Take the paintbrush in some white and drag it across the top part of the canvas where you want the Borealis.
DIY Wall Art: 14 Simple and Fun Oil Painting Tips and Tricks for Beginners
Looking for fun ways to dress up your walls? Consider a DIY approach to wall art.
DIY wall art is fun because you’re being creative. Being creative is challenging and therefore a very rewarding hobby.
It’s more meaningful to hang your art rather than buying.
You’ll have more of a connection to the piece because you made it. Plus, you’d be surprised at how easy it is to paint with oils.
These are oil painting tips and tricks for beginners because I’m a beginner.
So, if you’ve never painted before, I urge you to try these.
Here are my simple and fun oil painting tips for DIY wall art:
- DIY wall decor ideas
- What kind of paint does Bob Ross use?
- Are water-soluble oil paints any good?
- Oil paint sets
- Oil painting brushes
- The best standing easel
- Easy painting ideas
- Oil painting tips and tricks
- Palette knife paintings
- Dramatic paintings
- City skyline
- Landscape paintings
- Aurora Borealis
- Pet portraits
Get the full list of my art supplies used in this post here.
DIY wall decor ideas
First, you need to decide what you want to paint.
Think of something that makes you happy. Perhaps a beach sunset, your first pet, flowers, or the Aurora Borealis. These sound like complicated oil paintings, but they are not.
Choose something that you feel connected to. Something that warms your heart.
Now, get a nice reference photo. You can take the picture with your phone or find one online. It is better if you’re able to print the picture.
Having a physical photo reference will be helpful when mapping out your painting. If you’re able to get contrasting lighting, that’s even better. Contrasts in lighting help you see depth and texture.
This makes the painting come to life.
What kind of paint does Bob Ross use?
We all know the late and great Bob Ross. He painted on TV for 11 years and had just over 400 episodes. Ross makes oil painting look so easy. And it is!
You just need to learn how to use the tools and hacks for each.
Bob Ross uses traditional oil paints.
You will need mineral spirits or paint thinner to clean up traditional oil paints. Some caution: even if you use odorless paint thinner, the nasty toxins are still there. And they are still harmful.
Bob Ross was on TV in the 80s and early 90s. We didn’t have advanced tools like we do today. I’m sure if Bob Ross was still alive, he’d use water-soluble oils instead.
Cold Winter Night DVD
This stunning winter scene was originally released in 2016 as a special bonus DVD. But now we have made this instructional lesson available on its own! In this lesson, you will learn how to paint a soft night sky balanced with a Christmas tree and a bridge over a river. Kevin shows you each step of the painting so you can create your own stunning winter painting.
Please note: if you purchased a sale item in 2016, you already have this lesson. Oil painting lesson
Approx. 60 min.
$14.95
Winter Solitude DVD
This beautiful, simple winter scene was originally released in 2015 as a special bonus DVD. But now we have made this instructional lesson available on its own! Using only a few elements, learn to make a painting come to life through the use of beautiful color. Kevin shows you in detail each step required to create this painting. Practice painting with Kevin and grow your skills! Oil painting lesson
Approx. 60 min.
$14.95
Oil painting for Beginners No.1 DVD
This lesson will take you step by step through an oil painting designed for beginners. Working with a simple composition, study the basics of how a landscape painting is constructed. Working form the background and coming forward, see how every element is placed within the landscape to create a simple yet effective oil painting. Evergreen trees and a large patch of bushes help to complete the scene! Oil painting lesson
Approx. 60 min.
$14.95
