Painting is a great hobby to get in to, but it may look a little intimidating starting off. In this post, I will include a list of basic yet helpful tips to get started in painting.
1. Make Sure You have the Right Supplies
The first step of getting started with acrylic painting is making sure you have the right supplies. You’ll need paint, paint brushes, something to paint on, and maybe some additional supplies. Check out my post about Acrylic Painting Supplies for more!
2. Look up Inspiration
Sometimes it may be difficult to think of what to paint. I personally like to use Pinterest or Google, to look up some ideas and get some inspiration on what I should paint. I normally look up “acrylic painting ideas” and choose the different tabs like “easy” or “aesthetic.” If I have an idea of what I want to paint, but still need some inspiration, I will also search things for that too. For example, around the holidays I always search for cute ideas, such as “acrylic painting ideas valentines day.”
3. Don’t Use Too Much Paint
A little goes a long way with paint. One of my struggles is I always put too much paint into my pallet, thinking that’s how much I need, yet I always end up wasting some. It’s good to start with a little, as most of the time that’s all you’ll need. Plus, you can always add more if needed! This tip applies to your painting as well. Start with a little paint on your brush, and add as needed.
4. Work in Layers/Sections
Splitting up your painting into different parts to focus on can be super helpful. It’s also important to let the different parts dry, before trying to add more. For example, if I paint a background, I need to let that dry before trying to paint on top of it, or else the colors will mix together and it won’t turn out how it’s supposed to.
5. Use a Hair Dryer for Quicker Drying
If you are painting by layers or sections, you can use a hair dryer to help dry the paint in between. This can be helpful to speed up the process, so you don’t have to wait a long time for the paint to dry before painting more. If you do use this method though, be sure to switch the hair dryer to cool and to hold at least 6 inches from your painting, to not burn the paint.
6. Use Water to Thin Paint
Some acrylic paints have a thicker consistency, which is nice for some paintings, but if you’d like a thinner consistency, you can add a little water. Make sure to not add too much, just a little at a time to get to the desired consistency.
7. Mix Paints to Get New Colors
All colors are created through mixing primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) in various combinations. You can look up how to create certain colors on google. You can also do simpler mixes, such as adding white to a color to make it lighter.
8. Be Patient
No matter if you’re a beginner or not, remember to be patient while creating artwork. It may not look good right away, but it will continue to get better with each step and every detail added. It’s easy to get discouraged, but just take a breath and keep going!
9. Take Pictures of Your Artwork
Whether you are creating a painting for your home or for someone else, it’s good to take pictures of your work. It helps to keep track of all your artwork you’ve done, as well as seeing your progress along the way. I made an album in my photos for all of my art!
10. Just Keep Practicing
Just like with anything new, painting takes practice. If it doesn’t turn out how you wanted, just keep trying. As you continue to paint more and create more artwork, you will see improvements in your skills and techniques!
Good usable advice . Thanks