Thanks to loads of help on these forums, I managed to work out what I needed to get going with my first attempts at oil painting - some really fun retail therapy later - some cool "Jacksons" supplies (London based art shop which I really recommend) I have managed my first painting... Whether its any good or not, it was certainly much more fun than the frustrating world of watercolour painting. The first lesson that you learn straight away is what they mean when they talk about the "push and pull" of Oil painting - which strikes me as very similar to trying to blend edges of shadow and half tone with graphite pencils. @Liandro - hope you like it...