Erika Lancaster-Artist, Content Creator & Online Art Tutor
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Acrylics vs. Oils: Key Differences and Similarities

4/17/2019

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Similarities Between Acrylics and Oil Paint
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​*This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)


Wondering what the difference between acrylic and oil paint is? How do they compare in regards to required supplies, painting process and overall finish? Which one of these two painting mediums is best for you, your artistic goals and your current life situation?

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In today's blog post (and the YouTube video included), I'll be explaining the key similarities and differences between acrylic and oil paint. I'll also be clearing up common misconceptions so that you can make an informed decision about which supplies to invest in and, most importantly, start moving forward in your artistic journey right away!

When I was first starting to look into painting, I was very confused about the similarities and differences between these two mediums. Not only did the examples of artwork I found created with each vary immensely, but there were also tons of contradictions between one article/book to the next in terms of the required supplies, the preparation phase, and the painting process itself. 

It was honestly overwhelming and I didn't have time to make sense of it all. Quite often, I held myself back from buying any supplies and moving forward due to this.

Eventually, there came a point at which I could no longer ignore my desire to improve artistically, highly-demanding full-time job and all. I had already wasted too much time and knew that the best way to learn and to make sense of it all would be through actually doing. I visited my local art supply store, and with the information I had learned from my research (as well as with the help graciously provided by the lady at the store), bought a few items to explore.

I share more about how I finally prepared to leave years and years of "normal" full-time positions to pursue creative entrepreneurship in this blog post/YouTube video. 

Suffice to say, a lot of supplies were wasted or left completely unused. And not only were a lot of bad paintings created, but several of them literally fell apart after a couple of months (don't ask).

I don't regret it though, because I learned so much through this first-hand exploration, both about different painting mediums, as well as about myself as an artist. What I like, don't like, what techniques suit the style I'm going for best, etc. 

After years of practice and exploration I've  been able to learn a lot about acrylics, oils and even watercolors. I love them all, use them all on a month-to-month basis, and have come to know the pros and cons of each throughout this time. 

If you're just as confused and overwhelmed as I was all those years ago, but still feel that nagging inside telling you to get painting (it never goes away by the way), the following information will definitely help you make faster progress. However, as with all artistic mediums and supplies, it's going to be up to you to commit to this journey and the exploration it entails, in order to get to know yourself artistically and the specific supplies you personally enjoy. 

Let's get into today's topic!

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If you enjoyed this video, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel. I publish a new one every-single-Friday sharing art tips, drawing/painting tutorials and encouragement for aspiring artists!



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Introduction
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Oil paint is an incredibly old medium and has been used by artists since the fourteenth century. Before oils existed, most paintings were created with egg tempera, which was basically created by the mixture of ground pigment and egg.

​Though some artists continued using tempera (and this medium is still used by some in present day), oil paint became the preferred medium once it was invented due to its greater versatility and longer-working time which allowed for effects that hadn't been seen before.
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On the other hand, acrylics are a modern invention. They were created in the middle of the twentieth century as a practical substitute for oil paint. Acrylic paintings can be finalized a lot quicker due to their fast drying time, and offer both versatility and durability. This medium allows the artist a wide range of approaches and seems to go more in hand with today's fast-paced world. 

In time, a lot of artists who used to work with oils made the switch to acrylics due to their overall practicality. However, there are others who's hearts will forever remain with oils due to the richness, vibrancy and depth they're able to provide.

It's important to recognize that both painting mediums allow for a variety of art styles, techniques, methodologies and overall finishes. Whether you enjoy creating abstract art, stylized figures, Impressionistic-style brush strokes or hyperrealism, all of these can be achieved with either. It's just a matter of learning specific skills and techniques. 

As with anything else, there are pros and cons to both mediums. Understanding them will enable us to come to a better decision about which could be best for us depending on our personal situation and goals. 



