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Oil Painting: Tips on Glazing
Author: Robert PittsJun 5
Oil Painting: Fat Over Lean
Author: Robert PittsJun 5
'Fat over lean' refers to the principle of applying 'fat' oil paint, which has a higher oil to pigment ratio, over 'lean' oil paint, which has a lower oil to pigment ratio, in order to ensure a stable paint film. The idea is to prevent upper layers of oil paint from drying faster than lower layers, which can lead to an oil painting cracking.
Oil paint straight out of the tube is considered 'fat'. Adding more oil, such as linseed oil, will make it even 'fatter', further increasing the drying time. Even when it feels dry to the touch, it may still ...
Van Gogh in the City of Light
Author: Robert PittsMay 27
In March of 1886 the Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh moved to Paris to study in the studio of Fernand Cormon. Cormon, a former pupil of the famed French academic painter Alexandre Cabanel, was one of the leading history painters of the time. While there, van Gogh lived with his brother Theo, his most ardent supporter.
Less is known about van Gogh's time in Paris than other periods of his life, since he and his brother had no need to correspond during this time. However, it is known that van Gogh frequented the circle of the Australian impressionist painter John Peter ...
Choosing The Right Easel
Author: Robert PittsMay 24
Choosing the right easel is a very important, if not often considered, part of painting. Regardless of how you paint, it is very important to have an easel that is steady and firm. It should hold the canvas without shaking, especially if you paint in a heavy-handed, impasto style. Nothing is more annoying than a poor easel, and while you could pay a lot of money for a really nice easel, there are quality easels available that won't break the bank.
Along with the quality of the easel, you also have to consider the style of the easel. Do you paint ...
Pablo Picasso and Cubism
Author: Robert PittsMay 23
Cubism, including Analytic Cubism (1909-1912), and later Synthetic Cubism (1912-1919), was one of the most influential art styles of the early twentieth century. Developed by Pablo Picasso and George Braque, Analytic Cubism took objects apart and "analyzed" them in terms of their shapes, while Synthetic Cubism utilized cut paper fragments, including portions of newspaper pages or wallpaper, which were pasted into compositions. Interestingly, Synthetic Cubism marked the first use of collage in fine art.
The term Cubism was coined after the French art critic, Louis Vauxcelles, saw the landscapes painted by Braque in 1908 at L'Estaque. Vauxcelles called the geometric forms ...
How to Paint Like Rembrandt
Author: Robert PittsMay 23
Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leydn, and later moved to Amsterdam to study in the studio of Peter Lastman. Lastman, who had traveled to Italy and was familiar with the works of Carravagio, likely instilled a love of chiaroscuro in the young Rembrandt. Rembrandt's early paintings, however, were done in the Dutch seventeenth-century style, consisting of thin layers.
With age came the development of Rembrandt's signature style. His use of impasto in the light areas grew heavier and heavier, while his shadows became increasingly transparent. His series of self-portraits document the evolution of his technique, offering an invaluable glimpse at ...
Oil Painting Is Not As Hard As You Think — Really
Author: Robert PittsMay 23
I began drawing as a child, and quickly mastered graphite, charcoal and colored pencil. Eventually, I gave water colors a try and found them to be a relatively easy medium to work with. The same went for Pastels. But what I really wanted to try was oil painting.
For some reason, though, the thought of oil painting intimidated me, despite my prior success with other mediums. I had dipped my toes into the pool a few times, and it only confirmed my fears. It wasn't until I finally dove in that I discovered what a versatile and forgiving medium oil paints ...
Choosing The Right Brushes For Oil Painting
Author: Robert PittsMay 23
Paint brushes come in a variety of shapes, sizes, materials, and costs. Determining which one is right for you, and when it is the right one, depends largely on how you want to use it. The main types of brushes are china bristle, soft hair, and synthetic bristle.
China Bristle Brushes
China bristle brushes, also called hog bristle or Chungking bristle, are made from natural pig hair. They are tough, durable brushes, able to stand up to the oil while still cleaning up nicely. They can hold a lot of paint, making them ideal for alla prima painting or impasto.
Soft Hair ...
Creating Realistic Flesh Tones In Your Oil Paintings
Author: Robert PittsMay 23
Creating realistic flesh tones in your oil paintings can often run the gamut from a little difficult to downright maddening. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to rendering human flesh. However, there are a few tricks you can learn to make the job a little easier.
For starters, keep in mind that human skin is composed of reds, yellows, and blues, also known as the primary colors. When you mix these three colors in the right proportions, you get a nice shade of brown. Add some titanium white to bring out the contours and highlights and you are on ...
Featured Author Robert Pitts
I'm an artist and art lover. I also enjoy art history, where a lot of my inspiration comes from. My chosen medium is oils, though I do enjoy drawing in graphite and color pencil from time to time.
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