The Best Art Techniques for Painting Realistic Still Life in Oil
- Ahmed Kheder
- Jun 28, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: May 1
Creating realistic still life paintings in oil is a highly rewarding artistic pursuit that has captivated artists for centuries. From the intricate details of a single fruit to the delicate play of light and shadow on a polished surface, the ability to capture the essence of still life objects in oil paint requires a deep understanding of various techniques.
This article explores the best art techniques to achieve realism in still life painting with oil.
A Guide to Realistic Still Life Painting in Oil
Materials Needed
Oil paints (basic palette: titanium white, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, alizarin crimson, burnt sienna, and burnt umber)
Brushes (a variety of sizes and shapes, including flat, round, and filbert)
Palette
Palette knife
Linseed oil, walnut oil, or Safflower oil
Mineral spirits, turpentine, or clove oil
Canvas (pre-stretched or canvas board)
Easel
Rags or paper towels
Proportional Divider
Light weight pencil 5H or 6H
Eraser
Prepare the canvas
Prepare your canvas by applying a thin layer of gesso if it's not pre-primed. Gesso is a mixture of a binder (white Glue which is polyvinyl acetate), a filler which is chalk, and whitening pigment mainly Zinc Oxide powder is used.
Once the gesso is dry, sand well and repeat the process of applying gesso and sanding till the canvas is ready.
Don't apply a thick layer of Gesso because you will make your canvas more liable to cracking.
Composition and Setup
Arrange your still life objects in a wooden box with the same dimensions and orientation of the canvas to enhance transferring perspective and measurements from reality to your canvas.
A professional oil painting artist would plan the subject to be painted to appear in an artistic composition. A photographic composition is not the best choice to vehicle your artistic conceptual determinations. Traditional Art used to carry a documentary, conceptual, and emotional aspects. During the 19th century with the invention of the camera, Art lost a big portion of its documentary function leaving the emotional and the conceptual aspects to be the major role of Art.
An Artistic composition is a composition that was especially built to enhance the depiction of the artist's conceptual determinations to the public. An artistic composition is a composition with a strong visual impact and retinal pleasure. A composition that interacts with the viewers on the emotional level and delivers the artist's philosophical messages to the viewers hearts and emotions bypassing the viewers' rational analysis.
Choosing Objects
Select objects with varying textures, colors, and shapes to create visual interest. Common still life subjects include fruits, flowers, ceramics, glassware, and textiles.
Lighting
Lighting is crucial for creating realism. A single light source is often used to cast dramatic shadows and highlights, enhancing the three-dimensionality of objects. Natural light from a window is not your best choice because the intensity and the angle of light is uncontrolled.
Arrangement
Arrange objects thoughtfully to create a balanced and harmonious composition. Consider the placement, overlap, and interaction of objects to guide the viewer's eye through the painting.
Arrange still-life objects in a box or behind a wooden frame with the same painting canvas dimensions. Add a mark on the sides of the wooden frame that represents the horizon line. Keep the marks and the horizon line at the same level while you paint to ensure you have the same view angle during painting your setup.
Drawing
Begin with a detailed and accurate drawing of the composition. Using a proportional divider is a necessity for the best realistic results and to ensure proportions and perspectives are correct. Lightly sketch the outlines with H5 or H6 pencil.
Do not change the distance or the angle of your sight while using the proportional divider.
Underpainting
tone the canvas with a light wash of burnt sienna or another neutral color. This will help to eliminate the stark white of the canvas and make it easier to judge values as you paint.
Begin by applying a thin, even tone to your canvas. This helps to establish a mid-tone base, making it easier to judge values later on. A mixture of burnt sienna and ultramarine blue, thinned with medium, works well for this purpose.
The medium used as an underpainting should be lean i.e. have a low percentage of binder oil. Also, it should dry fast, so, use high percent of diluent which help dryness of the binder oil by enhancing its oxidation. Another thing to mention, it should be thin in terms of the amount of pigment dispersed in the oil medium.
The medium used to thin the paint should be Turpentine 75%, Linseed oil 25%. Don't use clove oil as a diluent because it is a reducing oil and will delay dryness. Also. The binder oil should be Linseed oil because it dries faster than Walnut oil, Poppy oil, and Safflower oil.
Layering and Building Up Paint
Blocking In
Block in the main shapes and colors using thinned paint. Focus on large color masses without worrying about details. This stage sets the overall color harmony and values.
Modeling Form
Build up the layers gradually, moving from dark to light. Use thicker paint and smaller brushes as you progress to refine details. Pay attention to transitions between light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro, to enhance the three-dimensionality of objects.
Glazing
Glazing involves applying thin, transparent layers of paint over dried layers to modify colors and create luminous effects. Use a glazing medium to achieve the desired transparency and smooth application.
Scumbling
Scumbling is a technique where a thin, opaque layer of lighter paint is lightly dragged over a dry underlayer. This creates a textured, broken effect that can suggest texture and subtle shifts in color and light.
Capturing Textures
Smooth Surfaces
For smooth surfaces like glass or porcelain, use soft brushes and smooth blending techniques. Pay attention to reflections and highlights, which are essential for conveying the smoothness and shininess of the surface.
Rough Textures
For rough textures like wood or fabric, use bristle brushes and a dabbing or stippling technique. Dry brushing, where a small amount of paint is applied with a dry brush, can also create a textured effect.
Details and Finishing Touches
Add fine details using small brushes and precise strokes. Elements like the veins on leaves, the texture of fruit skin, or the intricate patterns on ceramics bring still life to life. Final touches, such as highlights and reflections, enhance realism and provide a polished finish.
Patience and Practice
Patience
Realistic still life painting requires patience and meticulous attention to detail. Allow adequate drying time between layers to avoid muddy colors and ensure crisp edges.
Continuous Learning
Study the works of master artists and contemporary painters to learn different techniques and approaches. Practice regularly and experiment with new methods to continually improve your skills.
Conclusion
Creating realistic still life paintings in oil is a complex yet immensely fulfilling endeavor. By choosing the right materials, carefully planning the composition, mastering layering techniques, and capturing textures with precision, artists can achieve stunningly lifelike results. Remember, the journey to realism is a continuous process of learning and refining techniques, making each painting an opportunity to grow and excel in the art of still life.
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