Discover the Best Oil Painting Classes Online
Oil painting is the process of painting with a mixture of powdered pigments and drying oil. The combination of these two ingredients forms oil paint. The type of oil used in oil paint impacts the consistency of the paint as well as the color.
Oil paintings take a long time to dry compared to other painting styles. This allows mistakes to be fixed more easily than other styles allow for. The wet-on-wet technique used when oil painting involves applying a new layer of oil paint on top of still-wet layers. This lets you make last-minute adjustments to your work because the paint hasn’t dried.
Oil painting is a highly respected and popular form of painting. A wide range of colors is available to use in oil painting thanks to the color mixing process. Oil paints are also considered easy to use and fade much slower than art mediums.
Why You Should Learn Oil Painting Online
Oil painting is easy for beginners to learn. Its slow-drying time allows painters to fix mistakes long after making them. It is a great skill to learn for those looking to practice their patience. Like most forms of painting, oil painting requires fine attention to detail and a high degree of concentration.
Oil painting is a good way to help regulate your emotions. Painting is considered a therapeutic activity that can help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. It’s also a good way to boost your self-confidence and self-esteem as you work on creating a piece of art that you can be proud of and showcase to others.
Some of the most famous paintings in the world are oil paintings. Oil paintings are thus more sought after by collectors than other types of paintings. If you work hard enough at learning the fundamentals of oil painting and practice plenty, you may be able to sell some of your own paintings.
Virtual Oil Painting Classes
If you can’t make it to an in-person oil painting class you might consider looking into online oil painting classes on CourseHorse. Virtual classes in oil painting are taught across the US and available to you online.
Classes are available in a variety of topics, like the basics of oil painting and how to safely work with oil paints and solvents. Classes can also be found at all skill levels, ranging from beginner to advanced. These classes eliminate the need to commute and instead let you take the class in the comfort of your own home or office.
Virtual classes typically require participants to fulfill a supply list. Necessary materials for an oil painting class will usually include paints along with a canvas and other tools. Class instructors provide their participants with a supply list ahead of the class. These items may be found at your local art or craft store. You can check online for items that are difficult to find.
Pastimes for a Lifetime offers a variety of oil painting classes, including an Oil Pastel 101 course. This beginner class is perfect for learning the basics of color theory and the chemistry behind color mixing. In this class, you will learn how to blend and apply shades, tints, and color mixtures. There is a prerequisite for this course, Intro to Drawing, as well as a supply list for you to fulfill ahead of time.
If you’re interested in learning about water-soluble oil paints, a non-toxic substitute for oil paints, Pastimes for a Lifetime also offers a course that teaches the basics of this medium. You’ll learn how to mix water-soluble oil colors as well as brush techniques.
Advanced oil painters are welcome to take The Art Studio NY’s Dare to Paint: Advanced Oil & Acrylic Painting class. A live online instructor will guide you through advanced-level painting techniques using acrylic and oil paints. Participants can look forward to exploring the subject matter of their choice and pushing the boundaries of their creativity.
Private Online Group Oil Painting Classes
Is your business or organization interested in scheduling an oil painting class as a team-building activity? Are you and a group of friends looking for a fun weekend activity? CourseHorse offers private painting classes they can deliver to you.
There are several watercolor classes available for private groups on CourseHorse, including a Virtual Watercolor Workshop focused on the techniques of modernist painter Georgia O’Keeffe. Your live online instructor will teach you the basics of watercolor in this interactive class as you work on a landscape piece inspired by O’Keeffe’s work. The other watercolor workshops offered allow your group to relax while you work on creating a watercolor based on the subject of your group’s choosing. If your group would prefer to learn how to work with acrylic paints, a private Virtual Acrylic Painting class is also available through CourseHorse.
If your group is interested in a class that is not currently offered by CourseHorse, you can reach out to them through the contact form on their website. They’ll work with you on finding or creating a class that works for your group’s interests and needs.
All supplies are sent to participants ahead of their session. This includes the paints you will be working with, the required brushes, and paper or a canvas. CourseHorse offers classes that can accommodate large groups. If you’re not sure of your exact group size, you can update them with a headcount up to a week before the class. There are no booking fees and cancellations are free up to two weeks before the class.
CourseHorse recommends using Zoom to take their classes, but they can also accommodate Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx.
Online vs. In-Person Oil Painting Classes
Online and in-person classes each have advantages. These advantages along with your needs should be considered before deciding which course delivery works best for you.
In-person classes allow for a more hands-on approach to learning. In an in-person class, your instructor can offer in-depth demonstrations and they will be able to answer your questions as you work through the class. In-person classes are also a great way to meet and socialize with those who are also interested in oil painting. Collaboration is much easier when surrounded by those working on similar projects.
In-person classes aren’t always accessible. If you don’t live near an area where in-person classes are available, or if you can’t work the commute into your schedule, you might want to consider online oil painting classes. Online classes offer a live instructor who will guide you and other remote learners through the class. These classes are offered by studios and schools across the country, exposing you to a variety of instructors and techniques.
When deciding between taking an in-person or online oil painting class, first assess if there are any in-person classes in your area. If so, consider how the class would fit into your schedule. You should also determine whether you will be able to procure the necessary supplies for an online class. If you can’t, an in-person class that supplies all or most materials may work best for you.
Can I Learn Oil Painting for Free Online?
You can get started on your oil painting journey through free online tutorials and guides in oil painting. Artists love to share their experiences and methods with each other. With the right research, you’ll be able to learn the basics of oil painting online. If you’re looking for additional instruction or someone to answer your questions, a class with an expert instructor is a quick and in-depth way to learn oil painting.
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