How to Paint

1.  Step 1
   Work with your art supplies in a well ventilated room. Oil based paint and paint thinners contain carcinogens. Use these materials in well ventilated areas to minimize your risks as you learn how to use oil paint.
2. Step 2
   Use your palette knife for mixing colors on your palette. I use oil based paint mainly, and have an array of colours but  no more than 6 colours are really required. The important ones are  red, blue and yellow, and white to lighten them.  I rarely use black since it "muddies" colors.
3. Step 3
   Buy canvas with the Gesso already on (white paint like substance).
4. Step 4
   Paint the background first, MUCH darker than you expect for your final product. Add midtones after, and highlights after that. Depending on the effect you want, allow at least 2 days of drying time between each layer. Oil based paint doesn't dry as quickly as acrylic paints do, because oil does not evaporate out like water.
5. Step 5
   Paint the subject once your background is complete. Follow the same process of painting it dark, including shadows. Paint the midtones, adding a few drops of linseed oil or other thinners (found at art supplies stores) to your paint. This thins it slightly, so the rich colors behind shine through, and light is captured in your painting. Finally paint the highlights, with a few extra drops of linseed oil more than you did for midtones. This creates the effect of light sitting on top of each layer.
6. Step 6
   Clean the paint brushes after use with paint thinner. Liquid soap, or special hard soap fround in art shops, are also good.