How to Paint: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

Q: Should I Start with Oil, Alkyd, Watercolor, or Acrylic Paint?

Oil is the classic, historical paint. It gives the artist time to blend and work the paint before it dries. Alkyd is the modern oil paint that dries much faster with the same beauty and richness as oils. Watercolor is often used for light, intricate works. Once their techniques are learned they make wonderful paintings. Acrylic paint is fast drying and popular with beginning artists. Compare the four popular paints by, best colors, ease of use and expense.

Have you always dreamed of creating beautiful art but didn't know where to start? You are in the right place.

Whether you want to master oils or explore watercolors, learning how to paint doesn't have to be intimidating.

Let’s turn your creative potential into a painting you’ll be proud of.

Learn how to paint at ArtbyCarolMay.com.

Go from your first brush to finished paintings.

Art by Carol May is your free, comprehensive resource for aspiring artists.

From choosing your first brush to finishing your first canvas, I’m here to guide you through the fundamentals of color, composition, and technique.

New to Art? Follow This Simple Path

Learn how to get into painting with a budget supply checklist.

Step 1: Get Ready

Select a medium and basic supplies.

Choose your medium (Oil, Watercolor, Acrylic) and get the budget-friendly supply list.

Get into Painting - Step 1

Step 2: Start Learning

Learn How to Paint Art for Beginners.

Your beginner's guide to fundamentals with quick-start practice and your first paintings.

Learn How to Paint - Step 2

Whether you’re new to painting or returning after a break, you can learn how to paint art at home.

I’ll show you how to choose your materials, understand the fundamentals, and follow simple, step-by-step projects so you can create artwork you’re proud of.

How Do We Paint Good Art?

Great paintings are built on the basic fundamentals of art. Learn these to improve every piece you create.

How to Paint Good Art

On this page I share a 3-point check list I often use to check my paintings for value, color, and a composition that includes a focal point.

The page also has "Quick Start" practice exercises (5-15 minutes).

Visit the Page

How to use the fundamentals to paint good art.

Tips for using the fundamentals

Individual Fundamental Pages

Visit the separate fundamental pages to learn in-depth techniques.

Professional tips on creating a composition for a painting.

Professional painting composition tips

Values create impactful artwork.

Focal points attract the viewers.

In the beginning get a general understanding of the fundamentals.

When you start painting the tutorials, you'll find they are seamlessly incorporated into the lessons to streamline your learning.

Color Brings Joy to Our Paintings!

Learn color theory with the artist color wheel.

Learn color theory with the color wheel.

Color schemes create harmonious paintings.

How to mix colors for your paintings.

Free Step-by-Step Painting Tutorials

Have you ever looked at a beautiful painting and thought, "I wish I could do that"? You can - the tutorials show how to paint your own beautiful art.

Painting Tutorials Library

Each tutorial takes you through a complete painting from start to finish.

Follow detailed step-by-step lessons in watercolor or oils (acrylic) for all skill levels.

Browse the Tutorials

Painting tutorials for all skill levels.

Find your next project.

Learn to Paint Art: Oil & Watercolor Tutorials

Painting the step-by-step tutorials is a great way to learn while you paint.

They cover everything from choosing materials to mastering fundamental skills like color mixing, composition, and painting with values.

Ready to pick up the brush? Choose your medium and follow along.

Oil Painting Tutorials

Learn about painting daisies with oil paint.

Paint a young lion step by step with oil paint.

How to paint a lion, the king of the jungle.

Paint a red rose and a multi-colored rose.

How to use oils and paint a horse and surf.

Learn Watercolor Step-by-Step

Enjoy the beautiful translucence of painting with watercolor.

Learn how to paint a giraffe in 3 different styles.

A 3-in-1: Paint a giraffe in three different styles.

Easy steps to draw and paint a Monarch.

Painting watercolor flowers step by step.

Paint three types of flowers with watercolor.

Learn watercolor techniques step by step.

Paint with an Award-winning Artist

Learning how to paint is full of discovery, creativity, and joy!

"Country Barns"

Painting has been my passion for more than 40 years.

Learn to paint with an experienced artist.

My work has earned multiple Best of Show awards, including for “Country Barns.”

I created Art by Carol May to share the joy of painting and to help you learn with friendly, step-by-step tutorials.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Can I Start Painting on a Budget?

Certainly, we don't have to spend a bundle to get into painting. Basically, we need paint, a couple of brushes and something to paint on.

See the budget list of beginner painting supplies.

Should I Start with Oil, Alkyd, Watercolor, or Acrylic Paint?

Oil is the classic, historical paint. It gives the artist time to blend and work the paint before it dries.

Alkyd is the modern oil paint that dries much faster with the same beauty and richness as oils.

Watercolor is often used for light, intricate works. Once their techniques are learned they make wonderful paintings.

Acrylic paint is fast drying and popular with beginning artists.

Compare the four popular paints by, best colors, ease of use and expense.

Do We Learn with Student Paint?

It's best to learn with artist paint. It's a pleasure to use and a better buy in the long-run. It contains more color pigments that make lively, juicy colors in our paintings.

Student paint costs less because it has fewer color pigments, so it takes more paint to get good colors.

The best paint for an artist's palette.

What Should I Paint?

Paint what we see in our environment. It's easier to paint things we are familiar with, things we know.

Painting is an avenue of self-expression. That's the joy of painting!

Where can we get more ideas for painting?

How Do I Develop My Own Style?

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

Practice painting some of the different tutorials. As you paint, your own painting style will emerge from what you enjoy the most.

Just follow your heart and enjoy the process.