Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Quick Sketch Painting Process

Quick painting sketch using water-mixable oils, focusing on simplicity and essential techniques.

Setup & Materials: Simple Setup: A blank canvas propped behind eucalyptus leaves on a kitchen countertop.

Water-Mixable Oils: Winsor & Newton Artisan range (Cobra and Holbein are also good).

Dilution: Use Winsor & Newton water-mixable thinner for better flow; water alone doesn’t work as well for dilution.

Painting Surface: Oil paper, which is absorbent and allows for quick drying.

Brushes: A round, a flat, and a small round brush, but I only used a square flat for the entire painting.

Process:
1. Base Tones: Mix five base tones:

Two shades of green.
A muted red hue for stalks and muting greens.
A lighter ochre color for the background.
A cool blue grey.

2. Map out the negative shapes of the leaves

3. Block in the glass vase

4. Work between the cooler and warmer greens of the leaves

5. Add muted red for the stalks

6. Increase contrast and dark values towards the end of the painting