you have a subject, paint and brushes, the question is, how to paint a painting?

• You want to learn how to paint a painting.
• You chose your subject and have all your painting supplies. You put the drawing of your subject onto your painting surface.

now comes the joy of painting a picture!

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how to paint a painting

• Start with easy subjects. When I was giving my sister a painting lesson, we painted her goldfish. Lots of fun!

Use these guidelines when you are learning how to paint. After you are comfortable with painting, you can bend the rules.

painting landscapes

• The logical order of landscape painting is to paint things behind or underneath first. Paint from the background to the foreground.
  
  

background

   1. Paint the background things like the sky, distant hills or water.

middle-ground

   2. Come forward in the painting and paint the middle ground items. They are closer than the sky or distant hills, so they overlap the background.
   3. The water needs to be painted before the buildings, boat or bushes because they all come up out of the water.
   4. Next the buildings are painted. Note how they overlap the background foliage of number 2.

your main subject

   5. The boat and its reflection is painted on and into the water.

foreground

   6. Paint the foreground foliage on the sides of the painting. They overlap the water.

detail and finish

   7. Lastly paint the details and make any corrections. For example, the base of the grasses would be in shadow. So you may want to darken the base of the grasses.

The rule of painting from back to front is a good way to start painting landscapes.

• After you are more experienced and you know how to paint a painting, you may approach each painting differently. For example, the sky may be the last thing you paint.

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painting close-up subjects

• When you learning how to paint a painting of anything close up like butterflies, flowers, people, etc. - paint the subject first.
  
  
• Then paint the background around the main subject.

This is my preferred method of painting a close-up subject. If the subject is painted first, then I have a better idea of how to use values and color contrast to highlight the subject.

Many artist do it the other way around. And, sometimes I do paint the background first and the subject second.

Either way is correct. It is just a matter of personal preference.

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painting with oils

• Paint fat over lean.

The first layers you paint may be mixed with medium or thinners like mineral spirits or turpentine. This makes the paint lean, thinner.

The top layers of the painting are painted with little or no medium or thinner. Oil paint contains linseed or other oils, that's the fat.

• Paint dark to light. It is fairly easy to paint light colors over dark paint.

However, it is difficult to paint a dark color over a light color. Especially, if the color has been mixed with white.

It is difficult, but not impossible. You may let the light color set up awhile, then paint the dark color on with a very, very soft touch.

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watercolor painting tips

• Watercolors normally are painted light to dark, layer after layer.

The light colors are painted first, let them dry.

Then paint another layer on top of the first layer. You may use dark colors or other colors added over the top of the light colors.

This a traditional way of painting watercolors is called glazing.

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what makes a good painting?

• While you learning how to paint a painting, have you thought about what makes your paintings attractive?

use the painting basics to create attractive paintings

• It’s fun painting color, but values are the backbone of strong, attractive paintings.
  
  
• Learn how to choose paint colors the way professionals do. You can create beautiful paintings with only three or four colors.
  
  
• Use the rule of thirds and other composition tips for appealing paintings.
  
  
• Focal points attract the viewers. Create a focal point in your paintings.

learning how to paint is a journey

• Painting is not a one-time adventure.

enjoy your painting journey!