Improving Oil Paintings

Experienced businessman Frank Chenault serves as the head acquisition director of Chenault Enterprises, a tower industry company that he established based on his experience in a similar role with the Quantum Group. Currently residing in Big Sur, California, Frank Chenault enjoys a wide variety of hobbies, including oil painting.

A favored medium among many artists because its longer drying times allow color to be manipulated later, oil painting can be challenging nonetheless. Fortunately, there are several ways artists can improve their oil painting skills, including some of those provided below.

- Learn to draw. Although some of today’s artists go directly into painting, many art students in the past first had to learn drawing. By helping oil painters become more familiar with line and form without considering color, drawing can significantly improve oil paintings.

- Change brush size. Different brushes and brush strokes create hugely disparate effects on oil paintings. Rather than sticking with one size or one type of stroke, the integration of variety makes it much easier to differentiate between the painting’s various objects and planes.

- Create a concept. Artists are more likely to finish an oil painting when they begin with a clear idea of where they are going. Without direction, oil paintings may become haphazard in appearance or just end up unfinished.

- Use complementary colors. Complementary colors are those that are situated across from one another on the color wheel. Although they produce gray when mixed, using them side by side creates a clear contrast that can add depth to oil paintings.