How to Begin Painting with Oil Colors – By Nina Goltzman
Starting to paint with oil colors has always felt, to me, like stepping into another world — a world where time slows down, the material breathes, and color becomes something living.
Although oil paints sometimes have a reputation for being intimidating, they are, in many ways, one of the most forgiving and expressive mediums an artist can work with.
In this article, I want to share the way I began, and a few simple principles that can help anyone enter the rich, tactile world of oil painting.
1. Understanding the Magic of Oil Paints
Oil paints dry slowly — and that is their greatest gift.
This slow drying time allows you to edit, erase, soften, layer, blend, and return to the same area hours or even days later.
Oil is a medium that responds to patience, curiosity, and the movement of the body.
2. Start with Simple, Essential Materials
You don’t need a studio full of supplies to begin. A small, high-quality selection is more than enough:
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3–5 basic oil colors: titanium white, yellow ochre, red, blue, and black.
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A few brushes (round and flat).
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A pre-primed canvas or board.
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Linseed oil or a basic medium for thinning.
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A gentle solvent for cleaning brushes.
Good work doesn’t come from expensive equipment — it comes from learning to see.
3. Begin with an Underpainting
I always start with a thin, almost watery layer of diluted paint.
This first stage sets the main structure: light, shadow, composition, and the general movement of the piece.
It’s a liberating step because nothing is permanent yet — everything can shift.
4. Work From Dark to Light
A foundational rule in oil painting:
Establish your dark values first, and then add the light.
Why?
Dark layers dry slowly and create a stable base for bright highlights, which stay clean and vibrant when applied later.
The light is what makes the painting breathe.
5. Let Your Hand React to the Material
One of the most beautiful things about oil paint is how it responds to touch.
Sometimes the most interesting tones come from accidental mixtures on the palette.
My advice:
Don’t fear the “mess.” True color happens in the unexpected.
6. Give the Painting Time to Rest
Oil loves pauses.
A day, two days, a week.
There is something magical about returning to a semi-dry surface and seeing how new layers behave over it.
This slow process creates depth that other mediums rarely achieve.
7. Finish with Small, Intentional Highlights
A tiny amount of bright, clean paint in the right place can transform the entire work.
These final touches give life, dimension, and presence to the subject.
The secret is not quantity — it is precision.
8. Remember: The Painting Is Also a Meeting With Yourself
Oil painting is not just a technique; it is a moment of stillness, a tactile dialogue, a breath.
It teaches you to stop chasing perfection and start listening to what unfolds under your hands.
As I told myself many times when I first began:
You don’t need to know everything to start. You just need to start in order to know.
Conclusion
Oil painting is a journey that doesn’t require prior experience or expensive tools.
It simply asks for patience, attention, and a willingness to explore.
Once you allow the material to speak, it reveals an entire world.
If this article makes you want to open a box of oil paints — then it has already succeeded.