This is a comprehensive guide for absolute beginners looking to get started in painting. In writing this, I considered what I would do if I had to go back and learn to paint all over again.
I have broken the guide into 7 simple steps you can follow:
Step 1. Consider Why You Want to Take up Painting and What You Want to Get out of It
Before you go out and buy all your new art supplies and start throwing paint onto the canvas, you should consider why exactly you want to take up painting and what you want to get out of it.
Your answers will determine how you proceed and what you should focus on learning. I don’t believe that there is a static learning path that everyone must follow to master painting. Everyone has different tendencies, interests and natural skills which determine the optimal learning path they should take.
For example, some people do not have the patience to sit down and accurately render every tone and detail of a subject. Therefore, they may be better suited to learn color and brushwork from the Impressionists, rather than the rigorous practices of the Russian academic painters.
Step 2. Pick Your Medium (Acrylics, Oils or Watercolors)
Next, you should decide on a medium to focus on, at least for the short-term. This will allow you to really get a feel for how the medium works, so that you can then pay more attention to the big-picture aspects of painting, like color, composition, value, etc.
The major choices are oils, acrylics and watercolors. There are some other options, like gouache and water mixable oils, but I won’t touch on these in this guide.
But there is no right answer here. Every medium has pros and cons. Here is a crash-course on the different mediums to help you decide which suits you:
Acrylics are widely favored by those just starting out with painting as they are easy to use and do not require any special supplies. The downside is they dry very fast.
Acrylics may suit you if:
You are a complete beginner and do not want to worry yourself with the complexities of oil and watercolor painting.
You want an easy clean up time.
Furthermore, you are painting on a limited budget.
You enjoy experimenting with mixed media.
You are sensitive to the harsh chemicals involved with oil painting.
The downsides of acrylics are:
The paint dries very fast. This means you only have a limited amount of time whilst your paint is responsive on the canvas.
Some colors darken as they dry (the colors which are lighter tend to have a greater change).
I personally started with acrylics many years ago. Below is one of my childhood paintings in acrylics.
I eventually moved to oils, after getting frustrated by the quick drying time of the paints. But acrylics were great for developing a broad understanding of painting whilst I was a beginner.
Dan Scott, Early Painting - Mountain Reflections - The Master's Choice
Oil paints are the most widely used medium among professional artists for a number of reasons:
They are versatile. You can vary the drying time and consistency of your paint dramatically using paint thinners and additional oil. This allows you to work with a wide range of painting techniques, including blending, glazing and stumbling.
They were favored by the all-time greats of painting.
Oil paintings seem to be held in higher regard by art collectors compared to acrylic paintings (there are of course some exceptions to this).
Step 3. Get Your Supplies
It's time to stock up on art supplies. But make sure you read all of this section first before you start buying every type of brush or every color of paint – you do not actually need that much stuff!
The supplies you get will vary depending on the medium you decide to go with. In a broad sense, all you need is:
An easel to hold your artwork;
Canvas (for acrylic or oil painters) or paper (for watercolor painters);
A palette for color mixing;
Brushes (suitable for your chosen medium);
Palette knives;
Paints;
Solvent (if oil painting); and
Paper towels (for wiping your brush between strokes).
That is it really. Painting can be as simple as you want to make it.
You will be able to find all this at your local art store. If you are an absolute beginner, it may be worth starting with a beginner package which includes most of the basic supplies you would need. You can then upgrade later on.
Step 4. Get Familiar with the Fundamentals of Art
I am a big believer in learning efficiently rather than just putting in time for the sake of it. You could practice for years and hardly improve if you don't know what you are doing. This is where the fundamentals of art come into play - color, value, composition, edges, brushwork and technique.
These are what I consider to be the core pillars of painting. It is important that you get familiar with them early, as they will help you understand what exactly is going on when your brush hits the canvas. Learning these fundamental areas will benefit every stroke you make.
Step 5. Decide What You Want to Paint First
One of the most challenging aspects of painting happens before you pick up your brush – selecting a subject to paint.
The perfect subject should be inspiring and challenging. You should feel the need to paint it.
Here are some questions to help you determine if a subject is worth painting:
Is there a "big why"? A single idea which makes you want to paint it.
Is there a clear and identifiable color harmony?
Does the subject have an interesting design (think about the arrangement of shapes, forms, lines and colors)?
Is there anything you can do to improve on the subject?
Are you capable of painting it?
Do you have the supplies required to paint it?
What problems will you encounter painting it?
Does the subject provide you with opportunities to challenge yourself and demonstrate your abilities?
Does the subject inspire you?
Can you see a finished painting at the end of it all? If so, do you like what you see?
Step 6. Create Your First Painting
You are now ready to create your first painting. Just a word of warning though, it will be harder than it looks!
The master artists make it look effortless, but don't forget they have been painting for many years, even decades in some cases.
My main suggestion for your first painting is to start general; try to capture your initial impression of the subject. Think about the subject in terms of shapes and colors. You can then refine the painting and add more detail.
Step 7. Review and Improve
Once you have created your first painting, it is time to take a step back and review what went right, what went wrong and where you can improve. Unless you are some kind of prodigy, your first painting probably won't be a masterpiece, but that is OK. Everyone starts as amateurs, even the masters.
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