Using analog photography as inspiration
The first painting in an ongoing oil series inspired by old photographs. As a self taught painter and photographer, I follow my father's footsteps. His body of work is something I often took for granted, but now, I look to these prints to create painting compositions. If you're looking for oil painting ideas, try looking through old photographs. You might find a person, place or moment worth re-capturing in paint.
Some oil painting tips and ideas to get you started:
1.) Collect a handful of reference photos
This is a trick I learned from an art teacher. There’s nothing wrong with using reference photos as a springboard. I use multiple images as a source of inspiration for a single painting. It’s like a puzzle you’re putting together to create your own unique masterpiece.
2.) Set up a minimal art studio with basic supplies
You don’t need a large space or a Pinterest perfect art studio to have a functional creative space. All you need are some basic supplies (all are listed in the description in the video) and a dedicated corner in your home.
3.) Start with an underpainting & tone your canvas
Toning a canvas gives you an underpainting and guideline to follow when you start adding your second and third layers. Professional artists typically use burnt umber or yellow ochre diluted in solvent for the underpainting. This is a practice I’ve turned to for my latest pieces. It’s less intimidating to paint over a toned canvas than if you were to start from blank.
4.) Trust the process
Beginners are often intimidated by oil paints because of the additional supplies and techniques required, but in fact, there are several advantages. Oil paints are extremely versatile since they take longer to dry. You can push and pull the paint, blend colors easily, make mistakes, and fix them a day later. With mediums like acrylic, watercolor, and gouache, it’s much more difficult to maneuver the colors once they dry.
