Top 5 Oil PAINTING Techniques Every Beginner Should Know

In this video, I will demonstrate the top 5 oil painting techniques that every beginner should know. Whether you're a complete beginner or just looking to improve your painting skills, these techniques will help you create beautiful, expressive paintings with depth, texture, and luminosity.
First, you will see how to use the underpainting technique to establish the composition and value structure of your painting. You'll learn how to plan and simplify your painting process and avoid common mistakes.
Next, I'll demonstrate the glazing technique, which involves painting thin, translucent layers of color on top of each other to create a rich, luminous effect. You'll learn how to create richness in your paintings with this technique.
Then, I'll show you how to use the alla prima technique to paint wet-on-wet in one sitting. You can use this technique to paint quickly and expressively, and improve your brushwork and color mixing skills.
After that, see the the impasto technique, which involves painting with thick, heavily textured paint to create a three-dimensional effect on the canvas. You'll learn how to add texture and depth to your paintings with thick, juicy color notes.
Finally, see how to use the scumbling technique to create loose and expressive paintings with a lot of movement and texture. You'll learn how to apply thin layers of opaque paint to create a sparkling or broken color effect.
By the end of this video, you'll have a good understanding of the top 5 oil painting techniques that every beginner should know. Try to apply these techniques to your own paintings and create beautiful, expressive works of art. So, grab your paints and brushes, and let's get started!
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[@user-ro4lm3ul5t]

Thank You! Very useful information in short demo. Now I can see what the difference is between impasto and scumbling.

[@MyVictory13]

Thank you as always. Great explanations along with demonstrations. 😊

[@MalcolmDewey]

My pleasure! Thank you

[@zoepickle0]

i used to make the mistake of going in too thick and my painting would end up messy

[@MalcolmDewey]

Right, thin to thick is best

[@marinashaduri7836]

I am very glad to see that you have included glazing in this set of useful techniques. Although my main medium is acrylic, I knew that glazing is often used in oil paintings as well. Last year, I did even create several (high-key) acrylic works, where glazing was the only technique used on the pre-textured surfaces (3-dimentional dried surface was made with white gesso). The short but very informative video ❤! Thank you, Malcolm

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thanks Marina. My pleasure 😊

[@Toqueville2023]

Thank you , Malcolm...the simple things you're showing add a lot ...

[@MalcolmDewey]

My pleasure!

[@nz_aroha]

Thank you so much for this 😭🙏 I’ve watched so many videos to try understand oils and it’s like no one actually wants to tell you HOW to do it , I was getting so frustrated! This is so incredibly helpful so thank you thank you thank you! 🙌🙌

[@MalcolmDewey]

You're so welcome!

[@marlene6489]

Malcolm...WOW...THANK YOU! Your teaching is so clear, so cutting right to the bone concise...I feel I'm back in Art School getting a much needed review of things I once knew but had forgotten. I'm clawing my way back to it after being buried alive in family matters. You have my undying gratitude.

[@MalcolmDewey]

You're welcome Marlene, thank you!

[@paulakimmel3280]

Such useful info!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you

[@hereyougofirst]

thank you geniunely for all of your videos on youtube, i'm a beginner and learned a lot from them! ✨

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thanks, I'm happy to hear that.

[@anilimo9296]

Hi Malcom, thank you, I enjoy your content. I wonder if you would consider doing more on still life subject.

[@MalcolmDewey]

I will take a look at that. I do have a short course on that on my school site too.

[@tetianaabramov]

Thank you very much Mr. Malcolm for the video! I started the course today oil over acrylic .😊🙃

[@MalcolmDewey]

Wonderful! Thank you

[@joannemurphy4636]

Helpful teaching as always. Loved to see the glazing technique and the scumbling! I always wondered how to do the glazing. And I really enjoyed seeing more of your paintings...kind of like a studio tour 😁

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you! Glad you like it.

[@eloradanan1837]

Very helpful tips I will to use in the mixed media art I like to do. Thank you

[@MalcolmDewey]

Glad it was helpful!

[@timfogarty8677]

Thanks buddy -- such a generous guy!😀😀😀

[@MalcolmDewey]

No problem 👍

[@christinedoherty7828]

Thank you Malcolm. Very helpful tips which I will aim to use.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Very welcome

[@walterwoodhams743]

Very good job..i like the lost technique that you have..,😮

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you!

[@sheenawilson8178]

Thank you Malcolm, really useful tips, I tried glazing once but my paint hadn’t dried 😂 now I know why it went wrong !

