Practical Painting tips for beginners:
Starting something new can feel overwhelming, but if you’re looking for painting tips for beginners, you’ve come to the right place! In this post, I will share with you some automation and facilitation tips that will save you time and potential disappointments. With these basic tips, you’ll learn how to set up your space, manage your materials, and get started with confidence!
Set Up Your Space:
Not many people have the luxury of a dedicated painting studio; typically, painting takes place inside the home. One of the most important things to consider from the start is choosing a dedicated area for painting. Having a specific spot for all your brushes, tubes, and materials makes it easier and more enjoyable to paint. If you don’t have a dedicated space, you might get bored or frustrated with setting up and dismantling your painting area every time. Avoid the kitchen table (seriously, no one wants to compete with dinner prep!). Instead, find a “permanent” space where “painting” happens, so you can focus on your art without the hassle of constant setup. This corner will be your studio.
Embrace the Mess:
Painting is naturally messy, so embrace it and enjoy the process! But, accidents can easily happen with open bottles of paint. Plus, the fear of making a mess can hinder your creativity. To prevent this, cover your table and floor with cardboard or craft paper. Additionally, put Insulite fiberboard (you can color it too) on the walls to hang your paintings and sketches. This way, you won’t worry about spills on the carpet or paint on the walls, creating a safe space that allows you to focus entirely on your art!
Automate Your Setup:
Over time, you’ll find your preferred setup. For now, a beginners tip is this : if you’re right-handed, keep the water on the right of your canvas (and if you’re left-handed, keep it on your left). In both cases, keep your palette in front of you. This is one of those painting tips for beginners that can save you time and frustration.
Consistent Lighting:
Another essential tip is to use a constant light source for both your canvas – and your still life themes, if you are using a model. Consistent lighting helps maintain color and shape accuracy, no matter what time of day—or night—inspiration strikes!
Your Friends: Water and Absorbent Paper:
If you use watercolor, gouache, or acrylic, water is your friend—so is absorbent paper! Keep plenty of absorbent paper and clean glasses of water nearby. This simple tip is a game-changer for beginners.
Mix Colors Where It Suits You:
Mix your colors on the palette or directly on the canvas—whichever you prefer. Mixing colors directly on the canvas might create random, wonderful patterns that you’d like to keep! Experimentation is key in all creative processes!
Keep Your Brushes Clean While Working:
If your brush has black paint on it and you’re going for yellow, it will mix and create olive green. If you don’t want this unintentional color mixing, keep your brushes clean while working. This is a small but crucial tip for beginners.
Clean Your Brushes:
After each session, clean your brushes thoroughly with warm water and soap, then place them horizontally on a towel to dry. This preserves their quality and shape so you can use again them tomorrow. Proper brush care is essential! Like flossing!
Step Back:
Regularly step back to view your painting from a distance. Working too closely on details can cause you to lose sight of the overall composition. This is a pro tip that every beginner should practice.
Focus on Shapes:
Get a good look at the shapes of your model. Squint your eyes a bit to make the shapes come forward. Focus on the shapes, not the outlines. This technique is a cornerstone for painting!
I hope these practical tips will help you!
Which of these tips helped you the most?
Share your thoughts in the comments below or leave us a message!
Check out our news/blog section, you might find something you like!
Of course, going from traditional to digital and vice versa is something common for many artists today. Check out our digital creations for kids at our Etsy shop, AnimadPrintables.
Happy painting!
Cheers,
Ersi
#painting #drawing #tipsforbeginners #acrylics #cats
Share this post to: