Oil Painting Every Day

by Robin Sealark

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Oil Painting Every Day is an accessible, beginner friendly technique and tutorial guide for oils by Robin Sealark. Due out 22nd March 2022 from Quarto on their Quarry imprint, it's 128 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is such an exuberantly written and *fun* guide to oils. The author is supportive and friendly and the entire text has a very upbeat vibe. Most beginning artists (myself included) are intimidated by the gravitas and august history of oil based media. In fact, I've spent a lot more time on acrylics, inks, and watercolors before ever even attempting oils. I never felt like I was accomplished enough at drawing or artistic draftsmanship to try.

The book is well and clearly photographed throughout. Tutorials include specific goals and step by step instructions. Materials and tools are listed in bullet point lists in highlighted text boxes. Tutorial photos are in color and shot without hands or tools in the way. The book's introduction covers mixing and color theory, basic techniques, and painting supplies. I like that the author shows a variety of paints and doesn't push one brand over the others.

The following chapters cover basic techniques both within the physical application of the paints onto surfaces as well as design work and confidence building (I really needed those parts). Vocabulary and glossary terms are introduced in text boxes organically in the tutorials without being preachy or pedantic. There's a really fun sense of whimsy and adventure here. She asks good and salient questions: how did the different techniques of laying down paint feel during the painting? Which did you prefer? Why?, but she does it with a patience which I found encouraging. I loved the humor as well. Some of the tutorials are based around readers putting themselves (literally) inside famous paintings such as Vermeer's Girl With a Pearl Earring and completing lessons based around them. She definitely doesn't take herself seriously and it elevates the whole experience significantly.

I can imagine that she's a gifted instructor and this course is information dense but also a lot of fun. This would be a great selection for public or school library acquisition, classroom instruction or private learning.

Five stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.