Re: Just starting into oil painting.

In Reply to: Just starting into oil painting. posted by Abbie on 07/06/00 at 4:37 PM:

: ...after you apply a base coat is it best to wait a bit before you dive into the main painting or not? And what is possibly the best thinning solvent?
: Thanks!
: Abbie.
Abbie,if you don't wait you are painting Wet on Wet; some people swear by it, and with care you can avoid muddying colours. (Learning what colours are warm and cool can help you a lot.)
But I love doing layers and glazes, which allows you to build some really neat effects. It does mean you need to let each layer dry. I *never* use a blow dryer myself but some folks especially those who use acrylics tell me they are great. I am going to play some with acrylics this summer while traveling as they do dry more quickly and feel a lot like oils (although awfully intense in colour).
There are mediums you can mix with your oils which can speed (or slow) the dry rate. I confess I rarely mix my own these days, instead I am buying various mediums from Windsor & Newton.
There are some great books and web pages out there; but what you learn experimentally is what sticks with you. And if you love oil painting, or have to do it, then no time is wasted, is it?
 
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