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Similarities and Differences Between Acrylics and Oils
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​1. Drying Time
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Acrylics dry fast, which means we have to work fast if we're looking to create gradients or wet-on-wet blending effects. Paint literally dries in minutes, depending on the humidity and the temperature of the room you're working in. 

Oil paint, on the other hand, dries very slowly (some pigments even more than others). This means you can take your time moving paint around and blending out colors. It can take an oil painting months upon months to dry completely, depending on the thickness of your layers! This means that, if you're intending to varnish your paintings, it'll be a while before you're able to do that. 

There are mediums that can be added to both acrylics and oils to either slow down or quicken their drying time, depending on your needs.

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You're always going to be able to manipulate both painting mediums in terms of their workability during the painting process, as well as their overall outcome, but it is going to entail buying medium to mix in. 


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Mandarins- Still life acrylic painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster
Mandarins- Still life acrylic painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster
Mandarins- Still life acrylic painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster
Acrylic painting close-up


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2. Cost 

​Generally speaking, painting with acrylics is going to be cheaper than painting with oils. Not only because the paint in and of itself tends to cost less, but also because (for basic paintings) less supplies are required than when we're painting with oils. 

All we really need to paint with acrylics is:
  • Paint
  • Brushes
  • Water
  • Color mixing palette
  • Substrate (which can even be thick paper)

What we need when painting with oils:
  • Paint
  • Brushes
  • Solvent/paint thinner
  • Color mixing palette
  • Primed substrate that's been prepared to take oil paint (which often entails buying gesso)
  • Painting medium (its not 100% necessary, but it helps make the thick paint more manageable to work with)
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*This said, there are oil painters out there that have found alternatives to potentially harmful solvents and mediums, so if you're interested in trying them out but you're afraid of harming your health and/or the environment, be aware there are work-arounds!


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3. Toxicity and Health Risks 

A lot of aspiring artists avoid painting with oils because the process involves using solvents and mediums which can be harmful to both our health if we're not careful, as well as to the environment, if we don't know how to properly dispose of these substances. 

To avoid potential health risks:
  • Work in a well-ventilated room (consider also wearing a nose mask)
  • Wear gloves  (I love these I buy through Amazon)
  • Never dump used solvent down the drain! *Learn how to dispose of used hazardous substances in your city.

All this said, something you should definitely know is that oil paint in and of itself isn't any more toxic than acrylic paint. The solvents and the mediums that we add to them while painting are. 

Oil paint is composed of pigment that is suspended in an oil-based binder such as linseed oil, safflower oil, poppy oil or walnut oil. Even though these oils are heavily refined, they are all plant-based and non-toxic. 

On the other hand, acrylic paint consists of pigment and a synthetic resin binder. The components within this resin binder vary from brand to brand. Acrylic paints are basically plastic, and when they are used, chemicals like ammonia are released into the air. 

Even though using acrylics isn't as smelly as working with oils, don't think that you're not breathing harmful fumes in!

There are specific pigments that are highly toxic, whether we're using acrylics, oils or even watercolors. Some of them are: Cadmium Red/Orange/Yellow, Prussian Blue and Naples Yellow. *Please do further research if you're interested in learning the level of toxicity for a specific pigment. 

There are excellent brands of art supplies like Gamblin that are coming out with more and more products, including solvents and mediums, that aren't toxic.

Whichever painting medium you decide to go for, make sure you're exercising precaution and safety measures, at all times. 



Lemons and Flowers- Still life oil painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster
Lemons and Flowers- Still life oil painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster
Lemons and Flowers- Still life oil painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster
Oil painting close-up


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4. Painting Process
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There are many different ways of going about using acrylic and oil paint, and it's really going to depend on the overall style that you wish to achieve. 

I really enjoy the more Impressionistic/expressive style that the alla prima (wet-on-wet) technique allows and use it with both of these mediums. *This is the technique I'm using in the video included here. I simply go about it a slightly different way, depending on the medium on hand. 

