Oil Painting Supplies
Oil painting is a traditional art technique where pigments are mixed with oil, usually linseed oil, to create a rich, vibrant medium.
The slow-drying nature of oil paints allows for more time to blend and layer colors, giving the artist flexibility to create detailed textures, smooth transitions, and depth.
Oil paintings often have a luminous, glossy finish and can be worked on over several sessions due to the extended drying time. This medium is ideal for achieving fine details and complex color variations, and it has been favored by many classical and contemporary artists.
I believe if you can paint with oils you can indeed paint with acrylics, watercolors and gouache!
There’s a difference in all, but oils require a lot of learning and patience which will help learning the other mediums!
So let’s get into the juicy paints and supplies!
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Paints
A great starter set of Gamblin Oil Paints!
Gamblin 1980 Oil Color Exclusive Set, 1.25 Ounce (Pack of 9), 11 Ounce
These radiant colors are so fun to use and great for pastel skies! I love to use the yellows to create a “glow” effect!
Charvin Paints are one of my favorite brands and these sets are amazing! Of course you can buy in single tubes as well! Oil paints are not cheap, but a little goes a very long way!
Charvin Extra-Fine Oils - Red Shades, Bonjour Set of 9-20ml Tubes
Charvin Extra Fine Oil Color Bonjour Set of 9 20 ml Tubes - Greys
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Mediums
Gamblin Galkyd Medium speeds up the drying time and increases the transparency of the oil paint
GAMBLIN ARTISTS COLORS CO Gamblin Galkyd Painting Medium 4 oz Bottle, 4.2 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Linseed Oil - To create more fluid with your oils
Grumbacher Linseed Oil Medium for Oil Paintings, 2-1/2 Oz. Jar
Walnut Oil - Walnut oil will slow down the drying time and you can also use walnut oil to clean your brushes!
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Paint Brushes
My favorite brushes to use are the Milan Art Mastery Brushes. A great set with all the essential brushes!
A chip brush is great for larger spaces, I also tend to use it to “scrub”.
A filbert is my favorite and I like to use this to blend, for broad strokes and also good for larger spaces!
The floater brush- I use this one for scumbling!
A bright brush is versatile and easy to control, similar to the filbert but with a more defined blunt haircut. (Rather than the round-ish shaper of the filbert)
Round Brushes are great for details and more control with lines!
Liner Brush- perfect for details!
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Brush Cleaners/Solvent
I don't recommend leaving your brushes sit in the thinner, I also think it’s a good idea to use this in a well-ventilated area! You can also reuse the solvent, once done with your dirty liquid, you can pour into a large glass jar- it will slowly separate the liquids from the paint and you can carefully pour the top liquids into a fresh jar and use! Once you can no longer use you have to properly dispose of this, you will have to take to a place that recycles paint! You cannot throw this away!
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Cotton Rags
You can use old cotton t-shirts and rip them up or purchase rags from a local hardware store! Just make sure they are cotton. Unfortunately, you can’t wash and reuse these, you cannot put them in a dryer to dry after using them with oils!
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Glass Jar
For your solvent, you can use repurposed jars from condiments in your refrigerator!
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Surfaces for Oil Painting
The cool thing about oils is it seems you can paint on just about anything, but my commonly used surfaces are wood and canvas! 🙂
The Artist’s Loft Canvases- love these and Michael’s has lots of sales on these babies!