11 Best Oil Painting Tutorials

Compiled from our favourite oil painting tutorials, pick and choose a guide to learn more. Alternatively, work your way through each article, to get an in-depth understanding of the medium and a thorough introduction to the world of oil painting.

 Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate painter or you just want to relearn some of the basics, there will be a tutorial to help you improve your skills.

1. Oil Painting Supplies

Before embarking on your oil painting journey, you’ll want to make sure you have all the essential supplies. This tutorial covers choosing the best paint, canvas, brushes, easels and other tools you’ll need to get started.

2. Oil painting techniques tutorial

In this oil painting tutorial, learn twelve oil painting techniques. From the more common, like blending and blocking-in, to the more obscure, like sgraffito. Some techniques are easy to master, but others require skill and practice. If you’ve ever wondered how to create an oil glaze, or how to paint ‘alla-prima’, then this is the tutorial for you.

3. Clean up after oil painting

The cleaning up process in oil painting is often something that puzzles and sometimes even puts beginners off learning the medium. 

Oil cannot be cleaned from materials with water alone. Luckily, you don’t need to get harsh solvents to wash oil paint from your brushes and other materials. Read our tutorial for an easy to follow, solvent-free cleaning method to keep your brushes in perfect condition and your space free from heady solvent fumes.

Glass Painting Tips & Ideas for Beginners

Do you like the way light streams in through a stained glass window? Imagine if you could recreate this wonder in your room! Thanks to glass paints, it’s now completely possible to do so. If you’re trying out glass paints for the first time, here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Make sure that the glass surface is washed and dried properly. There should be no trace of oil on it.
• Water-based paints are ideal for beginners. Once you’re comfortable with glass painting, move on to solvent-based ones as they last longer.
• Apply the liner generously, as it works as a border that prevents paints from mixing.
• Use a brush to spread the paint. If the sections are too close, take regular and repeated breaks to give the paint time to dry. This will prevent seepage and smudging.
• If you’re not satisfied with the colour, reapply a coat but only after the first coat has dried.

Here are some easy designs to begin with: