In contemporary times, oil painting is one of the most common options of expression by artists throughout the world, because it presents vast diversity and technique, strong deepness of color vibrancy and durability that makes it possible for a painting to endure for thousands of years.

It is in addition, one of the most giving mediums - the paints can be effortlessly manipulated on the canvas or birthday cards and if you make a slip-up, you can easily wipe the colour off the canvas (with a cloth dipped in turpentine), due to the length of the drying time.

To begin creating your handmade birthday cards in oil-paints, you need 3 simple things - some decent novices' equipment; a subject to paint; a principal process...

Choosing a Paint tray of Colours:

The main point is to uphold a wide palette of approximately twelve colours and then add to it for specific requirements. Once you have the first palette, the next step is to get hold of perfectly suitable paint-brushes and surfaces.

What Paint-brush?

Delicate hog brushes comprise of non corrosion components. The natural curve of the brush is utilised to maintain the shape and point of the well detailed work. A lot of novices need four paint brushes to start painting in oils. Below is a short explanation of how you can employ some of the different brush types:

Large or Medium sized FLAT brush, No.s 6, 10 or 12 - Used for large areas of colour. The tip can also be used for thin narrow lines. Also used for blending and manipulating the colour around the canvas.

Medium sized ROUND brush, No. 6 - Used for broad areas of colour. Also good for scumbling and dabbing on small patches of colour.

Small sized ROUND brush No. 2 - For Fine Detail and hi-lighting.

Which Surface?

These days, birthday cards are created on a number of surfaces, from fabric to blank cards. Oil paints are no different, whereby they can be applied to several surfaces before being applied to the birthday cards.

Paper/Card - Oil colour paper and card has a traditional canvas textured surface, which is specifically designed for use with oils and acrylics. With a specially formulated primer applied during the sizing process, it has the right degree of absorbency for oil application.

Canvas - Stretched canvas has been the most common support for oils since the 17th century. The weave of the cloth combined with the spring of the stretched material are the features that maintain its popularity.

Canvas Board - Canvas boards have traditionally been used for sketching outdoors. Boards take up less room and are less easily damaged than stretched canvases.

Other Surfaces - Regularly artists in the UK like to use different surfaces as opposed to canvases and papers. Oil can be applied to MDF, wooden furniture and panels, glass, hardboard, walls and plaster. Whilst painting on an irregular surface it is important to ensure the surface is set suitably. Evidently some of these surfaces are impractical for creating handmade birthday cards, though a lot of of them might be painted onto before being attached to the face of a blank card in order to enrich your design and perhaps even give a 3D effect.

Look out for more articles written by this writer in relation to oil painting birthday cards in the UK, more specifically, how to select a subject matter and techniques for oil painting. Or why not contact the author through the shopping site www.cardly.co.uk.