How to Paint a Picture

Do you have it in you to paint a picture? Yes you do. If your idea of painting is to splash color on a five foot canvas, paint the scene outside your kitchen window, or paint a picture of your child. You can do it. Gather your brushes, paints, palette, and canvas. Find a quiet place and go to work.

Image by danielle_blue via Flickr

There’s a reason people say “A picture is worth a thousand words.” You may find you can put things on canvas you never knew you had in you. It doesn’t matter if it is a painstaking picture of a photograph, or swoops of oil like a Zen master. Who cares? The point is you are expressing your artistic self. Let loose, and have fun with it.

Even if you aren’t trying to paint the most life like vase ever, the attempt to capture what you see in your minds eye sharpens clarity, and improves observation. Every time you begin with a clean canvas or wrestle with a work in progress, you are going where no one else can go. It is an adventure, and it’s yours alone. The act of painting can become very mental-especially if you are open to risk taking, self knowledge, and the skill building involved.

1. First find yourself a place to paint. A corner in the basement, attic, hall, bedroom or any place you can squeeze in a place for your paints and easel will do, you can paint on a flat table if that is more convenient, but do consider ventilation, light, and cleanup.
2. Invest in paint, canvas, and brushes in an art supply store instead of fancy accessories. A few chipped cups and saucers will do to hold your paints and brushes.
3. Keep old clothing handy that you don’t mind getting paint on. Leave them in the painting area so it will be easy to change from your street clothes when you paint.
4. Assemble your art supplies so you can begin painting when the inspiration strikes.
5. Water based colors are inexpensive and make for easy clean-up. You can paint brushy textures, and wash effects with them.
6. Acrylics are recommended for beginners because they are cheaper and easier to use than oils. You can use any old house paint you might have left over in the garage, or buy quarts at the paint store.
7. If you prefer to work in oils, start with inexpensive student grade oil paint. A good beginner selection includes. Burnt sienna, blue, red, black, yellow, green, and white.
8. For water colors and inks water is the only thinner you need.
9. A range of acrylic mediums are available to add to acrylic paints to give the transparent effect of water colors.
10. To change the consistency of oil based paints, buy already mixed damar varnish, turpentine and stand oil. Try different ratios to try thick frost like Van Gogh swirls. You’ll need gesso to prime canvas before painting with oils.
11. You’ll want a variety of shapes of brushes, rounds, flats, and filberts, in a range of sizes.
12. A palette knife is good for scraping off paint, and plastering paint onto the canvas.
13. Pre-stretched canvas is available at any art store but it is easier to stretch your own. Canvas is cheaper at fabric stores. You can use other fabrics as long as it is cotton. You can buy stretcher bars at the art store or make your own with 2 by 2 lumber.
14. For your first painting set up a still life. You’ll notice that the most amazing paint doesn’t come in a tube but is the paint you mix yourself. Start combing primary colors and see what happens.
15. You often have to ruin a painting many times to get to the real finishing point. You will come to know when your painting is finished as you hone your style and vision. Most important, don’t wait for inspiration to hit you, meet it halfway.

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