For example, because oil paint dries so slowly, I have to be much more careful not to over-blend and/or create mud when placing fresh paint on paint that's still wet. Because acrylics dry so quickly, the paint strokes I lay down will dry and not move minutes later, when I place fresh paint on top. They also allow for quicker corrections that have to be made.

However, high levels of realism through a development of a variety of layers and washes can also be achieved with both mediums!

Because acrylics dry so fast, a lot of layers and effects can be developed in a matter of hours. On the other hand, when working with oils, we have to wait for the previous layer to dry completely before applying the next or we risk the top layer cracking. It can take several days and even weeks for one layer of oil paint to dry completely.

One very important thing when working with oils, is that we need to follow the fat over lean rule, which is even more important if you're working in layers. This basically means that the earlier layers of a painting have to be thinner and have to contain less oil, and as you move forward, the layers are thicker and contain more oil.

​This can be done by shifting the ratios of solvent/paint/medium in color mixtures and ensures that layers will dry effectively. This is vital so that the paint doesn't start cracking. 


One final point I'd like to add in this section, is that acrylics and oils can be combined in one same piece. A lot of artists stain their canvas or develop an underpainting using acrylics and then move on to developing further details and textures using oils.

You can use oils over dry acrylics but never, 
ever use acrylics over oils!



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5. Overall Look and Finish

Because oil paint contains more pigment than acrylic paint, colors in oil paintings usually look a lot richer, more vibrant and glossy.  This said, even though oil paintings can last a very long time if they have been created using quality supplies and proper methods, they do tend to fade and/or yellow over time.

It'll be years and years before this happens though!

​Acrylic paintings, on the other hand, usually look a lot more matte and flat when compared to oil paintings. Colors also tend to darken during the drying phase. However, once this drying process is completed and this color change happens, they don't change after that as long as they are kept in an optimum environment (away from direct sunlight and humidity).

As far as texture goes, we can find both acrylic and oil paintings that are very smooth, as well as highly-
texturedized. Oil paint lends itself to very easily be placed thickly on the canvas, leading to beautiful, palpable textures, if that's what the artist is intending to create.

However, texture mediums can be added to acrylic paint and impasto-like effects can also be created by placing it heavily on the substrate using different tools like painting knives. The artist can also create a texturedized 
surface prior to starting to paint. 

The overall finish of both acrylic and oil paintings can also be altered by using different types of varnishes, depending on whether you'd like your painting to appear more matte or glossy.

​There are a lot of different varnishes available in both spray and liquid form that offer a variety of finishes. 



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Bats- Abstract oil painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster
Bats- Abstract oil painting on stretched canvas by Erika Lancaster
Oil painting close-up
Oil painting close-up


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So, which medium is best for you?

This is going to depend on your personal circumstances, as well as your tastes and what you're looking to improve upon.

If you usually don't have much time for your art, don't have a designated space to work in, or you have kids or pets running around, acrylics are probably the best option for you (at least for now).

On the other hand, if you do have a space you can work in for hours-on-end, you aren't too sensitive to strong smells, you're interested in learning classical techniques, and/or you really care about the depth/color/richness of your paintings, then I'd definitely explore oils! 

Whatever medium you choose to go for, make sure you exercise safety measures.





I hope you enjoyed this post and learned something new, or got inspired to go and create a sketch for yourself. I wish you tons of progress and enjoyment in your artistic journey!  :)

​Thanks so much for popping by today!



