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HOW TO OIL PAINT: Toning a Canvas

Would you believe that there is a racing certainty that the reason why so far you haven’t been able to draw or paint as well as you want, or at all, is not because you haven’t the talent, it’s because you haven’t had the mind for it? And you may find it even harder to believe, but work on your mind and belief system and you will be able to draw and paint!

These questions may spring to your mind immediately!

Is it dead easy? No!

Is it quick? Depends entirely on you.

But if I stick at it will it work? Yes, undoubtedly, of course – as it does with most things.

Could you teach me? Possibly, but that is not what I do

I haven’t the time to go to classes, does that make it impossible? No! Read on!

How can you vouch for any of this? Simple! I have proved it by trying it myself!

So! Put all your negative thoughts to one side and remind yourself whatever happens, you want to learn to draw and paint. Here are some tips I want to share with you.

Tip 1:- All the helpful tips I give you I have picked up from reading instructional books by artists, having attended only one class session and realising that it was not the way for me.

Tip 2, Decide what form of art appeals to you at this moment which you would love to reproduce: is it watercolours, mixed media, oil painting, or what.

Tip 3:- If you can’t answer yet Tip 2 but you really, really want to draw and paint, go to a Gallery for inspiration on what form of art you would love to try. Or go to a good bookshop and browse through the instructional books by artists to find a form and a style you like. Because much of the tuition involves learning first to copy the pictures provided to you in the book, get a book with finished pictures you like!

Tip 4:- So with your chosen tutorial book on the form and style you want to create, you have a picture of your painting goal! This tip may surprise you. It’s a tip I read in an Artist’s tutorial book which I followed to the letter and am so thankful I did. He advised: “If you want to paint well, learn to draw first”

Tip 5:- Now look in the Book shop for an instructional book on drawing in the same way as you looked for the book on painting. If you like the pencil drawings in a book, buy it. If you don’t, keep looking.

Tip 6. Don’t stint on materials by drawing on the back of envelopes and the like. Buy some decent drawing paper, some good pencils, and some spray fixative to stop the graphite smudging when the pad is closed. And buy a pencil sharpener and a putty eraser.

Tip 7:- Make a start, treating it all as experimental and fun. Learn how to create all manner of effects with a pencil.

But I want to paint! You cry! Surely this is just diverting me!

Tip 8:- I promise – just learn to draw first, telling yourself that 98% of what you learn to be able to draw is also a vital part of learning to paint. Then it makes it so much easier when you come to paint.

Tip 9:- Study the way you can create contrast, tone, definition, and suggestion. All the books tutor on this. And learn one simple truth: all art is really is trickery of the eye! We know when we look along a street, that people of the same size get smaller the further they are away, so mimic that on paper. Read the book and every tip in them. Some enterprising artists have even produced some thin and smaller books with titles starting, “100 tips on. Etc.” Look out for them! They can speed your progress dramatically.

Tip 10:-I honestly believe drawing and painting are skills we can learn if and when we want to. They are not talents we are born with. So the more we practice the better we get. So spend some time on it each week.

Tip 11:-Vital it is that you enjoy the journey as you develop your skill and that you judge yourself kindly otherwise the reflex action in the self-worth part of your brain will kick in and tell you are no good at it. I am telling you that you can be when you know how.

Final Tip 12:- I would advocate you go to a reasonable size W.H.Smith and ask for their tin box (6 inches by 2 inches by ¼ inch) of 6 Pure Graphite Sticks. These come in various degrees of hardness. They can be used as pencils or on the side like charcoal. They are marvelous to use to get started.

Good luck and happy drawing!

Sir Gerry Neale has lectured and trained under-graduates and post graduates at the University of Westminster in cognitive thinking. He has conducted counselling and life coaching programmes with individuals in person and on-line. He has taught himself to draw and paint in watercolour and mixed media ink and watercolour.