The Oil Painting Process - Preparatory Layers (1 of 3)

A comprehensive, simplified look at how to build an oil painting, from substructure to varnish.

“This is an amazing course…This course has filled in all the gaps of knowledge that we know exist but don't know where or how to find the answers. This is THE foundational course we have all wanted and searched for.” - Josh F.

This is an extremely comprehensive 5-hour long online painting class with a focus on the construction of an oil painting and the process of layering paint rather than actual brushwork and design. To truly master oil painting, it’s important to have a strong foundation; to thoroughly understand your materials and their proper usage. You have to know how to build a sound substructure or base, and then apply the paints in such a way as to ensure decades of life for the painting.

In this comprehensive course, students are taken step-by-step through topics such as supports, sizing, grounds, an imprimatura, the underdrawing, the underpainting, upper layers of paint, and varnish. Each layer is explained thoroughly and clearly, and then followed up with related demonstrations so that students can follow along.

Part 1: The Preparatory Layers -https://skl.sh/3ibN5XK

Part 2: Preparing for the Upper Layers - https://skl.sh/36E8F5o

Part 3: The Upper Layers - https://skl.sh/35flMHw

 

Part One introduces students to the course and goes into a deep discussion on the layers that form the foundation of an oil painting. Topics include oil painting support materials, the sizing layer, what a painting ground is and how to apply it, and optional approaches to the imprimatura layer.

What you’ll learn in the full course

• How to create a stable, long-lasting oil painting
• Why sizing is necessary and how to apply it
• How to mount a canvas to board or panel.
• What an imprimatura is and how it’s beneficial
• Different approaches to an underdrawing
• Clarity of the fat-over-lean rule for layering
• How the upper layers of paint are related to creativity
• What varnish is and how to apply it
• The various support options plus their pros and cons
• Clarity on the different types of gesso and how to apply each
• Methods for creating a colored ground
• Methods for applying an imprimatura layer
• Understanding of what oil paint is made of and how it dries
• Different ways to approach an underpainting.
• How several Masters approached the upper layers

Are there any course requirements or prerequisites?

• Students should have a very basic understanding of how oil paints work.

Who this course is for:

• This course is for any artist working in oil painting who wants a clear understanding of how to build up the layers in an oil painting.
• This course is for oil painters who sometimes feel confused about terms and definitions related to oil painting.
• Oil painters who want to create long-lasting finished products will benefit from the material.

 

• Oil Painting Process Trailer
• Taking This Course
• Introduction to Supports
• Rigid Supports
• Flexible Supports
• Solid Wood Option
• Sizing
• Sizing Demo
• Mounting Canvas to Board or Panel
• Grounds
• Acrylic Ground Demonstration
• Oil Ground Demonstration
• Colored Grounds Demonstration
• Imprimatura
• Imprimatura Demonstration