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​​Become a Patreon community member to get access to:

-Real-time drawing/painting tutorials with full walkthrough commentary
-Weekly sketchbook prompts to help you stay consistent and progressing your art skills
-Downloadable outline drawings, reference pictures and supply lists
-Direct feedback from me
-Downloadable workbook titled How to Discover Your Artistic Voice
-Instant access to a growing vault of original reference pictures that you can use for your   own art
-Special thanks in YouTube videos and opportunities to get your work shared
-Participation in polls to decide new blog post and YouTube video topics
-Live classes and Monthly Creative Assignments
+ much more!
​
*Click below to learn more!
Improve your art skills - Join us on Patreon


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How to Get Out of Art Block
How to Make Time for Your Art
Don't Be Afraid of Oil Paint My Alla Prima Process
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Floral Still Life Oil Painting Process

2/9/2019

2 Comments

 
Floral Oil Painting Video Process
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Hey there, fellow artists and art appreciators!

Today I'll be sharing the process behind my latest floral oil painting. The video included in this post contains a timelapse that I've recently uploaded onto my YouTube channel as a collaboration I did with Dena Tollefson, who also has a channel on this platform. 

For a more in-depth explanation and tips on oil painting, visit my blog post Don't Be Afraid of Oil Paint + How I Paint a Still Life Using Oils.


Hope you enjoy!
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If you enjoyed this video, consider subscribing to my YouTube channel. I share a brand new video with art tips, drawing and painting tutorials and encouragement for aspiring artists every-single-Friday!


Check out Dena's version of this challenge over at her YouTube channel.


The paintbrushes and paint tubes used to create this painting can be found in the My Art Tools section of my site. 


Thanks so much for visiting today, and talk to you soon!




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How to Make Time for Your Art
Watercolor Food Illustration Video Process
Don't Be Afraid of Oil Paint My Alla Prima Painting Process
2 Comments

Don't Be Afraid of Oil Paint + How I Paint a Still Life Using Oils (Alla Prima)

8/16/2018

4 Comments

 
Don't Be Afraid of Oil Paint + My Still Life Oil Painting Process
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​*​This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you.
​These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)



Are you curious about painting with oils but find them a bit intimidating? Do you feel that there are too many "rules" that you'd have to follow and that they would make the painting process anything but enjoyable? Are you tired of running into oil painting tutorials online that are far too technical and confusing to the point that you start tuning out and not want to learn the medium at all?


When I was first starting my oil painting journey, I got very confused and overwhelmed as I tried to learn from instructional articles and videos I found online. There were so many different types of mediums and solvents one could use, so many ways one could go about using them, and so many rules to follow in order to ensure effective drying of paint layers.

Not to mention, professional oil painters have different tips to offer which sometimes even contradict each other. 


In today's post, I'll be sharing my current process for creating still life oil paintings. I'll share the specific things I have in mind when creating my photographic reference, what I do to prepare before starting to paint, and the general steps of my painting process.

Still life is a subject I highly recommend all beginners to delve into when they are first starting to paint with any medium, as it allows us to practice not only compositional arrangement, but specific fundamental art skills like proportion and value placement.

This post also includes a painting time lapse video where you can see me create a complete painting from start to finish using my alla prima method!


What I have come to realize, after having explored oil paint first-hand and tried out a few different mediums and methods (and even ruined a few paintings in the process) is that there is no "right" or "wrong" way to go about creating an oil painting.

It is up to each artist to explore different supplies and methods until he/she arrives at what he/she is most comfortable with. It's a matter of not being afraid, experimenting, and slowly but surely arriving at the specific techniques that will enhance and work in favor of our particular painting style. 

This is not to say that you should completely disregard the most basic rules and safety measures, of course, like making sure you're working on a primed surface, following the "fat over lean" principle in order to ensure your painting will dry effectively, working in a well-ventilated area and avoiding having paint, mediums or solvents on your skin.

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However, once you've understood these basic aspects of oil painting (and probably ruined a few pieces for yourself) you'll most likely find oils very enjoyable!

