Oil Painting was my painting of choice for most of my life.  There is a never ending supply of surfaces to paint on!!  In the old days I would stretch my own canvases - but now I tend to buy what is available and use my strength to prepare all of the unique items available to paint on.

Preparation::Saws - Milk Cans - Heaters - Cow Bells
When preparing a metal or object with rust, always be sure to get ALL of the rust off.  Use a sander, sand blast if a large or difficult item or soak in a bath of apple cider vinegar or Coke for smaller items.  Then steel wool, wipe and spray with a rust resistant paint.  This will hold this object for a long time till the mood strikes to paint.  At that time apply two coats of Gesso - first coat in one direction (wait and be sure it is dry), then apply a second coat in opposing direction.  After that dries - be sure to spray with a "sealer".  Now you are ready to paint your picture.

It is a good idea to set aside a whole day and just do a mess of these items as once - then when the mood hits you all you have to do it grab it and go!

Preparation:  Masonite Board - Old wood - New Wood, etc
The preparation of wood will be determined on how much painting will be on it, what condition the wood is in, the picture you are going to paint, etc.

OPTIONS:  Stain most of it and Gesso the area where a picture will go.
                   Put a wood sealer on it if it is a very old and porous wood.
                   KILZ is a product that will mask any knot holes or problems with the wood you don't
                   want to show through on your picture.  This is especially good when adding people.

ALWAYS REMEMBER:  YOU CAN PAINT OIL OVER ACRYLIC - BUT YOU CANNOT PAINT ACRYLIC OVER OIL.  This means you can use Acrylic paint as a base for color under your sky,
for darkness behind the depth in the trees or base for alot of things to start your picture.  Then build with your oil.  It will move along alot faster for you that way.  If you have an old oil painting and you want to revive it and want to use "acrylics", it can be done.  You must sand the painting down so you can still see what you have painted, but get all the shine off the picture.  Now you can go over and paint with acrylics and liven up the painting and then be sure to spray with a fixative when done.  After my transplant when the doctors made me quit using oils, I had several unfinished paintings at home.  I eventually used this technique and they were fine.  Just be sure that you sand as much off as possible to get the bulk of the oil off.