Foundations of Classical Oil Painting: How to Paint Realistic People, Landscapes and Still Life

293 Pages·2018·32.75 MB·English

by  Lea Colie Wight

Foundations of
CLASSICAL OIL PAINTING
How to Paint Realistic People, Landscapes and Still
Life
LEA COLIE WIGHT
CINCINNATI, OHIO
artistsnetwork.com
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to Nelson Shanks, my mentor, teacher and friend. He
taught me everything I know about painting. His encouragement and confidence
were immeasurably valuable. Above all, Nelson taught me to explore, push the
boundaries, find my own voice and make it joyful.
To my colleagues and dear friends.
To my family—Dick, Tara, David and Nate.
And to my mother, who put down her brush and encouraged me to pick up
mine.
Glass and Shells
Lea Colie Wight
Oil on linen
20" × 18" (51cm × 46cm)
CONTENTS
DEDICATION
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS
Chapter 1
VALUE & COMPOSITION
Chapter 2
ANATOMY
Chapter 3
GESTURE & GRISAILLE
Chapter 4
COLOR & LIGHT
Chapter 5
FIGURES & PORTRAITS
Chapter 6
STILL LIFE & LANDSCAPES
CONCLUSION
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Materials
SURFACE
stretched canvas
OIL PIGMENTS
Magenta
Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Red Alizarin Crimson Cadmium Red Deep Cadmium Red
Medium or Cadmium Scarlet Cadmium Orange
Cadmium Yellow Light or Lemon Yellow Ochre
Indian Yellow
Cadmium Green Light Viridian
Phthalo Green
Cerulean Blue
Ultramarine Blue Dioxazine Purple Cobalt Violet Deep Burnt Sienna
Black
Titanium White
BRUSHES
Silver Brush #5001 hake flat or mop brush Silver Brush #7110 sable cat’s tongue sizes 4, 6
and 8
Silver Brush #1034 long bristle filbert sizes 2, 3, 4 and 6
Silver Brush #1003 extra-long bristle filbert size 6
Rosemary brush #278 size 2, 4 and 6
OTHER
nitrile or vinyl gloves odorless mineral spirits or Gamsol paper towels
stand oil
spray Retouch varnish
Dress Fitting
Lea Colie Wight
Oil on linen
20" × 18" (51cm × 41cm)
INTRODUCTION
Nearly all of us are born with the tools necessary to become artists. Some of us
can even become great ones. We often take these tools for granted, even though
we use them every day.
You’ve probably heard people say, “I can’t even draw a straight line!” Well
not only are the majority of us indeed capable of drawing a straight line, we also
have the ability to compare the length of lines, their relative thickness and the
degree of angles. We know whether a door is wide enough, or if it would be a
tight squeeze to fit through. We can see the difference in proportion and shape
between an oval ball and a round ball. We can tell what is in shadow and what is
in light. We can see that the color of the sky at midday is different than its color
at sunset.
This instinctive awareness of relative values, colors, shapes and proportions is
one of the greatest tools at your disposal as an artist. Work hard to develop it,
and your confidence and artistic ability will continue to grow. The lessons and
exercises covered in this book will help you identify and build on the skills you
already possess, while laying a solid foundation for the fundamental techniques
necessary to create a successful painting, regardless of the subject or medium.
Stillness
Lea Colie Wight Oil on linen 20" × 18" (51cm × 41cm)