Oil Course Topic Summary
Click on any link below to go directly to that topic. If you have not selected your paint, begin with Lesson 1. Otherwise, begin with Lesson 2.
Lesson 1: Choosing Your Paint
How We’ll Use The Decision Table
Discussion Of The Seven Factors
Start Up Cost Of Paint And Supplies
Area To Paint In (“Studio”): Size And Serenity
Area To Store Paintings And Supplies
Set Up, Cleanup, And Painting Basics
Exercise 1: Importance of “Look”
Lesson 2: Safety In Oils
Lesson 3: Locating And Setting Up Your Work Space: Oils
Your Studio Work Space: Examples and Oil/WMO Paint Considerations
Exercise 1: Choose Your Oil Paint Type
Exercise 2: Choose Your Work Space
Exercise 3: Make This Space Yours
Lesson 4: Oil Supplies And What Do I Need?
Color To Buy; Student Versus Artist Grade Paint
Exercise 3: Our Recommendation List And Let’s Go Shopping
Lesson 5: Oil Palettes
Different Types Of Palettes For Oil Painting
An Introduction To Laying Out Your Palette
Cleaning Your Palette And Keeping Paint
Exercise 1: Try Out Your Palette
Lesson 6: Oil Surfaces
Which Is Better: Canvas Or Panel?
Lesson 7: Oil Paintbrushes
Exercise 1: Try Out Your Brushes
Bonus Exercise: Make Your Own Paintbrush Holder
Lesson 8: Oil Painting Methods And Techniques
Exercise: Experiment With Different Techniques
Lesson 9: Basic Color Theory
The Importance Of The Color Wheel
Mixing Paints To Create Colors
Utilizing Color Temperature In Painting
Exercise 1: Make Secondary And Tertiary Colors
Exercise 2: Make Your Own Color Wheel
Lesson 10: Color Illusions And Themes
Color Schemes Based On The Color Wheel
Exercise 1: Paint A Simple Object Using Different Colors
Exercise 2: Feedback On Your Paintings
Lesson 11: Ready To Start Painting: Oils
Lesson 12: Oil Painting Exercise One: Glass Heart
Part Two: Shadows And Highlights
Part Three: Refining And Adding Background
Part Four: Finishing The Painting
Lesson 13: Oil Painting Exercise Two: Apple
Part One: Blocking In The Painting
Part Three: Highlights And Finishing The Painting
Lesson 14: Oil Painting Exercise Three: Landscape
Part Two: Pull Out Highlights And Finish Underpainting
Part Four: Finish The Painting
Lesson 15: Painting En Plein Air With Oils
Supplies For Painting En Plein Air
Exercise 1: Gather Up Your Plein Air Pack