How to Get into Painting art: realizing your Dreams

Oils may be painted smooth or textured.

Oils are quite easy to use. 

Myself and my family learned how to get into painting using oil paint. 

Oils are slow drying.

They may be reworked until they are dry. If you don't like something, you can scrape it off and repaint it. You may also, paint over a dried oil painting months later.

What supplies do you need?

You may start oil painting with a couple of brushes, Gamsol odorless mineral spirits and a canvas.

Stretched canvas is best for oil painting, but canvas boards are good for learning. Oil paintings are easy to frame and long lasting.

Budget supplies are listed below.

I enjoy painting details with alkyds.

During the 1980s my mother and I were attending a workshop where the instructor introduced us to alkyds.

We tried it so our paintings would be dry for the trip home. I have been using it ever since.

There is plenty of time for blending. But they dry fast enough to paint layers in a short amount of time.

I find their fast dry time makes it easier to paint the finer details.

All the 'oil paintings' on this website are actually alkyd paint. Finished alkyd paintings look exactly like an oil painting.

Alkyd uses the same brushes, solvents, supports and painting techniques as oil.

Look here for oil or alkyd painting supplies.

Watercolor butterfly art

Watercolors are somewhat unpredictable in the way they move and blend with other colors.

The key is learning how much water to use. That's the joy of watercolor.

Watercolor paint comes in two forms.

We may get moist watercolor paint in tubes.

It comes in dried cubes, called pans. They are portable and favored for painting on location.

We have a choice of 3 supports.

Watercolor paintings are traditionally painted on paper. Watercolors on paper require a mat and they are framed under glass for protection.

Today watercolors may be painted on Aquabord or watercolor canvas. The paint is easier to remove from Aquabord or watercolor canvas.

Dry watercolor paintings on Aquabord or canvas can be sprayed with a fixative. Then the painting is framed without a mat or glass.

You can get into watercolor with paint, water, paper and one or two bushes.

Look for watercolor art supplies here.

What's the best paint to buy?

All paints are made with color pigments mixed with other ingredients.

Is student paint a better buy?

We have to use more student paint to get the vibrant colors of artist paints.

Why? Because student paint contains less color pigment and more other ingredients.

For me, one of the great joys of painting is color, so I always enjoy using artists paints.

If you do opt for student paints, Winsor Newton student paints, called "Cotman" paint is good. They contain a high amount of color pigments.

Paint things familiar to you.

When I was giving my sister a painting lesson, we painted her two goldfish "Speedy and Tuna".

We used a simple palette of red, yellow and blue.

First, we painted the fish. Then we painted the background around the fish.

We sprinkled salt into the wet background paint to add texture.

Paintings are personal. They are like a part of ourselves.

Painting is lots of fun and the joy we find in painting will inevitably reflect in our artwork.

Start with small paintings.

Begin painting small and easy. 

A piece of fruit, a cup of coffee or a simple landscape scene would make a good start.

Small paintings, like a 5x8, 6x6, or sometimes an 8x10 inch can be done in an hour or two.

Finishing a painting in one session is encouraging. It makes you want to do another one.

As you progress and build confidence, then start painting larger and more complex subjects.

That's the beauty of learning how to paint.

You may want to explore more painting ideas for beginners.

Values make impactful artwork.

Overlooking and not painting values is the most common beginner's mistake.

A painting without sufficient variation in values will look flat and dull.

Artists use values to increase the painting's visual interest in various ways:

• Directing the viewers focus.
• Give the impression of depth.
• Make objects look three-dimensional.
• We also use values to place one object in front of another.

Learn to see and use values in your paintings.

Color is fun!

Color is a vital concept for every artist.

A color wheel can be handy when we first begin painting. It can help in identifying colors and selecting pleasing color combinations.

The wise artist uses color temperature.

• Warm bright colors like red, yellow make objects appear closer.
• Cool colors like blue, green and purple make objects recede.

Color is a powerful tool in the hands of an artist. Once you understand colors, they will become your precious tool.

Learn the ins-and-outs of how to mix colors.

Composition is easy.

It's how the elements are arranged in the painting.

A good composition creates pleasing paintings.

A well-composed painting is balanced, and each element harmonizes with the rest.

The composition draws the viewers in and guides them throughout the painting.

The rule of thirds makes composition easy. It's a no-brainer when we are learning how to get into painting.

It always creates a good composition, so we can concentrate fully on the process of painting.

We divide the painting surface into nine equal portions. Place the main elements of the painting along these lines or their intersections.

This automatically creates energy and interest in our paintings.

There are more tips about how to create a good composition.

A "Fun Fish" oil painting tutorial

Most of my paintings are done with a limited palette.

A limited palette consists of only one to five colors. Any additional colors are mixed.

This oil painting tutorial of a "Fun Fish" is done with a limited palette of yellow, red and blue.

The bluish background is painted around the fish. Then we paint the fish.

Then thinned paint colors are blown through a soda straw onto the blue background to simulate seaweed. That makes this a "fun" painting.

Paint watercolor step-by-step.

You can learn how to paint watercolor with this step-by-step tutorial.

Get important tips on:

• The importance of clean water.
• Keep your colors fresh and clean.
• Painting large versus small areas.
• How to keep the colors from bleeding.
• What to do with wavy paper.

Then you can use the same steps and tips to do a watercolor painting of any subject.

What's a good place for painting art?

If we have a place to leave our painting stuff out ready to go, we are more likely to paint.

How do we store our supplies?

I started out storing my paint and brushes in a fishing tackle box. Different things work for different people.

What about lighting and ventilation in your painting area?

What is the best type of light bulbs for painting art?

Get the answers with more ideas for your home art studio.

The many joys of painting art.

Get involved, that's how to get into painting.

When I was learning to paint, my full concentration would be on painting.

One time, everything else slipped my mind, like cooking dinner. Late in the afternoon my husband asked, "Are we having dinner tonight?"

Oh my, I was so engrossed in painting that I completely forgot about the time, dinner and my hungry husband.

So, the painting had to stop and get finished after dinner and dishes.

Read more about the artist, Carol May.