How to Paint As A Beginner? Best Learning Tips to Start Painting

Starting painting as a beginner refers to the beginning of expressing your creative ideas using paint on surfaces like canvas, paper, and wood. It involves learning the basic techniques of painting, like tools and equipment, expressing yourself through a painting, and developing the foundational skills of art. 

To paint as a beginner, consider the steps described below:

• Know the Motivation for Learning How to Start Painting: Determine why you want to start painting. Whether it is for relaxation, learning a new skill, or a way to spend time, knowing your motivation helps create a crucial mental impact. 
• Choose an Art Medium (Acrylics, Oils, or Watercolors): Choose the medium that suits your style or ideas. Oils blend well and have bold and rich colors, acrylics dry quickly and have vibrant hues, and watercolors provide fluid-quality artwork. 
• Get Good Quality Paints and Supplies: Spend your money on high-quality paints and supplies to avoid problems while learning. This will make your overall painting experience much smoother.
• Learn the Fundamentals of Art and Painting: Start studying basic art concepts, like lines, shapes, colors, textures, and space. These are foundational elements, and you need to master them.
• Learn to See Things as Shapes: Begin to break down objects in your surroundings into basic shapes to help you accurately depict the shape of subjects when you are drawing. 
• Learn the Basics of Composition and Proportion in Art: Understanding proportions and compositions like balance and focal points ensures that all elements in your artwork are sized accurately and relative to each other. 
• Start With a Limited Color Palette: To avoid overcomplicating things, add only primary colors to your palette. Mix the primary colors to create hues, which helps you understand color mixing and harmony.  
• Learn Color Theory: Start studying the color wheel and spectrum. This will help you understand the effect of using warm and cool colors. 
• Learn to See Values in Art and Painting: Study all the light and dark areas in your painting. This will help you understand the importance of light and dark colors in creating depth of dimension in your paintings. 
• Learn the Basic Painting Process: Make yourself familiar with steps like sketching, underpainting, layering colors, additional details, and adding finishing touches. 
• Paint Small and Often: To avoid feeling overwhelmed, start your journey with small, easy projects that will take less time and effort. This will help you grasp the basics and improve your skills over time. 
• Decide What You Want to Paint First: Choose simple painting subjects that suit your interests. This will make the learning process enjoyable and manageable.
• Create Your First Painting: Begin your first project with the knowledge you acquired and the skills you learned. Don’t overcomplicate the painting; just do the best you can. 
• Review and Improve: Analyze your finished work and identify areas for improvement. Try to seek feedback from professional artists or your friends.
• Stay Playful and Have Fun While Painting: Keep the process enjoyable and learn from it. Try to improve from your mistakes and let your creativity flow on the canvas. 

Know the Motivation for Learning How to Start Painting

Knowing your motivation for learning how to start painting involves understanding the personal reasons and goals behind your desire to paint. The reason could be relaxation, personal achievement, killing boredom, or learning a new skill. It is important to identify your motivation to learn art as it helps maintain your interest and commitment to it. It also helps you stay focused when you face challenges or frustration during your art journey. 

For example, if someone has started painting to relieve stress, whenever they face difficulties, they can just remind themselves that they are painting to relax and have fun during the process. This helps them remain calm and makes the journey more enjoyable. Motivation is necessary while dealing with the frustration barrier because it is a driving force that keeps you focused and inspired and helps you eliminate all frustrations. 

Choose an Art Medium (Acrylics, Oils, or Watercolors)

Choosing an art medium is a vital step for beginning your painting journey. Whether it’s acrylic, oil, or watercolor, each medium has its own uniqueness and characteristics that affect a painting. Beginners can understand the techniques and learn skills more fluently when selecting the right medium that suits their needs and painting style. 

Acrylics are recommended for beginners as they are highly versatile, have a faster drying time, and are easily removable with water. On the other hand, oils have rich textures, but they dry slowly and need to be cleaned with a solvent, which can frustrate most beginners. Similarly, watercolors can be challenging for beginners as they are unpredictable, and artists are prone to mistakes while using them. 

