The Ultimate Guide to Painting: Know the Basics and Be Proficient in Various Methods

 

Painting is a very interesting and rewarding pastime which enables a person to use his or her creativity and imagination on the canvas. 

Whether you’re a novice painter or a painter who wants to change his or her style, it is essential to know the fundamental concepts and improve various methods to make your painting experience much better. 

Here’s the ultimate guide to painting: 

#1 Here we are going to learn the basics of Painting: 

A. Types of Paint:

Acrylic Paint: Acrylics are quick drying and very popular among the beginners because they do not require much preparation of the surface and can be used on canvas, wood, paper etc. 

Oil Paint: Characterized by heavy texture and saturation of color, oil paint takes long to dry and this afford the painter ample time to mix his colors before completing the piece. 

Watercolor: This medium is clear and good for making soft fluid paintings. It is mostly applied on paper. 

B. Essential Tools: 

Brushes: Select the size and shape of the brush as round, flat, filbert etc for different outcomes. 

Synthetic brushes are recommended for acrylics as for natural hair brushes for oils. 

Canvas: A primed canvas is a favorite of acrylic and oil painting, as well as other painting types. 

Watercolor paper is used when doing watercolors. 

Palette: An example of a tool used in painting is a palette which is used in mixing the colors. 

Any kind of palette can be used, a wooden one which has handles or a paper one, which is used once and then thrown away. 

Easel: An easel is a small structure that supports your canvas at an appropriate height and angle while you work on painting it. 

C. Color Theory:

Primary Colors: From which all other colors have been derived, the fundamental colors are red, blue, and yellow. 

Secondary Colors: These are prepared by combining the two fundamental colors ( for instance blue and yellow to produce green). 

Tertiary Colors: Made out of the fundamental color which is a combination of the first and the second order. 

Color Wheel: Color wheel to analyze the positions of the colors and the relationships between them, for example, complementary colors are opposite to each other on the color wheel, while analogous colors are close to each other. 

#2 Mastering Different Techniques: 

A. Blending: 

Blending is defined as the transition of colors in a harmonious manner. 

While working in oil paintings, one is able to paint directly on the canvas while working in acrylics the blending has to be done very fast because of the very short drying time of the paint. 

To blend the colors, one needs to use a clean and dry brush or blending tool to smudge the edges of the colors. 

B. Layering: 

Layering is the process of painting and repainting the same area on the painting since the paint is applied in layers. 

From a general layer of paint, add details step by step. Both acrylics and oils are ideal for layering because they are translucent. 

C. Glazing: 

Glazing is painting one layer thinly over another and making it semi-transparent so that the first layer is still visible. 

This technique is often employed in oil painting in order to give the picture a perspective and brilliance. 

D. Dry Brushing:

Dry brushing is a method of painting in which you employ a dry brush with a small amount of paint. 

It gives a rough surface, a grainy look which helps you to add high or low lights to your painting. 

E. Impasto: 

Impasto is a technique that is used in painting whereby the artist applies heavy layers of paint on the painting’s surface. 

This technique gives depth to the painting and can be done using acrylic and oil paints. 

F. Washes:

In watercolor painting, washes refer to the application of paint diluted with water in order to paint large areas of the same color. 

The gradients are created by a ratio of water to paint where you can vary the amount of water that you use. 

#3 Developing Your Style: 

Experimentation: Experiment with various methods and topics to find what is effective for you. 

Studying Other Artists: Take inspiration from the great artists and analyze their works, and then integrate the features of the work you prefer. 

Practice: The more you paint, the more your style will develop and you will be able to find your own style. 

Failure is just a part of the process: do not be afraid to make mistakes. 

#4 Tips for Improvement: 

Start with Simple Subjects: It is advisable to start with still life painting or plain landscapes before painting on more complex subjects. 

Use References: Shooting from real life or reference images and then using those to work on can be a good way to understand light and shadow and composition. 

Seek Feedback: Publicize your work and do not be offended by constructive criticism. 

Seek help from other artists who are in your locality or in an online group or forum. 

5. Maintaining Your Equipment: 

Brush Care: Remember to wash the brushes when you are done with them to be able to use them for a longer time. 

For acrylics, use soap and water; for oils, a suitable solvent must be used. 

Paint Storage: Always ensure that you close your paints and store them in a cool dry place to avoid drying up of the paints. 

#6 Exploring Advanced Techniques: 

Palette Knife Painting: Paint with a palette knife in thick and rough layers of paint. This technique is very useful in impasto work. 

Pointillism: Make pictures with combinations of small points of colors. 

This is a technique that was popularized by artists such as Georges Seurat; one paints small dots of different colors and the viewer’s eye blends the colors. 

Alla Prima: It is also known as “wet-on-wet and this is where a painting is done in one session while the paint is wet. 

It involves fast decision-making and vigorous stroke making. 

#7 Resources for Learning: 

Online Tutorials: You can find tutorials on painting on websites like YouTube and Skillshare among other platforms. 

Books: There is a great number of books, which can help to master the techniques, such as “The New Acrylics Essential Sourcebook” by Rheni Tauchid and “Oil Painting for the Serious Beginner” by Steve Allrich. 

Workshops: Drawing and painting can be taken in local art schools and community centers, and the classes are conducted for beginners as well as for the experienced painters. 

Learning painting is not an easy thing and it requires time, exercises and patience. 

In this manner, is possible to build up a style and make your own work of art that reflects your vision. 

Whether one paints just for fun, or is a professional painter, the process is as enjoyable as the end product.