Whether your goal is realism or abstraction, understanding the basics of oil painting will help you express your ideas better.

Step 1: Start with Sketching

Draw thumbnail sketches of your ideas to refine your composition before painting.

Step 2: Understand Values and Shapes

Practice breaking down scenes into light, mid-tone, and dark shapes. This helps with depth and balance.

Step 3: Master One Technique at a Time

Focus on one technique per painting session—such as blending or glazing—to build skills gradually.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s Discipline

Georgia O’Keeffe devoted herself to mastering detail and color. Her career teaches us that persistence and technical growth go hand-in-hand.