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Flowers and Tray Still Life Oil Painting by Erika Lancaster
Red Cabin and Mountains Landscape Oil Painting by Erika Lancaster
Sunflowers in Vase Still Life Oil Painting by Erika Lancaster
Nature Collage 1 Oil Painting by Erika Lancaster
Sunflowers Oil Painting by Erika Lancaster
Blue Macaw Oil Painting by Erika Lancaster

​I've heard a bunch of reasons that people come up with to turn away from oils and reach for acrylics:
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1. They are too expensive! 
There are both student-grade and artist-grade oils, the same way there are for acrylics and watercolors. Winsor and Newton is a brand that offers great quality products for beginners at accessible prices. *See supplies included in this post.

2. You need way too many supplies when compared to other kinds of paint!
What you need to understand is that the use of oil painting mediums is a choice, not a necessity. There are artists that don't even use mediums at all. Even the use of solvents is a choice, as you can use alternatives to clean with. There are people that even use regular dish soap to clean their brushes!

3. They are toxic and harmful for the environment! 
Oil paint is a mixture of pigment and linseed oil, which isn't toxic. Different color pigments have different toxicities, whether you're using oils, acrylics or even watercolors (unless you're using the super cheap Crayola-types). So you have to take safety measures with any kind of paint you use. 

What makes oil paint potentially more harmful to our health than say, acrylics, are the thinners and, possibly, mediums we use with them. If you're worried about toxicity and harming the environment, simply don't use thinners and mediums, or look for brands like Gamblin that create completely non-toxic products. 

Don't believe me when I say that mediums and solvents are optional? Check out this video from JerrysArtarama in which an experienced artist explains how he avoids using them altogether in this work.

4. They are a hassle to clean!
Are they, really? I find cleaning up acrylic paint even more frustrating, as it dries fast and hard on everything! Oils at least remain wet and they can be removed from most surfaces very easily with any kind of thinner.

I personally find acrylics more of a hassle to clean because, even though it can be said you need only water and soap to clean them, you need to clean them right away or anything hardens almost immediately. With oils, there is no problem if you continue working and take care of the cleaning at the end. 

5. They take too long to dry!
Depending on how you work, you may find this a negative thing or a VERY positive thing. Oils' slow drying properties allow the artist to create awesome effects.

However, if you need your paintings to dry faster, there are a variety of mediums you can add to your paint in order to make your paint layers dry in a day or two. Two of these mediums are Liquin by Winsor & Newton and Galkyd by Gamblin. 
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6. There are too many technical aspects involved!
​As I mentioned before, don't allow yourself to get confused by tedious explanations from artists that have been doing this for decades and have very specific ways of working.

I highly recommend learning the basic do's and don'ts and tuning out all other specific recommendations that are right according to one artist and wrong according to the next.

​Stick to what matters and tune out the rest. You'll learn along the way.



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Great Basic Oil Painting Supplies for Beginners


​*Click on images to go directly to learn more about each product or visit www.consumercrafts.com to browse some great art supplies for yourself! :)
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Winsor & Newton Oil Color Set
Winsor & Newton Oil Color Set (6 Tubes) $14.49
Studio71 Oil Painting Brushes
Studio71 Oil Painting Brushes (10 piece set) $4.97
Weber Odorless Turpenoid
Weber Odorless Turpenoid $7.93

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Studio71 Stretched Canvas
Studio71 Stretched Canvas Value Pack (9 x 12 in.) 8 pack $11.97
The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver
*Optional: The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver $5.18
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Aside from these supplies, you don't really need to buy much else! You probably already have everything else you'll need at home or can DIY it. For example, you can create a paint-mixing palette  by carefully removing the glass from an old picture frame (cover its edges with masking tape so you don't cut yourself while painting).

​Find some disposable gloves that you use for cleaning (or you can do as I did and use the ones that come in hair dye boxes -haha). Use regular kitchen paper towels for staining your canvas and/or cleaning, and dish washing soap to wash your brushes when your done.   


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How I Create a Still Life Painting


​1. Taking a great reference photo

Having a great reference (whether you're using a photograph or painting from direct observation) is essential, no matter what kind of painting you are planning to create. 

