Oil Painting For The Absolute Beginner: A Clear & Easy Guide to Successful Oil Painting

by Mark Willenbrink

The quick-start guide to great results!

Oil painting doesn't have to be rocket science, although some books on the subject make it seem that way. Filled with encouraging, easy-to-follow instruction, Oil Painting for the Absolute Beginner is a no-fear, no-experience-required guide to enjoyable painting and happy results. Focusing on the needs of the first-time painter, this book covers everything from selecting brushes and setting up your palette to key principles of color and composition, presented in a way that moves you confidently from first strokes to finished paintings.

Mini demonstrations break down fundamental painting techniques in a clear, common sense way12 step-by-step painting projects progress from simple landscapes, still life and flower paintings to more challenging subjects, such as animals, seascapes and portraitsThe bonus DVD-workshop features the author creating two paintings from start to finishYou'll learn tricks for keeping the greens in your landscapes looking fresh, advantages to working with water-soluble oil paints, simple tips for dynamic compositions and other expert advice to make your introduction to oil painting the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Genres: Art, Crafts, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2010

Reviews

[Sandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great basic primer for starting to paint in oils. I currently do not paint in oils but I did learn right from the start that there are now water based paints so I might just give oil painting a go. This book was a good jumping off point for me.

[Linda Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduced me to the concept of a mahl stick. Wow! I've already constructed one and tried it. Gamechanger!

Helpful sections on Thinners and Solvents, Stretching Canvas, Structured Drawing and Composition. Also, Positive and Negative Painting, Hard and Soft Edges (for distance).

This is a great book for anyone looking for guidance to try a variety of different paintings. In depth step by step directions are included for fourteen paintings: monochromatic rocks, a sunset beach, a mountain scene, pears still life, sunflowers, cloud study, a landscape with a cottage, a seascape with boats, a summer scene, a twilight scene, a lion, a figure study, a portrait study and a girl with flowers.

[Samra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is mostly for water-based oils.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, concise, this book is exactly what the title says it is.

[Jessie Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it - they cover a lot of ground, I think this is a pretty approachable guide. The color wheel section is a little rough (lacking?) but I would still gift this to a beginning hobbyist.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was informative especially about water soluable oil paints which are so new that few books have any info at all. I'm not a beginner so much of the book covered things I was familiar with but it seemed to cover those adaquately. The accompanying dvd was a real snoozer, seriously I fell asleep watching it. It is slow and boring, it could have been better if it had been edited down a bit. A good book for beginners which it is meant to be just stay away from the dvd unless you are an insomniac and need help getting to sleep.

[Erika]

Ack!!! There isn't enough time!!!!!

[Naveen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Book