Basic Oil Painting Techniques: Wet-on-Wet, Glazing, and Layering

Oil painting is a timeless and expressive medium that offers rich textures, depth, and luminosity. Mastering a few fundamental techniques wet-on-wet, glazing, and layering can greatly enhance your ability to create dynamic and professional-quality artworks. This technique involves applying fresh paint onto a still-wet layer, allowing colors to blend directly on the canvas. It promotes spontaneity and is ideal for expressive brushwork and soft transitions. Often used in portraiture and landscapes, wet-on-wet is perfect for completing a painting in a single session. Glazing involves applying thin, transparent layers of oil paint over a dried base layer to alter the color and create depth and luminosity. Each glaze slightly modifies the layer beneath it, making it ideal for realistic effects and glowing highlights. Layering is a traditional method that builds a painting in stages, from under painting to final details. Artists let each layer dry before adding the next, allowing for precise control and refinement.