Check it out my blog post titled How to Plan and Produce Great Art Reference Photos. In it, I explain the basic things you should have in mind when producing photographs to use as references for an artwork, and I also provide tips to help you achieve harmonious and appealing visual compositions. 
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I highly recommend learning about composition and, at least, basic photography. Start forming your own art reference library as soon as possible so you don't have to always depend on photographs taken by others. It doesn't have to be difficult and time-consuming. Not to mention, you're also ensuring that your artwork is completely your own and that you built it from scratch. Going through this process leads to a deeper understanding and a greater artistic development. 



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2. Editing/cleaning the photo in Photoshop

Still life art reference photo by Erika Lancaster
Final (cleaned) reference picture

After my photo sessions, I always open my images up in Photoshop and pick my favorite. By the way, I cannot tell you how useful knowing about photo-editing softwares like Photoshop and Gimp is for artists. If you haven't played around with one, I highly recommend doing so! You can download Gimp for free and it has a lot of Photoshop's capabilities. 

Once I've arrived at the photo I'll be using, I almost always clean it up at least a bit and resize it so that it ends up having the exact proportions of my canvas or substrate I will be painting on. This, for me, is essential, as it allows me to arrive at effective proportions and placement of elements within my space more easily as I'm creating my initial sketch (more about this below). 

For some more experimental projects, I create digital collages using combinations of photos or manipulate colors more drastically.



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3. Staining/toning the canvas

Picture

The purpose of staining or toning a canvas is to get rid of the stark whiteness of it, so that it doesn't affect the way we see the colors we start placing on it. To stain my canvas, I choose a neutral color (in this case I chose Raw Sienna) and thin it out on my palette with odorless mineral spirits.

​I then use an old towel or rag (I love Scott Shop Towels) to create a transparent stain all over my canvas.
I don't worry if my tint is darker in some areas and lighter in others, as all of this will be covered later. 

I love painting  alla prima , which means that I complete my entire painting (at least ones this size or smaller) in one sitting. When using this painting method, you're basically applying your paint wet-on-wet and the fat over lean rule doesn't apply the same way as it would when painting in layers.

When painting in layers, you have to allow the bottom one to dry completely before applying the next. If the bottom layer isn't completely dry before you apply the one on top, the latter will most likely end up cracking (perhaps not right away but it will over time).

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When you paint alla prima, this principle becomes a little vaguer, as you aren't painting in layers per se, and all your paint dries simultaneously. Nonetheless, it's important to know that certain pigments take longer to dry than others AND that thicker placement of paint will also take longer to dry whether you are painting wet-on-wet or wet-on-dry.

I always start my paintings using thinned out paint and move on placing it in thicker layers as I go, whether I'm painting alla prima or not. Also, I have yet to find a medium I enjoy using so...I don't even use one for most of my paintings! I highly recommend beginners to leave mediums out when just they're just starting out, as mediums make the whole process much more complex. 



30 Day Sketchbook Challenge


4. Selecting my colors

It's important to give thought to the colors you will be using prior to starting any painting. I like limiting my color palette and creating all required color mixtures using only those I have previously selected. To select them, I take a few minutes to observe my reference picture, think of the colors I will need to create them, and choose my tubes from what I have available. 

The colors I used to create this specific oil painting were:
-Raw Sienna
-Burnt Sienna
-Burnt Umber
-Primary Magenta
-Sap Green
-Lemon Yellow
-Titanium White
-Ivory Black



5. Initial sketch

Picture
After toning my canvas, I create a very loose sketch focusing on proportion and placement of different elements within my space. This is where having an image to work from that has the same proportions of your canvas is extremely useful. It doesn't matter if this sketch isn't perfect, because it's going to be painted over and shapes will be refined as the painting process continues. 

This sketch is an excellent way for me to start loosening up!


I almost always use a darker neutral tone, which in this case was Raw Umber. Notice how this paint mixture contains much less thinner in it than the mixture I created to stain my canvas with. 