For beginners, acrylics are commonly considered the easiest to learn as they are simple to use and dry quickly. Conversely, watercolors are known as the hardest to learn due to their complexity and technique-demanding nature. 

Get Good Quality Paints and Supplies

Investing in good-quality paints and supplies is crucial for a smooth and productive painting experience. High-quality materials make the process more enjoyable and significantly improve the final result of your artwork. Using high-quality paints and brushes allows for better color application, smoother blending, and more precise detailing, which is essential for developing your skills and confidence as a painter.

For example, if a beginner uses high-quality acrylic paints, they will notice that the colors are a lot more vibrant and blend in better than the cheaper kind. Good paint brushes will maintain their original shape and apply paint more smoothly.

Learn the Fundamentals of Art and Painting

Learning the fundamentals of art is the most crucial part of practicing art as a beginner. This includes grasping the basic concepts of art. These skills nurture beginners with easy tips and tricks and give them a clear understanding of how to magnify their techniques.

Practicing the manual drawing of perfect shapes, like circles and squares, without compasses or rulers can also be an essential fundamental part of art. Learning different brushstrokes and using different mediums of paint is also basic knowledge that a beginner should grasp. The lining and form of the painting should also be understood. 

For example, practicing drawing shapes helps beginners see complex objects as simple shapes, making it easier to draw them. Beginners can learn these fundamentals by attending art classes, watching online tutorials, reading instructional books, or practicing regularly through exercises and small projects. 

Learn to See Things as Shapes

Learning to see things as shapes is the process of breaking down composite objects into smaller and easier shapes, such as squares, circles, rectangles, and triangles. This skill allows beginners to easily understand the complexity of an object and draw it using shapes. It also helps recognize the object’s structure and proportion, allowing an accurate and realistic painting to be made. 

Breaking down the human figure into shapes is a prime example. The human body can be seen as ovals for the head and torso, circles for the joints, and cylinders for the limbs. This makes it easier to draw a human figure and produces a refined and accurate representation of it. 

Learn the Basics of Composition and Proportion in Art

Learning the basics of composition and proportion in art involves studying the correct proportionate sizes of elements in an artwork and understanding how to arrange them properly. 

Composition is placing the visual elements in such a way that they create harmony and balance in the painting. Proportion refers to the relative size relationships between the elements, which ensure that all elements are accurately sized and displayed. 

An example is using the rule of thirds, in which the canvas is divided into 9 equal parts. This technique helps you place important elements along the lines or at their intersections, allowing you to create a balanced image.

Start With a Limited Color Palette

As a beginner, you should start by using a small selection of colors to create a painting. This approach simplifies the process of color mixing and helps develop a deeper understanding of color relationships. By focusing on a few primary colors, beginners can learn how to mix a wide range of hues and shades, which can help them learn all the color combinations and flexibility. 

For example, by using only red, blue, and yellow, the beginner can experiment with secondary colors and better understand color theory. Using fewer colors also makes it easier to create a balance of colors in your paintings and saves time, which you can invest in learning other vital painting techniques. 

Learn the Color Theory

Learning the color theory refers to understanding the relationships of colors on the color wheel, which is essential for beginners. Color theory helps artists create harmonious and visually appealing paintings by making direct choices in color selection, mixing, and application. By understanding concepts such as primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, complementary colors, warm and cool colors, and color schemes, beginners can convey mood, atmosphere, and emotion in their artwork.

For instance, complementary colors, opposite to each other on the color wheel, like red and green, make each other stand out when placed together. Knowing this concept can help beginners create vibrant contrasts in their paintings. 

Learn to See Values in Art and Painting

To learn to see values in art and painting, you need to understand the difference between the lightness and darkness in a composition. This is a crucial art feature for beginners as it helps define forms, create depth, and establish contrast.

Mastering values enhances your ability to create realistic and dynamic images. Practicing value studies, like creating grayscale drawings or paintings, helps identify and replicate varying shades in subject matter, improving the likeness and realism of a piece. 

For example, painting the highlights and shadows on a portrait with focus and realism can make it look more realistic and professional. Learning the values of art helps beginners manage the composition of their art significantly. 

