Help With Oils

**eli** · January 19th, 2003, 04:32 AM

I just bought spectrum 8 and 9 and must say that I thought I accidentally got Jon Foster's Progressions book.. So much of his work is featured in both of them. (I can see why though!) I was so impressed that I went out and ordered his book. In addition to that, I fell so in love with all the oil work in those books that I have decided to try and move out of digital for a while and concentrate on oils. (Jon Foster is the main inspiration for this move)

So as a noob to all this, I wanted to ask five starter questions and hoped that some of the experts could help me out with their opinions and experience.

with oil work as detailed as sci fi and fantasy art is, do most artists start out with a sketch on the medium that they're painting on? (I can't imagine any other way, but I had to ask)

what type of medium do most paint on for oil work? (canvas, board etc)

what size do most artists in the industry paint on? (spectrum lists a lot of the work of at about 20"x30"?? thats pretty small isn't it?)

what sort of oils do you suggest? (i.e. your favorite brand.)

lastly, what sort of colors should I get to start out with? (primaries, and a few secondaries? I prefer the colors that I see Foster and artists like phil hale and brom use.)

Sorry if these questions are rather dim witted, but I am overcome by the work that I saw in spectrum and am very eager to start learning how to work with oils. I know its a long road so I figure I had better get moving.

Thanks in advace to anyone who replies!

**nick reynolds** · January 19th, 2003, 02:43 PM

As an oil noob myself (about 10hours worth of painting) I don't know much but I can answer your questions.

>>>With oil work as detailed as sci fi and fantasy art is, do
>>>Most artists start out with a sketch on the medium that
>>>They’re painting on? (I can't imagine any other way, but I
>>>Had to ask)

Plan, Plan, Plan! My first painting I didn’t plan shit I just painted it was fun but it looks like.... well unplanned and far from finished. So I planed and started repainting.

>>>What type of medium do most paint on for oil work?
>>>(canvas, board etc)

Board is dirt-cheap! I bought a bunch of board today for like 5 dollars and I bought one canvas for 10$. Its up to you, Cheap is good for us beginners.

>>>what size do most artists in the industry paint on?
>>>(spectrum lists a lot of the work of at about 20"x30"?? >>>thats pretty small isn't it?)

Small... that’s up to you. That’s large by standards I believe. Look at how large master paintings are.

>>>What sort of oils do you suggest? (i.e. your favorite brand.)

The cheap ones... I got some higher grade oils because they where on sale and cheaper than the student grade. I had more color choice too. Depends on the stores prices mostly. Unless you know your going to have some kick ass painting your first try. Why pay for the higher grade when it won’t matter.

>>>lastly, what sort of colors should I get to start out with? >>>(primaries, and a few secondaries? I prefer the colors >>>that I see Foster and artists like phil hale and brom use.)

Search for oils on the site... the search button is at the top; under the conceptart logo. Look for the giant thread that Foster wrote on painting in oils. Also read the thread Jason Manley wrote on Color theory. Using color in space and value I believe it’s called.

Good luck.

**eli** · January 19th, 2003, 05:38 PM

thank you sooooo much nick... I found that thread by foster and it answered most of my questions. I appreciate your help and wish you good luck on your oil endeavors!

I should have searched more before posting this thread but for anyone interested, the foster oil thread is at:
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...highlight=oils

moderators feel free to delete this thread if its annoying and pointless.