oil painting supplies: beautiful, rich oil paintings are the standard of fine art

  • The old masters used oil painting supplies for their classic paintings.

Get your supplies ready before you start painting. Good supplies don't make a good artist, but they sure make painting easier and more fun.

Select your paint, the colors, the surface you will paint on, the brushes you will use and items for cleanup.

questions about oil painting supplies?

A beautiful painting by Carol May done with oil painting suppliesOil painting of "Koi Feeding"

Amazon affiliates earn from sales with no cost to you. Learn More

what are the best oil paints?

  • Winsor & Newton paints have been the classic standard of oil painting supplies since 1830.

Winsor (a chemist) partnered with Newton, (an artist) to produce high quality paints that are chemically sound and beautiful, as well.

They are easy to use right out of the tube. They do not require the addition of any other mediums or thinners.


>

Water-mixable oil paints

  • Water-mixable oil paints are popular today for environmentally conscience people.

The paints are thinned with water, instead of solvents like turpentine or mineral spirits.

After painting, it is easy to clean up with only water.


what is the best paint for students?

  • Winton paints, made by Winsor & Newton are considered the best student paints available.

They have the highest pigment load of all the student paints.

Student paints contain less pigment than the artists' paints, so they are less expensive.

They certainly are good for student learning and practice.


what are alkyd paints?

  • Alkyd paints use the same pigments as other paints combined with alkyd resin.

Oil paint pigments are combined with linseed oil. They take a long time to dry and they dry at various speeds, depending on the colors and the weather.

"Beauty and Joy" a beautiful butterfly painting by Carol May done with oil painting materialsAlkyd Painting "Beauty and Joy"

Alkyd colors all dry at the same rate with a lovely soft sheen. They dry completely over night or within 24 hours maximum.

They look like and handle just like oil paints. Alkyd paints may be used for underpainting or for an entire painting.

Griffin Alkyds by Winsor & Newton have been my "oil painting supplies" since the 1980s, instead of the traditional slow drying oil paints.

You may want to start with a set of Gamblin Fastmatte Alkyd Oil Colors.

Gamblin is an American paint company noted for their environmentally friendly products.

Their set of fast drying alkyd paint includes seven selected colors, plus white.

what colors do i need to start oil painting?

A good place to start choosing colors is with the three primary colors; red, yellow and blue.

A warm and cool version of the three primary colors will give you mixing capabilities for any color you want in your paintings.

  • Red - Cadmium Red Light and Alizarin Crimson
  • Yellow - Cadmium Yellow Light and Yellow Ochre
  • Blue - Ultramarine Blue and Thalo Blue

You will also need to add a large tube of white to your oil painting art supplies.

Titanium White is the recommended white for mixing and general painting.

A paper palette is very handy. When you are finished painting, just roll it up and dispose it.

Paper Palette

what do I paint on?

  • It makes good sense to use the traditional oil painting supplies.

Paintings done with either canvas or hardboard panels will last for years. You can hand them down to your children and grandchildren.

canvas

Stretched canvas has a wonderful give and feel when you are painting on it.

Canvases come primed with gesso and ready for painting.

Gallery-wrap canvases are popular.

You paint the edges of the canvas that wrap around the stretcher bars. Then the painting may be displayed without a frame.



panels

Hardboard panels don't take up as much space in storage.

Ampersand Gessobord panels have been archivally prepared and are ready to paint on.

Their smooth surface is suitable for fine details and glazing.

Yet they are sturdy enough for palette knife work and heavy paint applications.



canvas boards and paper

Canvas panels are inexpensive and good for practice and student work.

The panels may warp after a period of time.

Paper may be used for sketches and student work.

Use a heavy paper like watercolor paper and prime with gesso to keep the paint from soaking into the paper.


what brushes are best for oil painting?

hog hair brushes

Oil painting supplies should include the traditional hog hair brushes.

They are sturdy enough to move the oil paint around.

They are good for expressive paintings where you want the brush strokes to show.



soft brushes

Soft synthetic brushes or animal hair brushes are good for smoother paintings like portraits.

Their soft brush strokes don't leave ridges that show and they make blending easy.

You normally would have to thin the paint to use with soft brushes.


how do i clean my brushes?

You may need a solvent to thin your paints for painting. Also, use it to clean your brushes between colors and when you finish painting for the day.

You may use a brush cleaner after painting to clean and preserve your brushes.

do i need turpentine for painting?

Turpentine is the traditional solvent used for oil painting. However modern artist use odorless turpentine or mineral spirits.

Gamsol odorless mineral spirits is considered safest for in the studio.

Gamsol odorless mineral spirits for in the studio.

Keep your solvent in a covered container when not in use.

Clean and preserve your brushes with Master's Brush Cleaner.

your oil painting checklist

  • Quality paint
  • Something to paint on
  • Brushes
  • Palette
  • Thinner and brush cleaner

Good light and ventilation in your painting area


These oil painting supplies have produced a lot of good paintings for artists over the years.

they will work for you, too!



You might like these

  • Shop the art store of the artist Carol May for original paintings for sale by the artist. You’ll find lively and colorful original oil and watercolor paintings.