Learn the Basic Painting Process

It is crucial to understand the important steps to creating a painting to learn the basic process. This procedure involves first creating the base coat of the painting, then sketching the main body, layering the colors, and finally finishing with some finishing details. Grasping the basic painting process is the most significant tip a beginner artist needs to learn. It provides a set of proper, sequential steps to create a masterpiece. 

For instance, having a smooth and slick base coat on the surface of the painting helps to level and layer the colors in the painting properly. Sketching the composition of the painting helps a painter understand where to apply specific colors, instead of just applying the colors right away without a sketch.

Paint Small and Often

As a beginner, painting concise projects on small canvases is more convenient than doing large paintings, which can take up to three days. Starting with small projects will be more appropriate for beginners as it allows them to tackle various paintings and helps them practice more often. Moreover, completing large-scale paintings puts pressure on an artist as well.

Painting small helps you realize your mistakes and leaves room for improvement. If you paint daily, it enhances practice, stimulates the brain, and makes it easier to practice new painting techniques or styles. 

For example, consistency in painting practice can lead to visible progress in painting skills and allow you to experiment with different paint mediums or recreate smaller versions of popular art. 

Decide What You Want to Paint First

Deciding what to paint first involves a specific theme or subject you want to work towards to start your painting journey. Focusing on this step allows beginners to overcome any initial hesitation and start a new creative project with proper direction. It helps them plan their work, gather necessary references, and approach the painting more confidently and purposefully.

Starting with simple subjects like basic portraits or landscapes is a valid example of deciding what you want to paint first. Painting a bowl of fruit is a less complex project and easier to manage, so it helps beginners practice shapes, colors, and shading without difficulty drawing a detailed scene.

Create Your First Painting

Create your first painting using the knowledge you have gained and the skills you have learned. This process is mandatory for beginners as it tests their theoretical knowledge using a practical application, allowing them to experience the challenges and joys of painting. Completing a first painting helps build confidence and gives beginners a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue developing their skills.

Start your painting by working on simple subjects first and gathering all the materials you need firsthand. Also, prepare your surface and prime your canvas for optimal results. For instance, a beginner might begin their first project by working on a simple landscape, focusing on basic elements like the sky, trees, and a river. 

Review and Improve

To Review and improve your work, you need to critically assess your completed paintings and identify areas that require fixes or improvements. This process is essential for beginners because it enables continuous learning and development. By analyzing your work, you can recognize what techniques worked well and what aspects need to be corrected, guiding your practice and helping you to steadily improve your skills.

For example, when you complete a landscape painting, you notice that your color blending techniques have improved, but your composition needs improvement. Taking note of this will remind you to work on your composition skills and improve them in your next artwork. Constructive feedback from friends, family members, and professional artists can also help you understand which parts of your painting need refinement. 

Stay Playful and Have Fun While Painting

Staying playful and having fun while painting means starting your art journey with a sense of experimentation and enjoyment rather than focusing on perfection. This mindset is crucial for beginners as it reduces stress and keeps the creative process enjoyable. It also helps them sustain a long-term interest and motivation in painting.

For example, experimenting with non-traditional tools like sponges or palette knives can lead to unique textures and effects, adding fun to the learning process. By prioritizing enjoyment, beginners are more likely to engage regularly with painting. 

What to Know More Before Starting to Paint as a Beginner?

Before you start painting as a beginner, it is important to learn all the basic painting techniques, including blending and glazing. For a smoother first experience, select simple subjects like still lifes or landscapes and gather necessary supplies, including quality paints, brushes, canvases, and palettes. You can also use self-learning methods like online tutorials and instruction booklets.

Additionally, to enhance your artwork, make sure to grasp a complete knowledge of color theory, proportion, composition, and value. Being well-prepared in these areas will make your painting journey smoother and more enjoyable.

What are the best novice painting ideas?

The best novice painting ideas include still lifes such as a bowl of fruit or a vase of flowers, basic landscapes like a sunset or a beach scene, and simple geometric shapes arranged in interesting compositions.

These ideas are designed for beginners as they allow them to build up their painting skills by painting simple and manageable subjects. 

How to choose a subject to paint as a beginner?

