how to paint good art

Can we learn how to paint good art? Yes, we can, but first what is good art?

Good art displays the heart and intent of the artist.

Art speaks to people. It may spark a memory or other emotions in the viewers. It draws them in for an appreciation and a deeper look at the painting.

We can learn how to paint good art!

how to paint good art

What makes a good painting? Use three things to paint an enticing piece of artwork.

The "Big Three" are:

before you start painting

How do we prepare for a painting?

Get your materials ready. Watercolor, acrylic and oil paint all make good paintings. Any of the three are suitable for the beginning artist.

Choose a subject. Decide why you want to paint the subject? What drew you to the subject? What is the purpose of the painting and what do you intend to portray?

How we feel about the subject will show through in the finished painting. Decide the reason for the painting and keep it in mind while painting.

Do some sketches. Small sketches about the size of a post card just are fine. Think of the parts the painting, as shapes.

Sketch out the large shapes, choose their values and their placement. See how the shapes relate to each other. Choose the painting's focal point. Do several sketches until you get one that looks good to you.

We all have an innate knowing of what looks good. Tune in and listen to our inner voice.

#1 create an inviting composition

Good composition is an important aspect of how to paint good art. The composition invites the viewers into the painting.

A common way to invite viewers into a landscape painting is to paint a road, a path, a stream or river running up into the painting. Start the entrance at the bottom of the painting.

Still life paintings may have a tool, a flower or other objects pointing up into the painting from the bottom.

We read from left to right, so the left is a good place for the viewer to enter the painting. Make the entrance a little above or to the right of the bottom left corner, not directly out of the corner.

A long object directly across the bottom of the painting, such as a fence, rock wall or a fallen tree trunk will block the viewer. It will make them feel uncomfortable and keep them from entering the painting.

Paint the composition with three parts

Good composition has a variety of sizes.

Each area is a different size.

Each part of the composition will generally be a different size.

One part of the painting will cover a large area. In this painting the land and ocean are the largest part of the painting.
The sky without the lighthouse, takes up less space.
The lighthouse is the focal point in this painting. It covers the smallest area.

Note: It doesn't matter which part of the painting is what size. The subject could be the smallest area or the background, etc. It doesn't matter.

What we are looking for is a variety of sizes. We want three different sizes to keep the viewers interested.

what is a focal point?

The focal point is the main subject of the painting, the reason we did the painting. The focal point connects the viewer to the painting.

A good composition guides the viewers to the focal subject. That's how we paint good art.

Not all paintings have a specific focal point. Some may have a focal area, an area of interest consisting of several things that draw the viewer's attention.

In the above painting the lighthouse is the focal point. The wave crashing against the rocks is a secondary focal point.

Many artists use the Rule of Thirds to create excellent compositions.

#2 paint three contrasting values

Values are the most important aspect of how to paint good art.

Good paintings have a variety of values, light, dark and medium values. Poor paintings are basically all the same boring middle values.

A good painting will have dark, light and medium values.

Paint the values different sizes.

Paintings should have a minimum of three values; light, dark and middle (medium) values.

One value will cover the largest area. The land, ocean and the blue sky are all medium values.
Another value would cover the light part of the painting. The lighthouse, clouds and the ocean spray are the lightest values.
The third value covers the least space. The rocks on the left are the darkest values.

Think three values - in 3 different sizes.

It doesn't matter which value takes up how much space of the painting. The point is to have three values and make each value a different size.

Variety is the spice of life and that goes for paintings, too. Good values make good art.

#3 use harmonious color

A painting color scheme of three or four colors will create a harmonious painting.

Many additional colors can be mixed from the three or four colors. The mixed colors will all harmonize because they are based on the original colors.

Use the main colors of the painting in different amounts.

Paint each color in different amounts.

Think in threes again. Using variety is how to paint good art.

Use the colors in different amounts.

Red is used in a small amount in the clouds.
Blue takes up the medium amount of space in the sky and parts of the water.
The greens in the land and much of the ocean water fill up the most space.

Again, it doesn't matter which color takes up what amount of space. Just paint each main color in different amounts.

When each color covers a different amount of space, the painting is more interesting.

How do we choose the colors for a painting?

paint good art with the "the big three"

Use plenty of variety and contrast in the composition, values and colors. That's the key to painting good art.

Composition - Compose the painting with three main parts. Each part is a different size; a large, medium and small.
Values - Paint three values; light, medium and dark. Each value will cover a different amount of space in the painting.
Color - Paint each color in different amounts. We often use three colors in a harmonious painting color scheme. Sometimes it may be two or four colors.