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How to Make Oil Paints Work Like Watercolors

Making oil paint work more like watercolor isn't difficult. However, even using the technique described below, there are two major differences: oil paints must be painted on primed canvas, lest they warp watercolor paper. Additionally, oil paints are not as unpredictable as watercolors--when they are dry, they look much the same as they did when they were wet. Watercolors, on the other hand, may change dramatically from the time they're wet to the time they dry.

Things You'll Need

  • Oil paints
  • Turpentine
  • Paintbrush
  • Primed canvas
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up your painting materials in a quiet, well-ventilated room. It is very important to do this in a well-ventilated room because the oil paints must be mixed with turpentine. Turpentine is a noxious substance that can cause headaches and dizziness.

      Lay out small gobs of paint on your palette.

    • 2

      Dip your paintbrush in the turpentine, then dip the paintbrush into the paint.

    • 3

      Swish the paint around on the palette. The turpentine will thin the paint, giving it a watery quality. The more turpentine used, the more the paint is thinned. Add turpentine to the paint until the color of the paint appears slightly less bold than it did in its purest form. The paint should be quite runny.

    • 4

      Apply the paint to the canvas. Allow it to drip and splatter, just as it would if you were using watercolor.

    • 5

      Repeat Steps 2 and 3 every time you need to apply more paint to the canvas. Build the paint in transparent layers on the painting. Allow the paint to dry between each layer.

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