Oil painting has intimidated beginners for centuries — the solvents, the drying times, the rules about fat over lean. But the fundamentals are actually quite simple once you strip away the mythology. Here is everything you genuinely need to know to start painting in oils today.
The Essential Starter Kit
Paints
Start with a limited palette of 6-8 colors. A solid oil painting starter palette includes: Titanium White, Ivory Black, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Viridian, and Burnt Sienna. The Winsor and Newton Winton Oil Set is a reliable student-grade option that covers all these colors.
Brushes
For oils, stiff hog bristle brushes are traditional and excellent for applying paint with texture. Soft synthetic brushes work well for blending and fine detail. Start with a few flats, a couple of rounds, and a fan brush.
Solvents and Mediums
You need something to thin your paint and clean your brushes. Odorless mineral spirits are the beginner-friendly choice — they work like turpentine without the harsh fumes. Keep a jar for rinsing brushes and use a small amount to thin paint if needed.
Surface
Stretched canvas or canvas board primed with gesso is standard. Linen is preferred by professionals for its texture and longevity but is more expensive.
The Fat Over Lean Rule
This is the most important technical rule in oil painting. Each successive layer of paint must have more oil in it than the layer beneath. Thin layers go down first (lean), richer oilier layers go on top (fat). This ensures proper drying and prevents cracking. In practice: thin your early layers with mineral spirits, use straight paint in the middle layers, and add a touch of linseed oil to final layers.
A Simple First Project
Do not attempt a complex scene for your first oil painting. Paint a simple value study — a single object lit from one side, using only one color and white. This teaches you how oils handle without the complication of color mixing. Once you feel comfortable with the paint, add color on your next attempt.
Cleanup
Wipe excess paint off brushes with a rag first, then rinse in odorless mineral spirits, then wash with soap and warm water. Never let oil paint dry on brushes — it ruins them. A brush cleaning tank with a coil inside keeps solvent reusable and makes cleanup faster.