EVERYTHING you need for oil painting! Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced

I’ve had a lot of requests to break down everything you need for oil painting from the perspective of a beginner, intermediate and advanced artist.

If you want to see my recommended art supplied check out linktr.ee/dorisroseart

Ive probably been to disorganised to get this done in time for the holiday shopping time period but a few people have requested it in my comments lately so I wanted to share my thoughts.

Here’s my list of recommended oil painting supplies:

A CMY primary palette: titanium white, burnt umber, quinacridone magenta pr122, phthalo blue pb15, and azo yellow medium py75. You can mix a black using blue and brown

Or a split-primary palette: all of the above, naphthol scarlet pr188 or cadmium red medium, Hansa yellow light py3 or cadmium lemon, and ultramarine blue pb29.

You can either use special water soluble oils, choose to go solvent free, or you’ll need a slow evaporating mineral spirit like gamsol or lavender spike oil. You’ll want a sealable brush cleaning tank or jar with diy agitator to keep the solvent in.

You’ll need an oil medium to create and control flow, i'd recommend Liquin or linseed oil and extra containers, or jars to keep it (and other mediums to extra paints) in. I use a silicone cupcake mold as it’s easy to clean.

You’ll need paper towels or t-shirt rags to wipe brushes and a fire safe metal safety can lot throw them out carefully.

You’ll need a range of synthetic or hog hair brushes from size 1 to 8 and a wide paddle brush for varnishing. If you’re a detail painter you may also want some below zero as well as a smooshy brush for blending.

You’ll also want an oil painting varnish like gamvar to protect your work and a midtone grey disposable or glass palette. You can use any piece of glass like a chopping board or picture frame. You’ll need palette knives to mix paint and a razor scraper to clean the palette.

You’ll need paper, canvas, wood panel or even a metal surface like aluminum or copper to paint on and a good quality acrylic gesso if these surfaces are unprimed. You’ll also need an easel - my recommendation is an H-frame. Vine Charcoal is also important for the underdrawing

Let me know in the comments if I forgot anything!

PALETTES

CMY primary: titanium, burnt umber, quinacridone magenta pr122, phthalo blue pb15, and azo yellow medium py75

Split-Primary: all of the above + naphthol scarlet pr188, hansa yellow light py3, ultramarine blue pb29

Zorn: Ivory Black, cadmium red medium, yellow ochre, titanium white

Daniel E. Green: for landscapes or portraits (google this one for check my insta post for the detailed list of paints and arrangements)

Glazing: dioxanine violet, quinacridone magenta, crimson lake pr149 permanent yellow, Indian yellow py83, phthalo green pg36, phthalo emerald pg7, phthalo blue, ultramarine blue