These are the essential materials needed to start oil painting. Oil paints are the most popular among great artists, but just because they are the most common does not mean they are the easiest to apply. They are the most common because they produce the best final results, offering superior quality.
Before diving into the explanation, let’s address a basic topic about oil paints. This is something that is often discussed but not widely understood—toxicity.
Toxicity: Materials Needed for Oil Painting
Toxicity is a concern for many when it comes to painting. People often wonder whether to use acrylics or oils, as it’s commonly said that oil paints are more toxic because they require solvents, while acrylics dissolve in water. However, it doesn’t mean that oil paints are inherently more toxic.
Oil paints are made from natural vegetable oils and pigments. These oils are non-toxic and not for human consumption, but that does not mean they are dangerous. You should simply avoid eating while painting or wash your hands well before handling food. This applies not only to oil paints but also to acrylics.
Brushes for Oil Painting
Brushes for oil painting come in various types: natural or synthetic bristles, long or short handles, round, flat, filbert (cat’s tongue), angle brushes, and varying thicknesses, among others. Each brush type serves a different function. There is no strict rule for selecting brushes; it’s more about choosing the one that fits your style and work.
If you’re a beginner, it’s recommended to buy a variety brush kit and experiment with them. Once you get comfortable, you can select specific brush types before investing in a large collection that may not suit your needs.
Supports: Materials Needed for Oil Painting
There is a wide variety of supports you can paint on, such as canvas on stretcher frames, wood, cardboard, or paper. When starting, make sure that the support you’ve chosen is properly prepared for painting, as this will also affect the final result. It’s not just about choosing one of these four supports; it’s about ensuring each one is in optimal condition for quality work. If you’re a beginner, I always recommend starting with canvas, as it’s the most practical.
Colors for Oil Painting
When starting with oil paints, it’s not necessary to buy the highest quality paints, but avoid the cheapest ones. It’s better to purchase a few mid-range quality oils rather than a large quantity of low-quality ones. Moreover, starting with fewer colors will help you learn how to mix them quickly.
Here are the colors I recommend for beginners:
Titanium White
It’s recommended to buy a large tube of this color, as it is involved in most color mixes (and it’s not expensive).
Ivory Black
There are mixed opinions about whether or not to use this color. Personally, I agree with its use (just be cautious not to overuse it for darkening, similar to how we avoid overusing white to lighten).
Yellow Ochre
This color works well for darkening yellows, mixing skin tones, and blending some greens.
Cobalt Blue
This is one of the most neutral blues available in artistic paints.
Burnt Umber
Ideal for darkening some mixes.
Light Yellow
There’s a variety to choose from, like Hansa Yellow, Cadmium Yellow, or Lemon Yellow. Any light yellow without white will work perfectly for a beginner.
Magenta
I recommend Quinacridone Rose made with the pigment PV19 or another magenta made with pigment PR122.
With these colors, you can create a wide range of shades through mixing. In any case, to speed up the mixing process, you can expand your palette with other colors like Ultramarine Blue, Emerald Green, Cadmium Orange, or any colors you feel are missing during your work.
Palette for Mixing Oil Paint
Palettes come in a variety of sizes, materials, and shapes. All are valid, but personally, I prefer using a piece of glass—for example, an old picture frame or a glass shelf. It’s one of the best palettes I’ve used throughout my career, and they are also easy to clean.
Palette Knives for Oil Painting
Among the materials needed for oil painting, palette knives are essential. They can be used to mix paint, although you can also mix directly with a brush. I find the palette knife a very useful tool, especially for preparing initial mixes, as mixing directly with a brush could contaminate the paint. Palette knives are easy to clean.
Easel for Oil Painting
While using an easel is not strictly necessary, it is incredibly helpful in positioning the canvas or support at the right height. More importantly, it allows you to place the support in a way that’s perpendicular to your line of sight.