You think you’d like to start painting, but you’ve got questions, right?
And, maybe you think they sound a little silly. Well, to quote that well-known thinker, Anonymous, “There are no bad questions except those not asked.”
So, here’s some questions a beginning art student might have on his or her mind.
It’s not rocket science, but some basic information to help you decide if painting is for you.
1. Do I Need To Know How To Draw?
In the past, art students would spend a long time learning to draw before ever putting brush to canvas. Learning perspective and composition is often hindered by the distraction of local color, and color theory is a whole other class in itself.
However, artists have painted for millennia without the benefit of structured drawing lessons, so don’t let the lack of drawing skills detract you from painting.
2. What Kind Of Paint Should I Use?
Watercolor, acrylics, oils and pastels the most common mediums used by artists. While none is superior or easier to master, the one you should choose depends on your individual temperament and personality.
Watercolor and acrylics dry very rapidly, so if you’re not long on patience, these mediums won’t leave you frustrated while watching paint dry.
Acrylics are very versatile, as they can mimic many painting mediums and can be used on almost any surface.
If you’re a slowpoke and like to linger over a task, oil paint allows you to dawdle to your heart’s content. However, if you’re sensitive to chemicals and fumes, oil paints may not be a wise choice.
3. Which Brand Of Paint Should I Buy?
Like most products, there is a wide variety of price points in all art supplies. There is no one brand that’s best for everyone. Experiment with various brands to see which you like best.
However, if you buy a better grade of a few colors, you’ll be much happier with the consistency, quality and vibrancy than that of the cheaper products.
Buy your paints at a price at which you feel comfortable experimenting and wasting a bit of medium. It’s the best way to learn your craft. If you’re miserly with your paint, you’ll never give yourself the freedom to make mistakes and research the multitude of techniques and methods available.
4. What Colors Should I Buy?
You don’t need to buy every color on the shelf. Start out with a set of the primary colors in both warm and cool versions. That’s two reds, blues and yellows. If you’re painting in acrylic or oils, you’ll need a tube of white.
Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ocher and a green like Phthalo Green round out your palette. With this selection of colors, you’re able to create a full spectrum of hues.
5. Can I Mix Manufacturers?
Sure, you can mix brands within a medium. All watercolors work together, as do acrylics or oil paint brands. However, you need to learn the proper and allowable ways to mix various mediums.
For example, you may paint acrylics as a base and finish your painting with oils. However, you can’t paint the base with oil and finish with acrylic, as the oil paint dries so slowly. Research before mixing different mediums on one painting.
6. What About Color Theory?
Of course you need to know the basics of color mixing. Painting is all about color. Theory doesn’t need to be dry and boring. It’s just learning which colors do what when used in combination with other hues.
Learn the basics and you’ll expand your knowledge as you progress with your painting.
7. What Should I Paint On?
Your painting surface is known as your support. Different paints work best with different surfaces. Don’t waste your time and effort painting with incompatible surfaces and pigments.
Acrylics are the most forgiving, as they stick to almost any surface. You can paint acrylics on paper, canvas, wood, metal and plastics.
Oil paints require a primed surface, as the oil can cause deterioration to paper or the fibers of canvas. Primed wood, canvas or specially primed papers are suitable for oil paints.
Watercolors work with porous surfaces such as paper, cardboard or specially produced watercolor canvases.
8. How Many Brushes Should I Buy?
I knew an artist who painted almost all his paintings with an old house brush. I think he also had one small brush to paint twigs and to sign his name.
The point is that you can do a lot with just a few brushes. Sure, it’s fun to have lots of specialty brushes, but when you’re just beginning, buy a few good quality brushes, as opposed to buying a bunch of cheap brushes.
You’ll thank me for this tip. You’ll paint better and you won’t struggle nearly as much as you would with shoddy brushes.
9. How Frequently Should I Clean My Brushes?
It depends on how often you would like to replace them.
Acrylic paints dry very quickly and are basically a form of plastic. If you don’t scrupulously clean your brushes, you’ll wind up with a hardened glop of unusable bristles. Even stepping away from your painting to answer the call of nature or the telephone can end up causing you to have yet another brush to throw in the waste can.
If you’re working with watercolors, a quick rinse in water between colors is fine. Watercolor is water soluble, so there’s not much risk to your brushes in allowing the paint to dry on them.
Oil paints stay wet for an interminably long time, so it’s only necessary to thoroughly clean your brushes at the end of the painting session.
Develop good habits in caring for your tools. They’re far too expensive to replace often.
10. Should My Painting Have Visible Brush Strokes?
That is a totally subjective decision that depends on your personal preference. Both methods are fine, and an artist may choose to use either, depending on his or her mood.
Many artists like the look of the individual brush strokes on their paintings. This is an added layer of texture and can add to the movement in the composition.
Other artists prefer to have an unblemished, solid plane of color with no visible markings. This is achieved by blending paint while it is wet and using glazing to add thin layers of subtle color changes.
