Hello from Carriveau Arts Unlimited! Today's post will be about how to mix oil paints. Check out this short video to get a visual on how it is done.

Mixing it UP!



Unlike other forms of painting, oil painting requires a little more prep work. It is not like watercolor in which you simply add water to get the shade desired. Oils can be mixed to be thin and sheer or thick and opaque with texture that can leave a good representation of the artist's brush strokes. How you mix your oil paints can also contribute to a layering affect in your works as mentioned on the video.



Most oil paintings consist of several layers of paint. This adds to the richness of the image. It also helps in the illusions that the artist is trying to create such as rays of sunshine, haziness or mist or as mentioned in the video the illusion of water.


Before applying any oil paints to your canvas remember to paint several layers of gesso to protect your canvas from being eaten away by the medium in which you mix with the oils. The gesso provides added protection and enhances your oils. Typically, three layers of gesso with suffice, but some artists will add many, many layers of gesso and repeatedly sand it down to get the smoothest surface they can.


I hope you enjoyed the video and it helped in showing how to mix oil paints.

Happy painting!!!!