[@MalcolmDewey]

Ouch! We all do that once 😄

[@sophiereinecke8659]

Very helpful video Malcolm. Thank you. I have tried glazing and scumbling but usually without success. I have not been on the right track, I realise now, and will try it again using your instruction.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thanks Sophie, Glad it helped. Avoid the cadmiums as they are not transparent enough.

[@sophiereinecke8659]

@@MalcolmDewey Thanks Malcolm

[@traceyferreira8042]

Thank you! Enormously helpful clarification for me

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you Tracey, Glad it was helpful!

[@lorachristian7030]

Thank you!...Love your information, and your style of painting!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you so much!

[@nathaliartist]

Muchas gracias Malcolm 🎨

[@isabellaharrison3849]

Thank you, very helpful. Beautiful works

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you

[@cherylhopkins5110]

Thank you for this!

[@MalcolmDewey]

My pleasure!

[@aliciamauryfineart]

Thank you for your great explanation.🌹

[@MalcolmDewey]

It's a pleasure, thank

[@starbucks1971]

hello. I am a student who started oil painting for about 3 months. I was reading an article about blocking and was curious, so I would like to ask a question. What oil should I use when blocking? I searched through numerous videos and articles, but couldn't find it. The two oils I have on hand are flaxseed oil and gamsol. (Please understand that I am not good at English, so I am using Google Translator)

[@MalcolmDewey]

A little gamsol to loosen up the paint. Not much. Use a bristle brush. Your paint should be soft but not watery.

[@starbucks1971]

@@MalcolmDewey So how should we paint it? not watery

[@MalcolmDewey]

@starbucks1971 correct

[@starbucks1971]

@@MalcolmDewey thank you I'm enjoying the video.

[@bettybrits6884]

Oh I love this info!!! thank you so much

[@MalcolmDewey]

You are so welcome!

[@stephenfularz7573]

Good painting imformation.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you!

[@Evi6655]

Thank you for this Tips
That s very helpful 😊👍

[@MalcolmDewey]

My pleasure 😊

[@Evi6655]

😊🌞🌈

[@sadiaawanartist]

Thank you sir.. ❤️
Very informative.

[@MalcolmDewey]

Thank you!

[@williammichael2156]

Thanks for this

[@MalcolmDewey]

It's a pleasure!

[@Ignacio_Bel_Vidal]

thanks very much. have you got other videos of oil painting for beginners?

[@MalcolmDewey]

Sure, have a look at the Painting for Beginners channel on my TH-cam home page.

[@olgatimofey5507]

Thanks!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Welcome!

[@ismail-art]

very thanks, regards 🙏

[@MalcolmDewey]

Welcome 👍

[@jacolineloewen6530]

Useful!

[@MalcolmDewey]

Glad to hear that!

[@mona2242]

Thank you for discussing glazing. Here you used it to warm up the colours . Is there another purpose when one can use glazing? I’m new at this. Thank you !

[@MalcolmDewey]

Yes, too alter color. Glaze blue over yellow to get green for example. Subtle color mixes like that.

[@mona2242]

@@MalcolmDewey but what happens if I were to place blue over blue, would it make it more translucent? Thx

[@MalcolmDewey]

@@mona2242 Like a shadow, for example. Could make it deeper / darker.

[@PhilMachi]

Great video! What's your opinion on using a graphite pencil to lightly plan things out before underpainting? I'm a cartoonist so typically I have very specific plans vs. more impressionistic landscape ideas.

[@MalcolmDewey]

No problem if it helps your process. You could underpaint in acrylic too and draw over the dry acrylic.

[@theponderingpilgrim4342]

Many thanks for the demonstration Malcolm, much enjoyed it. Quite interesting.
I just wanted to seek your guidance in relation to the Glazing technique.
If I am using Water Mixable Oils, would a few drops of Linseed oil be sufficient? Or would it need something more? (as I can't use solvents, breathing).

[@MalcolmDewey]

In theory you can glaze with a little water. Although I have no trust in that so I would try linseed oil. You can also look for non-toxic mediums. Maimeri had a Eco-medium for example.

[@theponderingpilgrim4342]

@Malcolm Dewey Many Thanks Malcolm, I will try the Linseed Oil.

[@smitamehta9523]

A very useful lesson, just one question, can I use these techniques for acrylics as well? Thank you !

[@MalcolmDewey]

Yes, acrylics can be used in similar fashion to oils. Use the paint generously in volume.

[@smitamehta9523]

Thanks a lot!

[@azadehfaraji9769]

🙏🙏🙏