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Oil Painting Medic is a practical guide to oil painting techniques, materials and troubleshooting. Begin with Home or Start Here. Browse my Artbooks and Whats Trending. With copious articles covering portraiture, landscapes, still life, and problem solving, this blog helps artists improve technique and overcome challenges. Navigate by theme in the sidebar.

Oil Painting Inspired by the Solar Eclipse of 12 August 2026

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The solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 promises to be one of the most striking astronomical events visible from the UK, occurring around 7pm and offering dramatic sky colour at sunset. This second eclipse‑inspired oil painting explores a personified moon almost eclipsing the sun, with the solar corona streaming into the distance . Below, I share the full process—composition, underpainting, colour mixing, and celestial lighting techniques—to help artists create their own cosmic oil paintings . Read my article on how I completed my first of this pair of eclipse paintings, showing a face in profile on the moon . Planning the Composition: Drawing the Eclipse Discs I began by drawing around a large dinner plate placed near the centre of the panel to represent the moon. A second disc, slightly offset, marks the sun positioned behind it. This simple geometric foundation helps establish the eclipse alignment. The painting is executed on a 24×24 inch primed panel , giving a square format...
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How to Paint a Solar Eclipse Step by Step Artist’s Guide

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The solar eclipse of 12 August 2026 offers a rare opportunity to paint a dramatic celestial event occurring near sunset, when the sky shifts through deep. Inspired by this spectacle, I created a symbolic oil painting of the eclipse, showing a personified moon partially obscuring the sun corona. This first piece of two explores the process of concept to completion. Painting the Moon as a Personified Figure To establish the focal point, I began with reference images showing strong side‑lighting on a human face. This dramatic chiaroscuro effect represents the moon personified—a symbolic “woman on the moon”—and helps anchor the celestial theme in figurative realism. Read my article on how I completed my first of this eclipse painting pair, showing a full view face on the moon eclipsing the sun . Using a large dinner plate as a template, I drew the eclipse spheres slightly right of centre. This off‑centre placement creates visual tension and leaves space for the solar corona and plasma fl...
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How Can I Paint the Mona Lisa in an Hour?

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The painting of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is the most famous portrait in the world, partly due to the subtle and hard‑to‑define shadows around the face known as sfumato . Sfumato is one of the painting modes of Renaissance art and is difficult to achieve. I decided to paint the Mona Lisa and post it on YouTube as speed art. Here are the common pitfalls of painting a face with a subtle expression. Tips on Painting the Portrait of the Mona Lisa See my two YouTube clips on painting the Mona Lisa. The first glaze (above) was completed in around twenty‑five minutes. Once the first glaze was touch‑dry, I began the second glaze (below), which took a further half‑hour. The second process enabled me to elaborate on shadows and refine shading. Both processes have been speeded up so viewing time is compacted to a few minutes. The most common problems with painting a portrait with delicate detail such as the Mona Lisa are the following: 1. Expressing shadows on th...
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I’m Confused about Oil Painting Mediums, What are they For?

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Cold pressed oil, thickened oil, drying oil, refined oil, stand oil, poppy oil, linseed oil, safflower oil — what are they all for? It may seem that an array of oil mediums is needed for oil painting, not to mention alkyds. Does the artist really need all these mediums? Below is a simple guide to oil mediums and what they do. What Oil Mediums Are For Oil Mediums in Art Techniques Although great oil paintings are possible without mediums, it helps to know what they do. The artist can then make informed decisions about which medium to use for certain effects. Separate articles cover alkyd mediums and water‑mixable mediums. Simple Guide to Oil Painting Mediums Oils and solvents alter the properties of oil paint. Linseed oil is the carrier of oil paint and adding more makes the paint more translucent and runny, similar to adding water to watercolour. This is why linseed oil is the most commonly used medium. Solvents such as artist’s spirits or turpenoid cle...
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How do I Paint Blonde Hair on My Portraits?

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Blonde hair in oil painting often looks chalky, muddy or flat when the artist relies too much on white or browns. True blonde hair contains an array of hues — blues, earth colours and violets. By understanding how blonde hair behaves tonally and chromatically, the artist can mix cleaner pales, richer darks and convincing highlights. The True Colour of Blonde The portrait artist faced with painting blonde hair may automatically reach for titanium white and vary it with black or dark brown for shadows in the belief that these colors will create convincing blonde hair. Instead, the hair looks lifeless. What colors should the artist use for blonde hair? How Not to Paint Blonde Hair How to Paint Blonde Hair Rachel Shirley Before making changes to a portrait with blonde hair, the artist may identify what went wrong with the hair aspect of the painting, which could be any of the following: Making blanket assumptions about blonde hair in that it always contains lots ...
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How do I Make Gold Look like Gold with Oil Paint?