6. Laying down large blocks of color

Picture

At this stage, I try to focus on recreating the large areas of color that I see, but I'm not being too careful, as these shapes will be refined as the process continues. I do my best to cover up large spaces on my canvas with the darkest values of the different colors I perceive in my picture. It helps to squint when observing the picture in order to tune out smaller details. 

I usually start with my darkest values and make sure to leave the placement of color mixtures that contain white in them until the second half of my painting process. The reason I do this, is because white tends to dull out the beautiful saturated darks that have been placed. It's important for those darks to stay there for the painting to really pop at the end.

Remember that it's essential for an artwork to have a wide variety in values and you don't want to erase those darkest values that have already been placed (this is not to say that you cannot place more darks later). 



7. Pushing through the "Ugly Stage"

This is the longest part of the painting process, as I move back and forth between the different elements in the composition. I sometimes get tired of painting a particular area and jump to another area. 

I'm working on laying down my brushstrokes more confidently and really keeping blending to a minimum. When painting alla prima, it's very important to place colors effectively and be very careful when blending because this can lead to muddy colors. Overblending is a big no-no.


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8. Adding final highlights and details 

Still life oil painting by Erika Lancaster
Still life oil painting by Erika Lancaster
Once I'm happy with the look of my painting, I move on to final details and highlights. This is a point at which I use my paint mixtures with large amounts of white in them. I also leave painting the background until the end most of the time, as it helps me clean up my composition a bit. 

Something else I love is using my palette knife for final details. In this painting, I used my palette knife to create the pistils of the flowers and to add texture to some other parts of the painting. 



Oils are one of my favorite painting mediums to work with, and if you are curious at all about what it's like to work with them, I highly recommend you give them a go. For me, nothing compares to their richness and the depth they are able to achieve. 

I hope you found this helpful and that I've encouraged you to give oils a try! 
​Thanks so much for reading!

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Become a Patreon community member to get access to:

-Real-time drawing/painting tutorials with full walkthrough commentary
-Downloadable outline drawings, reference pictures and supply lists
-Direct feedback from me
-Downloadable workbook titled How to Discover Your Artistic Voice
-Instant access to a growing vault of original reference pictures that you can use for your   own art
-Special thanks in YouTube videos and opportunities to get your work shared
-Participation in polls to decide new blog post and YouTube video topics
-Live classes and Monthly Creative Assignments
+ much more!
​
*Click below to learn more!

Join my art Patreon community

Watercolor Time-lapse Stack of Pancakes
Essential Sketching Tips for Beginner Artists
Tips to Loosen Up and Create More Expressive Art
4 Comments

Landscape Oil Paintings, Latest Sketches and Summer-y Watercolor Illustrations

6/29/2018

0 Comments

 
Lighthouse oil painting by Erika Lancaster
Lighthouse oil painting by Erika Lancaster
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*​This post contains affiliate links. I receive small commissions for purchases made through these links at no extra cost to you. 
These commissions help me keep this site up and running, in order for me to keep providing helpful and inspiring art content. :)


Hey, there!

In today's post I'll be sharing my most recent paintings and sketches. I've been working hard on, not only staying consistent with my blog and YouTube channel while teaching art classes locally, but also on producing the work I will be selling as soon as I'm able to open my online shop. 

The two oil paintings included in this small compilation are the last two in the collection of five large (90 x 70 cms.) landscape oil paintings that I sought out to create about two months ago. It was a self-imposed challenge as I had never really created a "series" of larger paintings, and I really wanted to push myself to explore one single theme.

This weekend, I'll be starting on a collection of five still life oil paintings that will also be for sale and I'm very excited about that!

Through my online art shop, I'll be selling originals created with both oils and watercolors!

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Windmill landscape oil painting by Erika Lancaster
Windmill landscape oil painting by Erika Lancaster



Aside from these two oil paintings, I'm sharing the watercolor illustrations I created for the July calendar I sent out to my e-mail subscribers this week (at the end of each month I send them a calendar for the following month). I really enjoy painting with watercolors and pushing myself to continue improving with this medium. 

