Want to start oil painting but don’t know where to start?
You’re in the right spotโI make oil painting easy!
“Hi, I’m Irene, a professional oil painter with a Fine Art History degree, and I’m here to help you create beautiful paintings you can be proud of FAST.“
The 2 biggest obstacles beginners have is 1) not knowing WHERE to start and 2) not having TIME. So I designed my My Duma DO ART Process to fix that!
Step 1: Know there are 2 oil painting processes and don’t mix them up!
True story: I had been painting for a year and a half before I learned there were 2 oil painting processes! No wonder I was confused. The 2 processes are very different! So, when you land on a web site, make sure you check to see which method they are talking about. By the way, I teach Alla Prima.
- Alla Prima
Alla prima means “all at once” in Italian. You paint the painting while the oil paint is wet. Alla Prima is the way Van Gogh, the Impressionists, and the Post-Impressionists painted. It’s also the way plein air painters paint today.
I LOVE the beautiful expressiveness and spontaneity that you get with Alla Prima. I also love that you can finish a MINI painting in 30-90 minutes. This is the way I paint, so if you like this technique, FOLLOW ME!
2. The Flemish or Classical technique
The Classical technique is the way Van Eyck and the Flemish masters painted. You paint in thin layers โ or glazes โ and wait for the layers to dry before painting the next one. This is how those Flemish masters got iridescent pearls and jewels.
Beautiful for sure, but this can take weeks or months. I’m way too impatient for that! So if you want to learn this technique, I’m afraid I won’t be much help.
If you want to learn ALLA PRIMA oil painting, go to STEP 2
Step 2
Step 3
Buy 4 oil painting supplies
Yes, just 4! I keep it simple AND economical. Everything else you can find at home. See the section in My QuickStart Guide to Oil Painting that explains everything you need to start painting. You can also check out the page below where I list a bunch of supplies that are perfect for beginners.
Step 4: Set aside 3 hours and follow my Duma Do 10 Steps to a successful painting
I’ve broken down the PROCESS of oil painting into 10 easy-to follow steps. You’ll finish your first real FINE ART mini painting in under 3 hours! Once you know these basics, a mini painting will take just 30-90 minutes to finish. Check out the steps in my QuickStart Guide.
Step 6
Paint SMALL and OFTEN and learn FASTER!
The more paintings you FINISH the better you will get because MASTERY is achieved with QUANTITY. That’s why I recommend starting to paint with mini paintings โ they can be completed in about 30-90 minutes. And since finishing a painting FEELS SO GREAT you’ll love showing up to your painting practice.
Mini paintings are so cute!
You will LOVE your painting time
Step 7
Follow your curiosity and excitement
Trythings โ new supplies, techniques, subjects. This is how you will gain knowledge. This is also how you will find your own unique style.
Step 8: Follow my Duma Do Art Process ROADMAP to SUCCESS.
Just keep showing up and aim to be 1% better each time. This is how I got into 2 galleries in just 2 years. It really works!
Step 9
Ready for more?
Get my itty bitty Intro to Oil Painting course
Lets face it โ painting is hard to learn from a book โ we need to SEE how a painter moves a brush across the canvas. So in this course you will get VIDEOS of me painting in real time and explaining everything I’m thinking and doing in simple, clear terms.
This is real fine art training but taught in a friendly and fun way … with mini steps … and mini paintings!
More FREE painting resources
[READ]
My Art Blog
Articles and videos to help you on your painting journey. I’m all about keeping lessons easy and simple. I was taught to teach science at a world-class science museum, so if I can make science easy, I can make art easy!
[watch my painting videos]
YouTube Channel
Subscribe to my YouTube Art Channel and donโt miss my video painting demos, landscape painting time-lapses, Q&As, tips and other videos.
[Join My]
FREE Facebook Group
Come hang out with other art-loving people in the Irene Duma Teaches Art, Drawing and Painting Facebook Group. Post your art, ask and answer questions, have fun with other arts loving peeps.
[FREE Ebook]
30+ Free Photos to Paint
A collection of some of my fave photos to draw or paint. Perfect for a 30-day challenge. Save time looking and spend more time drawing, or painting.
Get more LOOSE with these drawing exercises!
All painting starts with drawing so you’ll LOVE these 5 exercises chosen especially for painters. This daily challenge gets you drawing like a PRO in 5 days. Each exercise takes just minutes so it’s easy to fit into your day! Not only will you learn to see the elements of art quickly but the challenge is designed to get you into the HABIT of making art.
Follow me on social media
Follow me to see what’s on my easel. Instagram is usually the first to get updates because it’s so easy! I send out painting tips too!
I have over 100 art boards ! When I first started painting I spent hours on Pinterest. I loved how it shows you similar images โ great for an art snoop like me.
Twitter is a cool way to find the latest art news. I like to follow art writers, journalists, and magazines.
Get ready to fall FAST in love with painting
… and start creating the life of your dreams
Please share. My mission is to spread the wonderful world of Fine Art painting knowledge as far and wide as possible.