    Original Paintings for Sale by the artist

    Shop the art store of the artist Carol May for original paintings for sale by the artist. You’ll find lively and colorful original oil and watercolor paintings.

  • Fine art prints for sale by the artist Carol May. Enjoy the beauty of landscapes, seascapes, flowers, butterflies, hummingbirds, and many interesting critters.

    Art Prints for Sale by the artist Carol May

    Fine art prints for sale by the artist Carol May. Enjoy the beauty of landscapes, seascapes, flowers, butterflies, hummingbirds, and many interesting critters.

  • Confidently do an easy daisy painting of white daisies with oils. Speed up your art journey while learning how to paint daisies with this step-by-step tutorial.

    Daisy Painting with Oils

    Confidently do an easy daisy painting of white daisies with oils. Speed up your art journey while learning how to paint daisies with this step-by-step tutorial.

  • We can learn how to paint a rose with step by step instructions. Follow the easy steps and practice painting a red rose and a multicolored rose with oil paints.

    How to Paint a Rose

    We can learn how to paint a rose with step by step instructions. Follow the easy steps and practice painting a red rose and a multicolored rose with oil paints.

  • Five steps on how to make a garden we are proud to show off. Prepare the soil, plant, water, fertilize and prune gardens of vegetables, flowers and landscape.

    How to Make a Garden

    Five steps on how to make a garden we are proud to show off. Prepare the soil, plant, water, fertilize and prune gardens of vegetables, flowers and landscape.

  • Get fun stuff with art by Carol May printed on them. Everyday items become art pieces; puzzles, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, t-shirts and coffee mugs.

    Fun Stuff with Painting Art by Carol May

    Get fun stuff with art by Carol May printed on them. Everyday items become art pieces; puzzles, phone cases, throw pillows, tote bags, t-shirts and coffee mugs.

  • Must read Christian books about going to heaven. These books have the answers. What is heaven like, what will we see and do in heaven, how can we visit heaven?

    Must read Christian books

    Must read Christian books about going to heaven. These books have the answers. What is heaven like, what will we see and do in heaven, how can we visit heaven?

  • Ampersand Aquabord or aquaboard is a great surface for painting beautiful watercolors without the hassle of stretching paper, matting or framing your paintings.

    Aquaboard

    Ampersand Aquabord or aquaboard is a great surface for painting beautiful watercolors without the hassle of stretching paper, matting or framing your paintings.

  • All about phalaenopsis orchid care, Moth orchids, Phals are the new modern houseplants to grow now-a-days. Our home temperatures and light make them easy to grow.

    Phalaenopsis Orchid Care in the home

    All about phalaenopsis orchid care, Moth orchids, Phals are the new modern houseplants to grow now-a-days. Our home temperatures and light make them easy to grow.

  • Confidently learn how to paint a hummingbird with oil paints. Paint the beautiful iridescent colors of a male Broad-billed Hummingbird, a step-by-step tutorial.

    Paint a Hummingbird with Oils

    Confidently learn how to paint a hummingbird with oil paints. Paint the beautiful iridescent colors of a male Broad-billed Hummingbird, a step-by-step tutorial.

  • These watercolor art supplies are tried and true. What works for me will work for you; best paint, what to paint on, brushes, palette, can you paint on canvas?

    Watercolor Art Supplies

    These watercolor art supplies are tried and true. What works for me will work for you; best paint, what to paint on, brushes, palette, can you paint on canvas?

  • Paintings of flowers are very challenging, but such a joy to paint! Enjoy flower paintings of roses, daisies and more, watercolor and oil paintings by Carol May.

    Paintings of Flowers

    Paintings of flowers are very challenging, but such a joy to paint! Enjoy flower paintings of roses, daisies and more, watercolor and oil paintings by Carol May.

  • You can paint portraits when you know how to make skin color. Mixing skin colors is easy. Mixtures of red, yellow, blue and white will create any skin color.

    How to Make Skin Color for your paintings

    You can paint portraits when you know how to make skin color. Mixing skin colors is easy. Mixtures of red, yellow, blue and white will create any skin color.

  • Painting with a limited palette is fun and easy. It is the fastest way to give your art work cohesion and color harmony. Plus you only have to stock a few colors.

    Painting with a Limited Palette

    Painting with a limited palette is fun and easy. It is the fastest way to give your art work cohesion and color harmony. Plus you only have to stock a few colors.

  • Paint a waterfall to add beauty, drama and mystery to our landscape paintings. Add a waterfall to any of your oil paintings, only 3 steps with full instructions.

    Paint a Waterfall

    Paint a waterfall to add beauty, drama and mystery to our landscape paintings. Add a waterfall to any of your oil paintings, only 3 steps with full instructions.

  • Join the artist Carol May and learn how to paint a wave step by step with five easy steps for the beginner. Enjoy painting the sea, a marvelous gift from God.

    How to Paint a Wave

    Join the artist Carol May and learn how to paint a wave step by step with five easy steps for the beginner. Enjoy painting the sea, a marvelous gift from God.



Copyright © 2004-2023
ArtbyCarolMay.com
All Rights Reserved


HOME  -  BLOG  -  CONTACT  -  SITEMAP  -  PRIVACY  -  AFFILIATE