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Old 10-27-2003, 05:13 PM   #15
Michele Rushworth Michele Rushworth is offline
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I think you'll find the transition to oils to be easier than you might think. I had never done a portrait in oils (only pastel) until two and a half years ago and, yes, all the work on my site is in oils.

To be honest, I decided to learn oils because of customer demand. It takes me the same amount of work to create a portrait in oils as it does in any other medium, and they command much higher prices, in general. I also love the look of oil paintings and the buttery feel of the paint on the brush as I work.

I taught myself how to use oils, mostly by reading the posts on this site. Working with the paints straight out of the tube, as you did, is fine, assuming you use the better brands. (You might want to try Gamblin brand as a good place to start.)

If you want to thin the paints, try a mixture of 50% odorless mineral spirits (Gamsol) and linseed oil, but don't thin them too much. As you add more layers, put in more linseed and less mineral spirits. There are as many opinions as to what medium to use and how to use it as there are artists, but with that basic formula you'll be off to a good start.

That's about all you need to know to make the switch. Just jump right in!
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