Introduction
Painting is a creative and fulfilling way to express yourself, and can be both enlightening and therapeutic.
Before you get started, decide which kind of paints you wish to learn to use first. There are three common painting media: oil, acrylic, and watercolor. Each type of paint has its own characteristics, though all are well-suited for canvas. Oil paints are the most forgiving of the group, as it is easy to go over your work and make corrections. Watercolors and acrylics leave less room for error, though the latter is usually easier to paint over than the former.
Painting With Acrylics
Step 1: Get Supplies
It is best to go to an art store, rather than buying online. You will be able to talk to an expert about your needs. You do not need to spend a lot of money at first -- save your money for when you are practiced enough to create work you are proud of. Here's a basic list of supplies:
- Four or more paint colors
- Palette to mix paints on
- Palette knife (for oil)
- Paint thinner (for oil or acrylic)
- Canvas
- Practice pad
- An easel, if you do not already have a good painting surface at home
Step 2: Mix
You will need to learn to mix your own colors. Try adding different concentrations to find results you like. Remember to mix in paint thinner if you are using oils or acrylics. A color wheel can be a big help. Here are some basic combinations:
- Blue+yellow=green
- Blue+red=purple
- Red+white=pink
- White+black=grey
- Red+yellow=orange
Step 3: Experiment
Play around with different colors, consistencies and paintbrushes to learn the ins and outs of painting. Do not get too discouraged if you don't get the results you want right away. It takes some time to develop skill. This is why it is good to have a practice pad, so that you don't waste expensive canvas. Hang in there -- in time, you will able to reproduce your visions.
