So, you’re ready to dive into the wonderful hobby of painting? I know when I first started eons ago, I had no idea what to do and was confused and lost. Here are only the best painting for beginner tips I’ve learned and will get your new hobby off to a roaring start!
It’s so exciting to begin a new hobby like painting. But if you’re like me, you want to do all the research on painting for beginners before diving in. This guide is the one I wish I had when I was learning to paint, and is the one I still swear by decades later!
You are going to learn all about the secret pro painting ideas on canvas, painting for beginners step by step, painting for beginners ideas, painting for beginners easy, painting for beginners kit, painting for beginners acrylic, painting for beginners on paper, painting for beginners on canvas, and more!
As a lifelong artist, I can tell you first hand this is the easiest and most concise guide to painting for beginners that will serve you well for years to come.
This post is all about the very best guide to painting for beginners.
Painting For Beginners
1.Painting for beginners easy
I remember before I began painting, it all looked so hard! But with painting for beginners easy is possible with the right guide!
The key is to start low and go slow.
By that I mean start with just a few items such as a couple of inexpensive paint brushes, a surface and paint. You don’t want to get distracted by all the options out there or you’ll soon get overwhelmed.
Then, only once you’re comfortable with the new and simple materials, add in one or two new or more expensive ones, such as a palette knife, a different surface or different paints.
The painting for beginners easy trick is to judiciously pick your materials and add on gradually.
2. Painting for beginners ideas
Like painting materials, painting for beginners ideas can be overwhelming. There are so many to choose from.
Throughout my painting career I’ve found the best ideas are those that are simple and exciting.
I know I hated it when my first art teacher instructed us to paint bottles set up in the middle of the studio when I wanted to paint the landscape outside the studio window!
Similarly, I hated the assignments that seemed overly complicated, like incorporating several materials or perspectives in one painting.
If your painting for beginners ideas aren’t easy and exciting, you’ll dread your new hobby before you even get started!
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3. Painting for beginners step by step
Combining the low and slow and simple and exciting approaches recommended for painting for beginners described above, here is the step-by-step approach I recommend for you and that I continue to use to this day:
- Create a dedicated space for painting. A corner of your garage, a card table in the kitchen, or a spare bedroom, something ready for every time you want to paint.
- Make it a protected space to paint. If you’re worried about getting paint on anything in the room, you won’t enjoy the experience as much.
- Purchase a few inexpensive paint brushes from a craft store or online.
- Purchase inexpensive paint of any kind in the basic colors only: red, blue, yellow, green, white, black.
- Find or purchase a surface that excites you paper, canvas board, wood…anything.
- A medium to clean your brushes while and after painting, water for water based paints (watercolor, water based oils and acrylic paints) or turpenoid solution (oil paints).
- Set up all your materials on a surface and within arm’s reach. Practice putting each brush in each paint and just making strokes on the surface you chose. Do not worry at this stage about painting “something” recognizable.
- Stop painting as soon as you are no longer enjoying the experience, whether that’s ten, twenty or one hundred minutes later!
The mantra for painting for beginners step by step is TO HAVE FUN!
If this all seems overwhelming, consider getting a paint-by-numbers kit. These have all materials included and also spells out exactly where to put the paint.
To paint this picture using a paint by numbers kit from Masterpiece by Numbers click here.
4. Easy acrylic painting for beginners
Acrylic paint is a great choice for beginner painters. These paints are readily available, and water-based meaning less mess and easy clean up and fast-drying.
It’s also very diverse. Without water, it looks like oil paint, with a lot of water it looks like watercolor. And there’s everything in between!
Acrylic has for years been my paint of choice!
For easy acrylic painting for beginners, I recommend starting with Liquitex acrylic paints. These are easy to find, inexpensive and come in cost-effective sets.
This Liquitex basic paint set is available at Amazon and you can click here to purchase it.
5. Easy oil painting for beginners
Traditional oil paint creates a luscious look that’s hard to deny!
But, as I learned the hard way, oil paint has several drawbacks for beginners. For instance, it takes a long time to dry, uses toxic turpentine for thinning and cleaning and can be pricey.
For easy oil painting for beginners, I recommend starting with water-based oil paints. These give the look of traditional oil paint minus several of the drawbacks.
Click here to purchase this water-based oil paint set for beginners from Jerry’s Artorama.
If your painting for beginners plan is to use oils, then start with the water-based option until you get more experienced.
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6. Easy canvas painting for beginners
While most people think canvases when they think painting, canvases can be bulky, expensive and rather intimidating.
When I first started painting, I was so relieved to discover canvas boards!
Canvas boards have a similar texture to canvas but are flat, inexpensive and user-friendly.
Easy canvas painting for beginners starts with canvas boards!
You can purchase packs of canvas boards at Amazon by clicking here.
Once you nail painting on canvas board, you can switch to canvas with confidence.
7. Painting for beginners on paper
Paper is an excellent surface for painting for beginners!
Paper is inexpensive, easy to find and easy to store. And you can use any type of paint on paper.
The only drawback is that Inexpensive paper tends to curl and warp with paint.
For successful painting for beginners on paper, the type of paper is key!
I recommend Fabriano Artistico 140 lb. or 300 lb. CP – or Kilimanjaro Watercolor Paper which you can get by clicking here.
Keep in mind these sheets of paper are large and you can tear them into about four to six small pieces, so they are a better value than they first appear.
[Related post you might like: 8 Pro Painting Ideas on Canvas Every New Artist Can Do
8. Painting for beginners kit
One great idea to get started with painting for beginners is to buy a painting kit.
A painting for beginners kit include everything you need to get started with your new painting hobby, including brushes, paint and small canvases or canvas boards.
Click here to get this painting for beginner’s kit from Sam’s Club.
Painting kits make painting for beginners super easy and stress-free!
9. Painting stones
If you’re still looking for great painting for beginners ideas, let me introduce you to the new craze- painting stones!
This is an excellent way to start your painting hobby!
Stones are super easy to find, and small enough that if you mess up, it’s not a big deal to start again or over.
Rock painting steps:
- Pick a rock
- Wash it in soapy water, let dry completely
- Paint it with a primer or cover the surface with a coat of acrylic paint
- Use acrylic paint, craft acrylic paint works best I’ve found, to paint a design.
- Coat the finished product with a varnish with UV protection
To get a rock painting kit like this from Christianbook, click here now.
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