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Oil Painting for Beginners: Materials, Techniques, Exercises
New
Rating: 4.9 out of 5(8 ratings)
16 students
Created byTristan Stm
Last updated 4/2026
English

What you'll learn

  • Understand the essential materials and tools for oil painting and how to use them effectively.
  • Learn proper brush handling techniques for precision, control, and expressive strokes.
  • Master color mixing to create a wide range of tones and harmonies.
  • Develop skills to paint smooth gradients and clean transitions between colors.
  • Practice exercises to model form, volume, and light with confidence.
  • Complete a final painting project that integrates all techniques learned in the course

Explore related topics

Course content

2 sections • 15 lectures • 2h 51m total length

  • Materials17:16

    Discover the essential tools for oil painting — paints, brushes, supports, mediums, and palettes — and learn how to select and prepare them for optimal results.

  • Brush Techniques30:38

    Learn the core brush movements and handling skills to control stroke direction, pressure, and texture, giving you precision and expression in your painting.

  • Cleaning Brushes5:28

    Understand the proper methods for cleaning oil paint from your brushes to keep them in top condition and extend their lifespan.

  • Cleaning the Palette2:41

    Learn quick and effective ways to clean your palette so you can maintain a fresh surface and preserve the purity of your colors.

  • Creating a Flat Background6:19

    Discover how to apply paint evenly to create a smooth, uniform background without visible brush marks.

  • Blending Colors Smoothly7:14

    Master the art of blending two colors seamlessly to create smooth gradients and soft transitions in your paintings.


  • Making a Painting Medium and Following the Fat Over Lean Rule14:21

    Learn how to prepare your own painting medium and apply the fat over lean principle to ensure your oil paintings remain stable over time.


  • Using Liquin8:56

    Explore how to use Liquin to improve flow and adjust the finish of your oil paintings.


  • Signing Your Artwork4:55

    Find out how to sign your work neatly and confidently, choosing the right tools and placement for a professional result.

  • Varnishing Your Artwork5:41

    Learn how to apply varnish correctly to protect your painting, unify its finish, and enhance colors once it’s fully dry.

  • Getting an Accurate Drawing Before Painting – Even Without Drawing Skills I2:15
  • Getting an Accurate Drawing Before Painting – Even Without Drawing Skills II19:28

    Discover how to use the grid method to create an accurate and proportional drawing as a foundation for your oil painting, even if you have little or no drawing experience.

  • An Exercice to Get Better with the Grid Technique6:18

Requirements

  • No prior experience required — just the desire to learn and explore oil painting

Description

If you want to start oil painting but don’t know how to handle the materials or control your brush, this course will guide you step by step.

Oil painting can feel overwhelming at first. Many beginners struggle with how to apply paint, how to create smooth transitions, or how to control the thickness and movement of the brush. Without a clear method, it is easy to feel lost or frustrated.

In this course, you will focus on the essential techniques needed to build a strong foundation in oil painting.

You will begin by learning the basic gestures: how to apply paint, how to control your brush, how to create smooth blends, and how to work with flat areas of color. These technical skills are fundamental and will directly impact the quality of your paintings.

You will also learn how to prepare and use a painting medium, and how to approach your work in a clean and controlled way.

Once these basics are understood, you will apply them through two practical exercises.

The first exercise focuses on working with a limited palette, using only two colors to better understand values and transitions. The second exercise, a fragmented amphora, will help you develop precision, control, and observation by working step by step on different areas of the painting.

The goal of this course is not to create a perfect painting, but to give you the technical tools and understanding needed to paint with more confidence and control.

By the end of this course, you will have a clear and structured approach to oil painting, and a solid base to continue progressing.

Who this course is for:

  • Beginners who want to start oil painting with clear, step-by-step guidance.
  • Hobbyists looking to strengthen their fundamentals and build lasting skills.
  • Artists from other mediums curious about exploring oil painting techniques.
  • Anyone who wants to understand the essentials of materials, color, and brushwork to create confident, expressive paintings.

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