Take a leisurely walk around your local art supply store. Does being around art supplies excite you? Or does it overwhelm you?
If you’re a just embarking on your journey as an artist, your first experience with shopping for oil painting supplies could make your head spin.
Many professionals will tell you that getting your feet wet (and brushes, for that matter) will take some time. Learning what works best for you is a process. If you have had one of these frightening experiences, fear not, help is on the way!
One thing you may notice in the stores or online, is that there are a multitude of choices you must make before you start to paint. In fact, there are more choices than you’ll know what to do with.
Time after time beginners go into the supply store and come out needing a bank loan to get out from underneath the bill. If you fear this could happen to you, take a deep breath and remind yourself that you don’t need everything that you see. This leads us to tip one of three– know what you need when shopping for oil paint supplies.
Tip #1 – Stick to the basics
Most painting supply stores will have their lines of products broken down into categories assorted from beginners to professionals. If you are a first time oil painter, or are relatively new to the craft, you’re going to want to keep many of the beginner products in mind. But beware: Not all beginner products are a great idea to start with.
Tip #2 – Don’t skimp on brushes
If you are the casual painter, it may be tempting to be conservative with spending. However, it is a good idea to always consider the high-end, quality brushes over the introductory and mid-grade brushes. Why? Cheap brushes shed hair and lose their shape much faster than quality brushes do. Whether you’re 5 or 55, this is an insanely frustrating way to work.
Tip #3 – Try a small variety
There are mediums like poppy seed and lint seed oil, canvas in all textures, thickness, and sizes. Not to mention there are more paint color choices than your car manufacturer offers.
Generally store associates are there to help guide your choices, but this is not always the case. The best idea is to try a small assortment of each of the above products. The goal here is to not break the bank. (Although you needn’t worry if you break the bank because you’ll have enough supplies to paint yourself a new one!)
When shopping for oil paint supplies, take your time and don’t be too hasty. Your aim is to end up with a well rounded basic set of instruments (brushes and canvases). The easels, bags, pallets, and much more are waiting for you at your local art supply store.
So what are you still doing sitting here? Go get your paint on!
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