Oil painting
Slow-drying oil paints on canvas, blended and built up in layers over days.
Oil painting
- To start
- $80
- Each month
- $15
- Time
- 3 hours a week
- Sessions
- 1.5 hours or more
- Where
- At home
- Who with
- On your own
Is it for you?
- It's wide open for your own ideas.
- You end up with something you made.
- You could spend a lifetime getting better.
- It asks almost nothing of your body.
You’ll like it if
- You want to build something of your own
- You want to make things
- You want to get really good at something
Maybe not if
- You want to enjoy it from day one
- You only have short gaps in your day
- You hate cleaning up
Heads upMessy
What it feels like
Oil paintingAverage arts & Expression hobbyCalm
Company
Physical effort
Creative freedom
Brainwork
Hands-on
Outdoors
Quick wins
$80Costs more to start than 75% of hobbies
$15Over a year, more than the kit
$260About $2 an hour at 3 hours a week
Before you buy
Borrow from a friend or buy second-hand first. Upgrade once you know you will keep going.
Your first session
Paint a still life of three pieces of fruit with a limited palette.
1.5 hours or moreAt homeFairly easy to start
Questions
How much does oil painting cost to start?
About $80 if you rent or borrow where people usually do, then about $15 a month once you are going.
How much time does oil painting take?
About 3 hours a week to enjoy it and get better, in sessions of 1.5 hours or more.
Can I do oil painting at home?
Yes. Needs a table or a corner.
Is oil painting good for beginners?
It takes a bit more setting up than most hobbies. A good first session: Paint a still life of three pieces of fruit with a limited palette.
Do I need other people for oil painting?
No. It works fine on your own.