10 Tools you need to get started in oil painting!

Occasionally I get asked about what tools are good to have to get into oil painting. I love this question, because it means more people are getting in touch with their creative side~

Here are the top 10 items I recommend getting for a successful start in oil painting!

  1. Oil colors, I recommend Gamblin:

    • Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Umber, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, , Ultramarine Blue, Phthalo Blue, Sap Green, Ivory Black, and Titanium White

  2. Linseed Oil: for thinning paint

  3. Rags or paper towels. Throw these away outside each day.

  4. Soap: for cleaning brushes, Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver is my favorite

  5. 3-5 Synthetic brushes of various sizes and shapes

    • I like a long handled round, filbert, and angled brush in sizes 4-10 when starting

  6. Surfaces: canvas or panel, make sure it has a gesso layer on it first!

  7. Two pointed pallet knifes for mixing. These made by blick are great. I have style 33 and 13

  8. A pallet: wood, glass, or plastic. I use a thick piece of clear acrylic that is painted white on the backside. I’ve used an old mirror before too! Please be careful of sharp corners.

  9. Gamsol: for quicker dry times and easy clean up

  10. Practice time: set time each day aside to play~

To see the approximate cost of everything listed, I added it up to my cart on dickblick and it came out $128.00 before tax. If this is too high for you, skip these items: linseed oil, Quinacridone Magenta, Sap Green, and get just one pallet knife. Instead of buying a pallet, you can use some wax paper if you have it in your kitchen. It makes for a less pleasant color mixing experience, but it will do in a pinch!

With this setup, you’ll be ready to paint! Please leave any questions you have in the comments!

-Stevie

InspirationStephanie ScottfaqComment