you want to learn how to paint

Millions of people are painting and you can learn how to paint, too!

Painting art is more than just applying colors to a canvas. It’s a 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.

You can learn how to paint!

Let me share five simple things to jump start your painting adventure.

This guide will provide you with the essential tools and inspiration you need from selecting the right beginner's supplies to the fundamentals of color and composition.

Whether you’re a complete novice or looking to refine your skills, get ready to paint.

1. What to Paint? 
2. What supplies do we need? 
3. The fundamentals of painting 
4. Learn to paint
   
5. How to stay inspired?

Painting is an awesome adventure!

#1 what should we paint?

Start painting the things you see in your environment.

Paint things that are familiar to you. We do the best job of painting subjects we understand.

You may want to paint your children, your pets, a tree in the backyard or your favorite fishing hole.

My parents had a tropical fish business with outdoor ponds. When we fed the fish, they would all swarm around the food. So "Koi Feeding" (the painting below) was a natural for me to paint.

Paint familiar subjects.

Do we begin painting from life or photos?

When we actually see the subject, we can do a better job of painting it.

Experienced artists enjoy painting from life. But the birds and bees don't stay still long enough for us to paint them. So, what do we do?

We can paint from photos, also. Paint from your own photos or copyright free images.

Look for public domain images or creative commons images have no copyrights attached. Pixabay.com is a good place to find public domain and CCO images.

Inspiration can come from anywhere. Keep a tablet to jot down ideas and sketch things to paint. Get some painting ideas for beginners.

#2 what supplies do we need?

Student quality paints are less expensive. Artist paints (professional paints) are actually a better buy. They cost more than student paints because they contain more pigment. So, they cover better and produce more vibrant colors.

Begin painting with 3 colors, a couple of brushes and something to paint on.

There are three popular art paints. One type of paint is not better than the others.

• Watercolor is an easy paint to use. All it takes is paint, water, paper and one or two bushes. Watercolors on paper require a mat and they are framed under glass for protection.
  

• Oil paints are also, easy to use. They dry a little slower. You may start oil painting with a couple of brushes, mineral spirits and a canvas. A dried oil painting is easy to frame and it will last for centuries.

• Acrylic paints dry very fast and just like oil paintings, they are simple to frame. The down side is the paint dries so fast that it's hard to blend the colors. However, a dried acrylic painting is very durable.

Watercolors and acrylic paintings use water. Oil paintings require turpentine or mineral spirits. Gamsol, an odorless mineral spirit is recommended for painting indoors.

You may actually try different types of paint to decide which one you prefer. You can learn how to paint with a budget list of materials.

what colors do you need?

Learn how to paint with the primary colors.

• Yellow - Cadmium Yellow Light
• Red - Cadmium Red Light or Cadmium Red Medium
  
• Blue - Ultramarine Blue
  

You will also need large tube of white for oil and acrylic painting.

Mixing other colors from the three primary colors is easy with a little practice. Start painting with these colors.

Later you may add other colors to your palette. The best paint colors for an extended palette.

what about brushes?

We use different brushes for the three main types of paint.

Have your own place for painting.

You can begin with a couple of brushes and add more later.

Watercolor brushes; #7 round and a 1" flat, "labeled for watercolor"

Oil brushes; #8 and #12 flat bristle brushes, hog hair is good. You may also us synthetic brushes labeled for oil.

Acrylic brushes; "synthetic" #6 round and a 3/4" flat, natural fiber brushes retain water, so it's best to use synthetics with acrylic.

What surface do we paint on?

Learn how to paint watercolors on watercolor paper. Later you may try aquaboard or canvas made for watercolor.

Oil and acrylics are normally painted on canvas or panels.

You will also need a palette to lay out your colors for painting. Watercolor can be mixed on a plate will wash after painting.

Oil and acrylic artists may use plastic or Styrofoam plates that can be trashed after the painting is complete.

What is the best place to paint?

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 are the best type of light bulbs for our painting place?

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

#3 the fundamentals of painting

Paintings are built upon the basic fundamentals of color, composition and values. Get a good grasp of these basics and you'll be well on the road to successful artwork.

While we are learning how to paint, it's a good idea to learn the common art terms artists use when they are talking about their artwork. You can find them in the glossary of art terms.

color: a vital concept for every artist

Have you ever marveled at the vibrancy and harmony of the colors in a beautiful painting?

Color theory involves understanding primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, warm and cool colors, how they interact with each other and the effect of light on colors.

Color is fun!

A color wheel can be handy when we are first learning how to get into painting. It can help in identifying colors and selecting pleasing color combinations.

Learning how to mix colors is important for all painters.

The wise artist uses color temperature in their paintings. 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 our precious tool.

An important aspect of color is the emotional effect of colors.

good Composition creates good paintings

Composition is easy.

Composition provides the framework of our artwork. It's how the elements are arranged in the painting.

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

A good 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.

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.

More ways to use the rule of thirds.

values in painting art

Values are another key element in painting good art.

Values make artwork stand out.

Light and dark values are the backbone of our paintings. Artists can use values to direct the viewers focus, add depth, and increase visual interest.

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

Artists use different values to make objects look three-dimensional.

Learn to see and use values in your paintings.

There are many other principles of painting. But color, composition and values are the important foundations of successful artwork.

Learn and practice painting with the rules. Later you can bend the rules and find your own style.

 #4 learn how to paint

We learn by doing! Paint the tutorials and learn at the same time.

do you want to start oil painting?

Oil painting is easy. Many people think it is difficult, but I don't think it is.

How to oil paint tutorial

My first paintings were oils and it wasn't hard. Painting is easy with a good teacher.

Most of my paintings are done with a limited palette.

They are painted with only two 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. We paint the fish.

Then as a touch, thinned paint colors are blown through a soda straw onto the blue background to simulate seaweed. That's what makes this fish painting "fun".

If you want to learn more about oil painting before you start, How to Oil Paint provides detailed answers to frequent questions about using oil paint.

learn how to paint watercolor

Watercolor for beginners

Many people learn how to paint with watercolor.

You can begin watercolor by painting a Rufous hummingbird visiting a yellow flower.

First there is a discussion about the basics of watercolor. Then, following are the easy steps to begin painting watercolor.

In this beginners' tutorial you will learn what colors to use, the suggested brushes, what you can paint watercolor on, how to keep your colors clean and more.

This painting uses only three colors; yellow, orange and blue.

#5 how to stay inspired

Share your paintings with others.

It's encouraging to get feedback from friends, family and other artists by sharing.

Join your local art association. Paint with other artists. Go to painting classes, art shows and visit art museums.

Seeing other's artwork and sharing your art will encourage you. It will stimulate you with new ideas. Plus, it's just plain fun to share.

Painting is fun but sometimes you may run into painting block? We all do from time to time. How do we overcome an artist block?

paint Often!

We stay inspired by painting often.

This is an 8x8 inch painting.

The more we paint, the faster we learn.

It's a good idea to start with small paintings. Large paintings can take a long time to complete.

There's a special joy that comes with completing a painting. It gives us a sense of accomplishment. Plus, then we have something to share with our friends and family.

Include painting in your schedule. No matter whether you paint daily, weekly or monthly - paint regularly.

Many professional artists paint daily.

Painting on a regular basis will put your learning into overdrive!

You can paint!

You’ve taken the first steps on learning how to paint. You are equipped with essential tips on selecting the right supplies, the fundamentals of color and composition, and keeping your inspiration alive.

The tutorials are your tools to practice and learn at the same time.

Paint some of the popular painting tutorials. Each step contains photos with the details of how to paint each step.

Choose the tutorials that pique your interest and start painting.