This how-to is a simple outline you can follow if you are just starting to create an oil painting. Every artist will surely have his or her own ritual, but in oil painting, some steps naturally come after one another.
Study of the Subject
It is wise to be prepared regarding the subject or theme you shall paint. Scrutinize every detail of the object or scene you wish to paint and form this picture in your mind. It is said that majority of the process of creating an oil painting lies in this stage, but this may not become applicable to abstract paintings. Nevertheless, remember that Jackson Pollock took years to perfect his splatters, no matter how random they seem to be.
Setting Up
Your painting area must be comfortable enough for you to move about, set your supplies, and perform your strokes or experimentations. The room must also have good ventilation. If you're going to work outside, be careful about having your things knocked over by the wind or other external elements.
Unless you don't care about your clothing, wear an apron or frock. The same goes for your work area: lay down paper, plastic, or dropcloth, and make sure they're tacked firmly in place.
You may need (or want) to stretch your canvas beforehand. Also, if your canvas has not been thoroughly primed yet—make sure it is, even if it is labeled so—then be sure to prime it.
Lay out your supplies, such that they are all within reach. Don't be too rash about placing paints on your palette as you may not need all of them at once.
Find out about the most important oil painting materials you'll need in this article.
Painting
Staining the canvas ground more or less marks the "painting proper." Here you get to decide the underlying hue that will affect the overall look of your painting. It also serves as an encouragement when you feel your canvas looks too bare before beginning to sketch. You can choose to skip this step, nevertheless.
Sketching in the underpainting transfers the image in your head onto the canvas and gives you an idea where to do what with your colors. You can sketch on the canvas with another medium, such as acrylic or charcoal, depending on the effect you want to achieve.
The painting stage seems more like a cycle: since oil paint takes a long while to completely dry up—a day or two—and since it is traditionally accomplished in layers (see Oil Painting Techniques), it takes a lot of patience and dedication to complete an oil painting. If you're feeling adventurous (or impatient), you can paint wet-on-wet though! But in both cases, let your painting dry up in a safe place that's free from unwanted scratching and smudging.
Just remember that applying oil paint on a canvas is completely different from pencil-pushing and working on paper. For a reference on different oil painting techniques, such as frottie, scumble, grisaille, glazing, dabbing, masking, or pulling, read more here. These techniques are not just useful for adding variety and a different "look," but are also helpful in making adjustments or corrections to your painting.
Cleanup and Care
While you're in the waiting stage of the "painting cycle," it's essential to keep your painting materials in tip-top shape—not only because they're expensive or hazardous! Tightly cover the palette with plastic wrap; keep it airtight. Let the muck in your thinner settle, then use the clean portion. This is also the best time to thoroughly clean up your brushes, to be ready for another round of painting.
Once you're done with the finishing touches of your painting, such as glazes and varnishes and other protective measures, store your painting once more in a cool, safe place. Avoid rolling up your paintings as this causes them to crack and flake. Framing is a failsafe way to make your paintings more secure and possibly even better-looking.
There! Your painting is done, and it's now ready to hang—in your home or in a gallery!
For more helpful advice, read Oil Painting Tips.