The journey to painting can be an overwhelming and frustrating one. There’s so much to learn and do, all at once. However, just like every other skill, painting is a process that needs persistence and passion.
There are many ways to learn, and if a particular technique or tutorial doesn’t seem to work out for you, feel free to try other options. You won’t know how good you are until you try.
Below are seven tips to help you in your early painting stage.
- Make Use Of Acrylic Paints
Acrylic paints are very easy to use, especially for a beginner. They are known as the friendliest paints – giving you room to make mistakes and adequately adjust – so ideal for beginner painters. However, they tend to dry quickly.
- Avoid Using Cheap Paint
Usually frustration happens because of the paint you’re using – not the piece you’re making. Cheap paints have fewer pigments and more filler ingredients, making them transparent. These paints are best avoided as they make your work look less professional and presentable. Instead, go for better quality paints, like the paint by numbers for adults, for excellent results.
- Learn How To Mix Colors
Color mixing is pretty much the illustrative aspect of painting. For starters: red, blue, and yellow are the three primary colors that you can use to practice color blending. This will help you to expand your palette and increase your experience.
After mixing the colors, double check that you’re sure about the color before using it on your canvas. Even get a color wheel to guide you if you still find it hard to mix colors.
- Mix Your Paint With A Palette Knife
Palette knives are cheap and easy to use when mixing paint. Using one is more advisable for a beginner than mixing paint with your paintbrush. In the absence of a palette knife, you can use a craft stick or a plastic knife.
- Take Proper Care Of Your Painting Supplies
Your paint brushes will get damaged quickly if not cleaned and stored correctly. After each painting session, clean your brushes with water and soap and lay them flat to dry. Store them in a container with the bristles facing up when they’re dry so that you don’t end up spoiling their shape.
- Post Images Of Your Artwork Online
Taking pictures of your artwork serves as a visual record. The photos can be shared on your social media pages: added to your online portfolio – even personal website. Doing this can also be used to measure your progress and note improvement. Plus, you don’t know who might just come across your artwork and love it. Therefore, ensure that you sign and date all your artwork, making it look more professional.
Conclusion
The key to becoming a better painter is to practice – the more you paint, the better you’ll get. The continuous repetition of strokes and the determination to improve will help you enjoy the process – even when you make mistakes. And the tips in this post will help you during this process.