Intro to Oil - Ben Hamburger

During this course, students will learn about and practice the fundamental techniques and processes of oil painting. Based primarily in observational painting, students will gain familiarity with oil painting materials and processes, strengthen their perceptual skills, and develop an understanding of color, value, and two-dimensional design. Through demonstrations, painting exercises, and group discussions, students will ease into the broad field of oil painting and gain the experience to further pursue individual painting endeavors. This class will be great for those with little to no painting experience or those interested in refining their skills starting with the basics. Experience with drawing fundamentals are recommended.

Suggested Materials

All materials are flexible and up to personal preferences. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

Oil Paint

I recommend Gamblin or Gamblin 1980 for a solid student-grade paint at a good price point.

• Hansa yellow (or lemon yellow or cadmium yellow light), 37 ml
• Yellow ochre, 37 ml
• Quinacridone red, 37 ml (alizarin and cadmium red can also work well)
• Ultramarine blue, 37 ml
• Cerulean blue hue, 37 ml (Gamblin brand preferred, as they make a superior quality of this particular color; other colors such as turquoise or phthalo blue can work as well)
• Burnt sienna, 37 ml
• Raw umber, 37 ml
• Titanium white, 150 ml

Paint Brushes

• An assortment of filberts, flats, and/or rounds: sizes 2, 4, 8, 12

Solvent / Medium

• Refined linseed oil – small bottle (8 oz) for painting medium
• Gamsol, Terpenoid, or other odorless oil painting solvent

Painting Surfaces

Surfaces are a matter of preference, and you may want to try a few options as the course moves forward. Blick Studio Stretched Cotton Canvas is recommended.

• Pre-stretched canvas or panels to start with:
  • Three 9" x 12"
  • Two 12" x 16"
• Canvas pad, mixed media sketchbook, or scrap substrate for small studies
  • Canson Canva Paper Pads 9" x 12" work well

Other Supplies

• 1 small plastic squeeze dropper bottle for medium
• Palette knife (flat design preferred; trowel shape is fine)
• Palette or disposable palette pad (11" x 14" or larger)
• Silicoil or other brush cleaning jar
• Latex gloves
• Cotton rags, old t-shirts, or heavy-duty paper towels
• Drawing pencils (and any other drawing materials preferred)
• Masking tape
• Box to carry everything

Prerequisite: Intro to drawing preferred