paints on the canvas in layers that overlap or overlie each other. Lighter colors or shades of a color are applied first to create the background and then allowed to dry before the addition of the denser colors. The method is usually used when great detail is required in finishing a work of art.

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.

Just as is the case with many other forms of painting, it is possible to achieve color blocking using this technique. This can be done easily using diluted brush strokes and following the outlines of objects in the paintings. This technique makes it possible to clearly define the edges of objects without necessarily using thicker paint. Use the same color that are used inside 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 makes use of just one color. Usually, the color is diluted to different degrees so as to obtain a wide range of shades of the same color. To increase the available option, white color is also used in addition to the base color. Its main role is to add volume and relief and to emphasize the lighter shades of the chosen color.

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.