Are you dreaming of painting art? fulfill your dreams on art by carol may!

You can learn how to paint art on Art by Carol May. 

Whether you're a novice or an experienced artist, this website provides all the essential information you need for your creative adventure.

Painting is a wonderful way to share our emotions and capture the beauty around us. It can be not only a new hobby, but also a powerful means of self-expression.

Sharing the joy and wonders of the world with painting Art by Carol MayArtist's painting of a sea turtle.
Sharing the joy and wonders of the world with painting Art by Carol MayArtist's painting of a sea turtle.

what's on art by carol may?

Everything you need to learn about painting is here - from choosing the right materials to mastering the techniques with the step-by-step tutorials.

Have you ever dreamed about painting things you enjoy, maybe a lovely butterfly or a crashing wave?

A blank canvas is waiting to come alive with your stories and creativity. A world of possibilities comes with each stroke of color.

how do we get into painting?

Before we talk about how to paint you probably want to know more? What materials and supplies do we need to begin painting?

Fulfill your dreams and begin painting.

Can we start painting on a budget?

Certainly, basically we need paint, a couple of brushes and something to paint on.

Check out the budget list here.

But, what kind of paint should we use? What paint is best? Is it oil, watercolor, acrylic or alkyds? Or does it matter?

Which is easiest to use? Which paint has the best colors?

Compare the four popular painting mediums.

What do we paint?

Artists are inspired by our environment, emotions and fellow artists.

The best subject to start painting is things we are familiar with.

Paint things that are familiar to us.

It's easier to paint things we see often.

We can discover potential paintings in the beauty of everyday things like a coffee mug, a tree, or birds.

As an avid gardener I would plant flowers for the butterflies. When the butterflies came visiting, they inspired many of my early paintings.

Painting gives us a chance to express ourself. 

That's the joy of painting!

Where can we get more ideas for painting?

what are the fundamentals of good art?

Successful paintings all use the basics of values, color, and a composition that includes a focal point.

Do we have to learn these fundamentals before we start painting?

No, in the beginning just get a general understanding of the four basics.

Then - use them in your next painting. Keep using them and before long, they will become your reliable tools for painting good art.

As a side note: The fundamentals are seamlessly incorporated into the painting tutorials to streamline your learning.

What makes an award-winning painting?

The painting below has been privileged to win two Best of Show awards.

Using the fundamental basics in our artwork creates award-winning paintings.

Award winning painting by Carol MayAward-winning art by Carol May

meet the artist

Art by Carol May is all about sharing my experience with budding artists.

About the artist

You can paint your heart's desire and I'm here to coach you in the joys of painting.

Painting has been my passion for many years. My first paintings were landscapes.

Then my artwork turned to butterflies, lively hummingbirds, animals and visions. 

Each brushstroke records nature's glory. Read more about the artist.


How do we paint good art?

We paint good art by using the fundamentals of color, values and composition.

Learn how to use the fundamentals for painting good art.

Color: We use harmonious colors. Each color is used in a different amount to maintain variety and interest.

Values: To keep the painting interesting, we use light, medium and dark values in different amounts.

Composition: We create an inviting composition with three main parts. Each part of the composition is a different size.

You can paint good art, see more of the details.

what painting techniques should we learn?

When we are beginning to paint get your supplies, choose a subject and review the fundamentals of good art.

You may choose the basic techniques of painting either oil or watercolor. 

Read about how to mix colors and the popular color schemes.

How do I develop my own style as an artist?

When you start painting don't be concerned about doing any specific style.

Just follow your heart and enjoy the process. As you paint, your own painting style will emerge from what you enjoy the most.

Are you ready to start the painting tutorials?

When do we start painting the tutorials?

As soon as you have some paint and a couple of brushes, you are ready to start painting the tutorials.

The tutorials are a great way to learn while you paint. They explain the painting steps from start to finish.

The learn to paint page has a pictorial guide to 32 tutorials.

You may choose from birds, butterflies, animals, flowers or landscapes with the techniques of oil or watercolor.  Below are a couple of examples. 

The tutorials include proven painting techniques that you learn while you are painting.

Practice and hone your skills by painting. Then you can use the same steps to paint your own favorite subjects.

oil painting tutorials

Oil is the classic painting medium used by the Old Masters during the 1800s. Oil paintings are long-lasting and held in high regard for their rich, luminous qualities.

The oil tutorial pages may also be used for acrylic or alkyd paintings.


Paint a fun fish with a Limited Palette.

You can paint an Iridescent Hummingbird.

watercolor tutorials

The more we paint, the better we get!


Start painting Watercolor for Beginners.

Paint more Watercolor Step-by-Step.

there's More on art by carol may

Create exciting paintings with mixed media techniques.

Stepping into the world of painting is an enriching journey full of creativity and joy.

Get your supplies, select a subject and learn how to paint with each brushstroke. The possibilities are as unlimited as your imagination!

Immerse yourself in the joys of painting!