Finally painted something in oil that I don't completely hate:D
3yr
Jan D.
So I have been getting into oils for about a month now. Got some good pointers here before. Better brushes do help a lot!:D
I feel like I'm finally starting to understand what I'm doing to the point where I can sit down and try to paint something instead of worrying too much bout mediums, solvents, brushes and all that. I suppose just a matter of experimenting with tools and practicing now.
I'd be very happy to get any critique or tips, especially those relating to the oil paints medium:)
I was also thinking of buying Stephen Bauman's course on Classical Portraiture, here on Proko. Is it a good choice for me as a beginner in the medium or should I try some more basic courses? If so do you know of any good ones?
Edit: Forgot one thing!:D I have to keep my painting in direct sunlight when photographing it since my cheap phone camera needs a lot of light to take reasonable quality photos. I know I will probably have to invest in some better camera sometime but for now I will have to stuck to the phone camera. How much of a problem are the highlights on the paint? It's have to avoid them with direct sunlight and glossy paint. Any tips relating to that?
I have the same issue with my phone. If it is a really bright day, something that works for me is to hang a white sheet or a large white board or canvas and use the board and sun as multiple light sources. I can usually get pretty good lighting, the angle helps reduce the glare. It can be tricky to get right the first time.
Thanks Jonathan. Do you mean like bouncing the sunlight of the white sheet to light the painting? That's interesting! I will give that a try!:)
Hi @Jan D. I really like this!! I love the way you have put the background in and the nose and eye shadows are great. I have to admit to being a beginner myself so can't offer you much of a critique - After about a month I am still struggling to get beyond really limited colour pallets, so I think you are doing great... I don't see the reflections on your photo, but I too am struggling with how to photograph oil paintings without reflections - and I'm not sure its the camera that is the problem.
I am also doing SB's classical portraiture course, and am finding it OK to be honest - I have had to do a bit of "Googling" of some of the terms that he uses - "oiling out" for example as it it not directed at beginners, but because you can watch the whole thing in real time from start to finish you do learn a lot. What I find really interesting is the time you invest in things that are not the final picture - the initial graphite sketch and the Grisaille stage (where I am currently hanging out and trying desperately not to mess things up) all take ages, and you realise that you haven't even got to the final painting in real colours stage - but it does open your eyes to a whole different way of working - so in answer to your question I think it is OK to try it, but take it slow and although you might not produce the most fantastic painting yourself, you will certainly learn loads.
Thanks Jo! The stages of the painting/the process is really why I am interested in that course. Just don't want to learn something stupid doing it myself. It is hard to come up with a process by following many different artists since they all approach it so differently.
Asked for help
wow! That skull looks amazing. The whole painting feels clean and sharp, which is great. I don’t think there is a problem with your direct sunlight, but your reflect light on the back of the skull’s head kinda looks wobbly. Great job with this piece Jan :D
Yeah It is kinda messy in that area. Still getting used to working with physical paints:) I suppose working a little bigger pieces will help. This was only round A5 or smthn. Thanks Bucky!:)
Lovely colours! Looks especially nice when small. I'm still a bit overwhelmed by the materials I need to use for oil XD. The picture looks quite nice, don't worry about it ;D
If you can wait for like a month or some half a year for the surface to harden to a point you can varnish it with some matte/gloss varnish. I do some of my gouache paintings with that but don't very much like the result. Maybe it's more suitable for oils.
Yeah Varnishing is another thing To learn:) I have heard that you need to wait like at least 6 months before varnishing oil. Will have to look into that:) Thanks Yiming!:)
