Can a person learn how to oil paint through reading books?

I'm thinking about oil painting. Is it possible to be a great self-taught painter? Or does taking a class (don't know if I have money for that) help a whole bunch? Wouldn't it be cool to be a professional painter?Can a person learn how to oil paint through reading books?
One of the greatest obstacles to leaning on your own is the lack of structure. There is a reason to learn things in a certain sequence. On your own you will pick and choose things based on interest rather than necessity. People ignore that which they need. There is a tendency to skip around and avoid difficulties. We cannot teach ourselves what we do not know.





Another obstacle is going without a mentor that can provide relevant information on the spot. Enormous ground can be covered when a teacher interacts and advises you while at your easel. You could spend your life reading books and not ever know what could be corrected with a simple adjustment. Those demo doodles supporting the explanations are priceless. Someone showing you something you are ripe and ready for is like water to someone who has just walked a desert. No book or video can watch you work and describe what you need.





Additionally, we learn so much when we are in the presence of other students learning along with us. You learn while watching other people work out their problems. You get to listen and see their questions answered and you have the opportunity to inject your own as you think of them. Being in an environment where you must articulate ideas builds confidence. You think about them in a different way. The process can be exciting and dynamic. A book is a one dimensional linear experience. It is like getting information sucking on a straw. By comparison, interacting with other people in a room sharing a common objective is a spacial experience hitting all of your senses and emotions.





Use whatever tools are available to you but do not kid yourself believing you will ever be your best doing this on your own. Seek the wisdom and experience of others and preferably in person if at all possible. You can learn many things through books. Just seeing someone paint will teach you a few things, however, videos and DVD's are primarily entertainment. There is a limit to their effectiveness. People claim they learn so much yet they cannot describe more than a few minor things. On your own you are blind to what is obvious to an experienced eye. Again, no book or video can watch you work and describe what you need.





If you want a hobby you can develop an enjoyable level of ability using books and watching videos. If you want to produce your best work you must have training. Mediocrity is common. The ability to fully express an idea, and express it well, requires skill. Without adequate training you are forced to do things based on your limitations rather than your abilities.Can a person learn how to oil paint through reading books?
I think the answer can be many depending on your goal.





Do you intend to paint realistically or abstractly?





If your goal is to become a representational oil painter, then actually reading the books and applying the knowledge might work. The key thing always lies in whether you can draw well before you start to paint in oil. I think that many people fail to progress much even in oil painting classes with a good instructor is because the ability to draw well is missing before you show up in classes. Usually the instructors will not be able to teach how to draw first given the constraint of time.





One of my mentors is an excellent painter. He taught himself to draw and worked on technical drafting for many years before he took up painting. I also have a neighbor who learned how to paint like old masters just by copying old masters' works in books!





Granted that it can be faster if you take classes to learn to paint. But the question is always who you are studying with and how much money you are going to invest in.





Draw well first and the painting will come easy. And you can teach yourself to paint well when the drawing comes along.
That is what I did and was pretty much self taught with my reading books and watching DVDs/Video's, until I decided to take some 3 day work shops. Finally, I signed up for an art class at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. It was a wonderful learning experience, and if I could afford it would go all the time. You can go to your local city college and find some very good art instructions there for minimal prices. My niece in an artist and she started there. After there she went to Art Center and is now working at Disney. I sell my paintings and I believe any thing you can learn to further your goal is a good thing. Don't give up your dream. Sure, artists use all kinds of paints. I do watercolor and oil..but if I didn't have that you bet I would do acrylic. Good Luck to you,








Nora
Yes, artists use acrylics as well as oil and watercolor paints. I have been a professional artist for over 30 years and use pen and ink, watercolor or acrylics in my work. While I did take a few painting classes in college and one in high school, I am primarily self taught, as many successful artists have been.





There are many good articles, videos and how-to lessons to learn drawing and painting online and you can always borrow books from the library. The important thing is to work at it on a regular basis. Art takes a lot of practice and trial and error to learn.





I would suggest approaching art as a way to express yourself and enjoy painting as a hobby at first. It is not easy to be a professional artist or illustrator but no matter what career you follow, you can always turn to art for yourself.
I tinkered with acrylics at first but when i decided to move on to oils i used library books and art magazines to teach myself to paint with them. Taking a good class will bring you along quicker but becoming a really good painter is possible with books. Keep in mind that no one book will have all the answers, i went through many (and i mean many) that covered all aspect of the painting process. I kind of like the idea that i can say i am a self-taught artist and it's feels pretty cool when i'm hired to do work for people. I don't know if i would consider myself a professional painter or if i would want to be called that at all, sounds too much like a job description and at the moment it doesn't feel like a job at all. My work can be checked out at hellosanantonio.com under artist name GUERRO1.
the technique can be learnt from the books but then the art itself needs to be unique and not borrowed.





it is then that you will attain success.