Oil painting produces some of the most magnificent pieces of art. The technique has been in existence for centuries and used pigments obtained from various types of seeds. Examples of these seeds include linseed, poppy seed, safflower and walnut among others. It is possible for the artist to prepare the oil paints themselves or to buy them from art supply stores. We will look at examples of oil painting techniques that are commonly used.

Layering is one of the commonest techniques employed. It is a technique in which different colors are applied in an overlapping fashion. The colors in the background must be left to dry first before those in the foreground are added. Ensure also that you use lighter colors for the background and denser ones for the objects in the foreground. The method is best suited for paintings that have to be finished with a lot of detail.

Glazing is another way of creating great pieces. When one intends to demonstrate the transparency of an object, they apply a transparent color over an opaque one. Glazes are generally used to modify various aspects of a paint such as the hue, the texture, the chroma and the value among others. If you wish to give the impression of a transparent glass, make sure that your paint color is pure. Contrasting colors should be added last so as to add density.

Color intensification is necessary in most cases. It is done by diluting a given color or set of colors so as to increase the variety of shades that are available. In general, the lighter shades will be used for the background while the dark shades are for the foreground.

Just as is the case with many other forms of painting, it is possible to achieve color blocking using this technique. This can be done easily using diluted brush strokes and following the outlines of objects in the paintings. This technique makes it possible to clearly define the edges of objects without necessarily using thicker paint. Use the same color that are used inside the object.

Chiaroscuro is a method that will be seen in many different types of paintings inducing those that are oil based. It is a technique that is used to demonstrate the effect of light on objects that have been included in the painting. Light and dark contrast has to be used to indicate the general direction of light. The shadows should be painted using a completely black color.

Monochromatic painting is a feature that can be easily applied here. Some subjects are only brought out by a single color. You can dilute the color chosen severally so as to achieve as many shades as possible. White paint may be helpful in adding volume and relief through the emphasis of white shades. This is done by applying thick white paint over the lighter shades. Be cautious not to overuse the white paint.

Different brush strokes can be adopted to bring out different effects. While long strokes are preferred when painting the background, shorter strokes are mainly used for the foreground. Non-representational strokes may be used to enhance the color of objects within the painting. Dots of varying sizes are also used to create various impressions.