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The artist trying to convey metallic effects with oil paint may be disappointed if brass ornaments or gold jewellery resembles dollops of mustard in the still life painting. How can the artist get gold effects in painting? Gold: An Introduction Gold is one of the most tricky colours in oil painting. Many artists expect it to behave like yellow, only to end up with mustard‑coloured jewellery or dull brass. The secret to painting convincing gold isn’t brightness — the secret lays in contrasting neutrals, and unexpected cool hues. Problems with Painting Gold Jewellery How to Paint Gold A still life setting featuring gold objects such as jewellery may appear tarnished or plastic-like due to misconceptions about the colour gold, causing the artist to use a lot of yellow, orange or ochres. Such idealistic concepts about the colour gold may be indicative by the following notions and practices. Having the subconscious idea that all gold is basically yellow, yellow-orange or ochr...
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Repair a Damaged Oil Painting: Dos and Don’ts

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An oil on canvas can be easily damaged during transit or stored inappropriately. A tear can work into the canvas if resting against a sharp object, and the weave, fray if under undue tension. Damp, sunlight and temperature extremes can rob the canvas of natural oils and therefore cause the canvas to brittle and liable to tear. How does the artist repair a torn oil painting? An oil on canvas can be easily damaged during transit or stored inappropriately. A tear can work into the canvas if resting against a sharp object, and the weave, fray if under undue tension. Damp, sunlight and temperature extremes can rob the canvas of natural oils and therefore cause the canvas to brittle and liable to tear. How does the artist repair a torn oil painting? Saving Money on Art Restoration Art restorers can be costly and hard to find. But I have fixed this oil painting myself. The damaged painting is an old master showing Bracebridge Pool, Sutton Park, UK by a Victorian landscape artist Willis Pryce....
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I Can't Paint Shadows on Portraits

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Painting shadows on a face is different from suggesting shadows on buildings or a landscape. The beginner may treat both subject matter the same, expressing facial shadows as definite grey or black shapes on top of the skin colour, resulting in dark pools or dirty smudges. How can the hopeful portraitist paint shadows that suggest contours on a portrait? Why Portraits are Difficult to Paint Shading Techniques for Portraiture Portrait painting is often perceived to be a difficult subject matter to tackle. Little wonder when the face forms an important part of what we see. Our brains are highly sensitive to interpreting facial expressions or judging the character of someone by their features. The smallest deviation regarding an outline or a shadow will affect the overall appearance. In the case of painting, the portrait may no longer resemble the person portrayed. Our brains will not forgive these crucial deviances, and when it comes to shadows and contours, getting...
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How do I Paint Ginger Hair in My Portraits?

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Painting a portrait of someone with red hair may spur the artist to reach for orange or red oil paint, believing the pigment will resemble red hair. The result is often a garish or carroty hue that fails to convince. What pigments can the artist use to paint realistic ginger hair in a portrait? Portrait Painting with Red Hair How to Paint Red Hair Rachel Shirley The portrait artist may review issues that arise when painting someone with red hair. The following problems often need addressing: Using any red pigment simply because the hair is labelled “red.” Using identical colour mixes for all ginger-haired subjects. Darkening red hair with black, resulting in dirty colours. Highlighting red hair with white, creating unwanted pinks. Failing to vary tone or thickness at the hairline, causing the hair to “bleed” at the scalp. Choosing background colours that clash with red hair. How to Paint Realistic Ginger Hair Sensitive observation is key. Good pho...
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How do I Paint Reflections in the Eyes of my Portrait?

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Illustrating the eyes of a portrait will make or break the oil painting; but the highlights in the eyes are equally crucial. The portraitist might take great pains to achieve great skin tones and suggestion of hair with a good likeness to the subject and then with the finishing touches applies highlights to the eyes as two white pinpricks. Whilst this might be acceptable, why leave it there when a more sensitive depiction of reflections in eyes could make a good portrait brilliant? Painting Highlights in Eyes Painting Reflections in Eyes I have written a separate article offering tips on painting eyes in portraits . Issues such as painting the pupil, the iris and the area around the eyes are essential for a successful portrait. But eye-highlights are such a vital element that improper application could ruin the whole portrait painting. This is because very often, the highlights give the eyes light and life. How Not to Paint Eyes in Oils The following issues with painting moist...
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What Art Techniques can I use to Paint Underwater Scenes?

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A fascinating subject matter for painting is undersea scenes such as the Great Barrier Reef or the deep. Having completed many oil paintings that feature marine images underwater, I have perfected great art techniques in oil paints to suggest this watery world. Here are some tips on how to paint water. How to Paint Ocean Scenes Painting Underwater Scenes (Rachel Shirley) I have completed dozens of paintings that feature coral reefs and the great deep for my children’s picture books, the Katie’s Magic Teapot series that tells the story of a young girl’s adventure travelling under the oceans in her magic teapot. But I wanted the effects to be realistic. Painting marine animals such as clownfish and dolphins required detailed effects in themselves, but how can an effective background create the impression that the scene is set underwater? To complete these scenes, I used the following art materials, beginning with the colors: Ultramarine blue, pthalo blue, lemon yellow, permane...
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Avoiding Muddy Colours When Painting Dark Skin in Oils

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Very dark skin such as African skin, Aborigine or Jamaican skin colours can challenge the artist who normally paints Caucasian skin in portraiture. This is because the colour ratios of pigments shift radically between pale skin and black skin. I took note of the colours I used and the ratios needed to capture the skin colours within a figure in Rossetti’s The Beloved (see picture). I found that extreme contrasts in tone and colours are needed. A diffident approach is not ideal, but an honest more daring approach. The Colours Used for Black Skin From Rossetti's The Beloved How to Paint Black Skin Tones The secret of painting a portrait of a black person is to dispel all assumptions about how a black person ‘should’ look and to treat the portrait as the first of its kind. Take an honest look at the colours on the skin and how it shifts from one area to another. When painting The Beloved, I noticed how the colour shifts between brow and chin, from warm browns to cool blues. Ho...
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