​Aside from using these illustrations as part of the calendar design, I also create awesome products for my Society6 and Redbubble shops with them, which I'd LOVE for you to check out! :)

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Watercolor illustrations of objects by Erika Lancaster
Watercolor illustrations of different objects by Erika Lancaster


And, finally, I'm also including some sketches. I'm always going on about how I find drawing so important, and how it's important for artists to keep drawing throughout their journeys, and I'm holding myself accountable!

I'm continuing to push myself to create human figure studies in more complex/dynamic poses (as opposed to the very stiff and uninteresting poses I drew when I first started). The human figure is a great challenge for me, but I've seen significant progress since I've started drawing it more consistently.



Sketch of female figure by Erika Lancaster
Sketch of female figure by Erika Lancaster

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Sketch of female figure by Erika Lancaster
Sketch of female figure by Erika Lancaster


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30 Day Sketchbook Challenge


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Outstretched hand sketch by Erika Lancaster
Outstretched hand sketch by Erika Lancaster

Thanks so much for dropping by and checking out my work. I really appreciate it! And if you're a beginner/intermediate artist looking to improve your skills and find your voice, make sure to check out past blog posts!

Cheers!



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Landscapes in Oils, Female Figure Studies and Summer Watercolor Paintings

5/25/2018

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Landscape oil painting by Erika Lancaster
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Hey there, creative friends! 

In this week's blog post, I'll be sharing some of my recent sketchbook entries and finished paintings (both watercolor and oils).


As far as sketchbook work, I continue challenging myself whenever I'm able to, focusing on subjects that are difficult for me. For these last entries, I practiced female figure studies and a male portrait (I rarely draw men!). 

The oil paintings included here are two in my new landscape series. I have now completed three out of the five I will be selling. Very soon, I'll be sharing progress of the fourth one. So do follow me on Instagram if you wish to know how that goes!

​Once I complete these five landscapes, I'm going to be working on five still lives. I currently sell my original artwork only in Mexico, but have plans of opening online shops to ship to other countries in the near future! So due stay tuned! :)

The watercolor paintings included here, are part of the group of illustrations I created for the June calendar design I will be sending over to my e-mail subscribers very soon! At the end of each month, I send them free printable calendars in both Letter and Tabloid size featuring my illustrations. :)

If you'd like to become part of my insider group and receive these exclusive freebies, as well as helpful art content and news about offerings that will help you progress artistically, subscribe here:


30 Day Sketchbook Challenge



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Landscape oil painting by Erika Lancaster
Landscape oil painting by Erika Lancaster. Oils on 90 x 70 cm. stretched canvas.


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Female pose study 1. Pencil sketch by Erika Lancaster.
Female pose study 1. Pencil sketch by Erika Lancaster.



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Female pose study 2. Pencil sketch by Erika Lancaster.
Female pose study 2. Pencil sketch by Erika Lancaster.



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Female pose study 3. Pencil sketch by Erika Lancaster.
Female pose study 3. Pencil sketch by Erika Lancaster.



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Male portrait study. Pencil sketch by Erika Lancaster.
Male portrait study. Pencil sketch by Erika Lancaster.



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Monstera leaf watercolor painting by Erika Lancaster
Monstera leaf watercolor painting by Erika Lancaster



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Lemonade in mason jar watercolor painting by Erika Lancaster
Lemonade in mason jar watercolor painting by Erika Lancaster



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Seashell watercolor painting by Erika Lancaster
Seashell watercolor painting by Erika Lancaster

Thanks so much for visiting and checking my work out! I really appreciate it!

If you're a beginner/intermediate artist looking to improve your work, do check out the posts below! I constantly produce helpful blog posts and YouTube videos with art tips, tutorials and encouragement!

Have a beautiful weekend!

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