you can learn painting
painting is fun!
- Learn painting with the basics of successful paintings.
- Oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings all use the same building blocks to create beautiful paintings.
My painting adventure began with art in high school and in college where I minored in art. Later, my mother and I started going to hands-on painting classes. Then, I actually began to learn painting.
My mother said, "If you teach yourself painting, it is like walking across the United States. If you learn painting with a good teacher, it is like flying across the United States."
Let me share what I have learned.....
you can learn painting
painting is fun!
- Learn painting with the basics of successful paintings.
- Oil, watercolor and acrylic paintings all use the same building blocks to create beautiful paintings.
My painting adventure began with art in high school. As a matter of fact, I minored in art at college.
Later, my mother and I started going to hands-on painting classes. Then, I actually began to learn painting.
My mother said, "If you teach yourself painting, it is like walking across the United States. If you learn painting with a good teacher, it is like flying across the United States."
Let me share what I have learned.....
what helped me to learn painting?
paint regularly
If someone is learning to play the piano, they practice every day.
Many professional artists paint every day. I am not saying you should paint every day.
But do paint regularly. Whether you paint daily, weekly or monthly, paint regularly.
- When you do a small painting often will put your learning into overdrive!
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share your paintings
Share your paintings with your family and art-oriented people.
Join a local art association. Paint with other artists. Go to classes. Go to art shows. Get feedback.
Sharing and seeing other artwork will encourage you and stimulate you with new ideas.
paint familiar things
One of the first things I learned was that you can't do a good job of painting subjects you don't understand.
The best place the start painting is to paint the things you see around you.
My parents had a wholesale tropical fish business. We had numerous outdoor ponds for the fish.
"Koi Feeding" was a natural for me. When we fed the fish, they would all swarm around the food.
Paint what is familiar to you.get your idea
Ask yourself - Why do I want to paint? What is the purpose of the painting? What do I want to portray?
Your painting will go more smoothly when you get the idea firmly fixed in your mind.
drawing
It is not necessary to become proficient in drawing before you start painting. However, your drawing skills will improve the more you draw.
When you start a new painting, you need to get your ideas down on paper. It is a good idea to do a thumbnail sketch of what you are going to paint.
the basics of successful painting
Use the basics to create beautiful paintings.composition
Composition comes naturally to some people, but it can also be learned.
There are some easy concepts you can follow.
Learn how to make paintings that draw the viewer in.
focal point
What is the main subject of your painting?
The main subject will be your focal point of your painting.
The focal point is what attracts the viewer to the painting.
values
Learn to see and use values in your paintings.
My first painting lesson from my mother was to do a painting with only one color.
It taught me to use values, instead of color.
color is the icing on the cake
You are probably anxious to start with color. I absolutely love color. I think that is one reason I am an artist.
When you have the values in the painting correct, your painting will sing.
My Palette Colors are based on the Color Wheel.
choose colors
The method I have been using for 20 years to choose paint colors.
mix colors
Mixing paint colors is made easy when you use the color wheel for reference.
color schemes
You can use the same painting color schemes I often use for my paintings.
paint often to speed your learning
As you learn painting, you are going to want to do some of the how-to-paintings.
I snap pictures when I am doing a painting. I carefully document all the steps I do. I fully explain the why and how of each step. Follow the steps to practice your painting basics.
Then use the methods with your own subjects to create your individual paintings.
Daisy Painting
Follow me step-by-step as I paint daisies with oils.
watercolor flowers
Painting three different watercolor flowers.
paint a wave
Five easy steps for painting a wave with oil paints.
Most importantly - Have fun learning to paint!
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