Getting Started

For anyone that wants to try oil painting, getting started is fairly easy and doesn't require a visit to a niche art store.  All of the basic supplies needed can be purchased at Michael's craft store or another such store.  You will need:
                              -a canvas (available in a variety of dimensions and ususally square or rectangular in shape)
                              -a set of brushes (brushes can be bought packaged together in sets of five or six, and the size of each brush is different, giving you the basic sizes you need)
                             
                              -paints (small tubes that will be labeled as oil paints with silver metal screw-on lids)
                              -oil mix (this will be in a square tin-like container and clearly labeled. One brand has the Mona Lisa on the front of it. You will use this to water down and help mix the paints)
                              -Turpenoid (this is a non-toxic form of turpentine that you will need to clean your brushes)
                              -Small supplemental supplies like a good drawing pencil (for drawing on your canvas), a piece of cardboard covered in wax paper (for putting your paints on), a piece of plastic wrap (for covering your paints for later use), and small plastic containers with lids (for holding your oil mix and Turpenoid) are also needed.

                              -Finally, you will need whatever you are going to paint: a scene from life, a book with a scene, a picture, etc. This is the fun part!

*A word about gesso: it is a paint mixture that you need to apply to your canvas and let dry for at least a day before you start painting.  It acts as a binder for your paint.  Canvases sold in stores come pre-gessoed, so you don't have to worry about it.