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@ 2009-06-22 – 19:15:35
My oil painting teacher said that you needed to be gifted to paint faces/portraits in oil. (As she can with other mediums but not oil!) Is this true?
I know I have not tried and never will know until I do!
Also when doing faces, has those who have done draw them first onto the wet canvas then apply paint?
jenray
Pro 
Chyna_Doll
Thanks for the tips Jen. Will try it some time 
x
rubychoo
I start with yellow outlines too, then work from dark to light with turps-diluted washes at first...
You can just splat it on impasto, but your drawing has to be spot on as oils are quite unforgiving !
Have fun !
x
brokendownangel
Pro Am totally artistically inept but all the art you share with us on here looks amazing so i am sure you will find your way - can't wait for the results x
Miza-T
There is no such a thing as being more or less difficult.
It's what you find easier as an artist, very personal.
I find oils the easiest medium to work with.
Lately I've been using acrylics ffor its practicality.
Watercolours are the most difficult in my opinion, as if you make a big mistake, you're done and have to start all over again.
xx
Also, there is no right or wrong way to paint, as someone said (forgot the name) :
I have my way, you have your way, as for the right way, the only way, it doesn't exist.
PrincessFiona
It is true! to work with Oils is difficult and needs a lot of practice and a lot of natural talent.
I once tried a nomral scenery in oils and it was strictly OK compared to my work with charcoal and water colours!
x
malakeas
Pro Do it Chyna and good luck on the painting! x
wendlane
When you fist begin with a new medium it is daunting, portraits are not easy as you don't just need the ability to get a likeness but you also need to be able to use the medium. My advice would be to start with pencil drawings to practise portraits then move on to portraits in oils, but some people are able to pick it up just like that! Oil paint takes a long time to dry so you do have some time to put
tylluanpenry
For oils - I do a rough outline in charcoal, then block in the shadows with something like terre verte because this sets up the shadows nicely and compliments most flesh tones. Then I mix the darkest tone and the lightest, and finally a tone mid way between the two. After that it really is much easier!
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Always used oils for portraits...don't like acrylics...or I used watercolours...I always did an outline sketch of the face and body onto the plain canvas in yellow ochre...well diluted then started to put all the shadows in using the same colour...gave you a base to start building up the image...building up the background around it as I went along...you can't put a background in after you've completed a painting because it won't merge with the portrait...it's a bit nerve racking to begin with, but it's also good fun too...
Good luck, Chyna...I'm sure you'll be fine...GBHs...XXX