To choose a subject to paint as a beginner, focus on your interests and work on simple themes like still lifes or basic landscapes for manageable practice. You can opt for smaller, less complex compositions, and pick subjects that help develop specific skills like color mixing or shading. 

What are the best painting techniques for beginners?

The best painting techniques for beginners include blending, dry brushing, glazing, stippling, and underpainting.

How to learn to paint at home?

To learn painting at home, you need to gather all the basic supplies, such as paints, brushes, palettes, and canvases. Start practicing your skills by working on simple projects you can complete in a short amount of time, then gradually work on more complex subjects to strengthen your techniques. Having a dedicated room or space for painting is also essential for staying focused and relaxed. 

What Paint Supplies are required to begin painting?

The supplies you need to begin painting include quality paints, a variety of brushes, canvases or painting paper, a palette for mixing colors, water or solvent for cleaning brushes, palette knife, easel, and rags or paper towels for cleanup. 

What are the best kits for painting?

The best kits for painting include the Winsor & Newton Acrylic Paint Set, ARTEZA Watercolor Paint Set, MEEDEN Oil Paint Set, Castle Art Supplies Acrylic Paint Set, Zenacolor Watercolor Paint Set, and US Art Supply Oil Paint Set.

How to set up a basic painting workspace at home?

To set up a basic painting workspace at home, consider choosing a well-lit area, organizing your supplies, and protecting your surfaces. 

These steps for setting up a basic painting workspace at home are described below:

• Choosing a well-lit area: Paint in an area with good natural or artificial lighting to see the colors and details clearly
• Organizing your supplies: Arrange your paints, brushes, and other tools so they are easy to reach and handle. 
• Protecting your surfaces: Use drop cloths or old newspapers to cover your workspace to prevent ruining it from paint spills.

How To Learn To Paint In Different Art Mediums?

To learn to paint in different mediums, you need to understand their qualities. Acrylics are the easiest to learn as they dry quickly and are easy to apply. Watercolors are the hardest to learn as they require precise control and are easy to mess up. You should choose a medium that is easy and suits your interests. You can also experiment with different mediums to find out which is best for them. 

How to start an oil painting?

To start an oil painting, gather your oil paints, brushes, a palette, a primed canvas, and a solvent like linseed oil. Sketch your subjects lightly, establish an underpaint layer then continue adding thin layers of oil paint. Oil paints have a slow drying time which allows the colors to gradually blend themselves. Practice basic techniques like glazing and impasto and be patient while letting your painting dry completely before touching it. 

How to start a watercolor painting?

To start a watercolor painting, gather all the important materials like watercolours, brushes, palettes, watercolor paper, and water containers. Start by sketching your subject with a light pencil. Wet the tip of your brush and mix paints on the palette. Apply light layers first, then gradually add layers with depth and more detail. Practice techniques like wet-on-wet and dry brushing to master different textures. 

How to Learn to Paint with Acrylics?

To learn acrylic painting, gather your acrylic paints, brushes, palettes, canvas, and acrylic paper. Begin by lightly sketching the simple subjects, then efficiently layer your paints to build depth. Experiment with techniques like blending, dry brushing, and glazing. Use water or acrylic mediums to adjust the paint's consistency.

What are the best online painting courses?

The best online painting courses are the ones available on platforms like Skillshare, Coursera, Udemy, and Domestika. 

What are the best painting lessons for adults?

The best painting lessons for adults include “The Joy of Painting” by Bob Ross, “The Frugal Crafter” by Lindsay Weirich, and “Will Kemp Art School”. 

What are the best painting lessons for kids?

The best painting lessons for kids include online courses from platforms like Creativebug, Art for Kids Hub, and Skillshare.

What are the best free painting tutorials on YouTube?

The best free painting tutorials on YouTube include channels like Bob Ross, The Art Sherpa, Lindsay Weirich's The Frugal Crafter, and Watercolor Misfits. 

What are the best books for learning painting?

The best books for learning painting include “The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards, "Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter" by James Gurney, "Keys to Drawing" by Bert Dodson, and "Acrylic Painting for Dummies" by Colette Pitcher.