Artistic Painting for Beginners
There is still some people who think creativity is a personal quality. They wrongly think that some people is creative, and others aren't. Creativity is instinct, impulse and passion. It is part of every human being, and we think creatively everyday.
Painting is a creative activity, a way to express yourself, a moment to relax, stop stressing and overthinking, and let your soul speak loud. Painting can be the tool for connecting with yourself and have time to practice a very needed self-care routine. Usually people tend to think that only those who study art, or those who know how to draw, are capable to create a good artistic painting. Not at all. Painting, like art, is for everyone! So as long as you have feelings, emotions and enthusiasm, you can be a great painter!
To start painting you only need three things. First of all: different color paint. You can start using only the primary colors and create your own color palette by mixing them! But you can also buy full color palettes already created, like pastel colors for example. The second thing you need is something to paint with. And no, a brush is not the only tool to paint. Be creative! You can use your fingers, cotton swabs, thread, bath sponges, stamps, natural objects to create abstract images, like dry leaves and flowers. There are endless possibilities! And the last thing you need is somewhere to paint on. It can be a canvas, a sketchbook, or a paint journal. Once you know this three easy-to-find components, you can choose the technic that suits you best and start painting!
These are the three main painting types for beginners:
1. Watercolor painting
This type of painting is easy to use as you only need one extra component apart from the paint set: water. By mixing the paint with water, different color mixes can be done on the paper. It is better to have specific watercolor paper, which will absorb paint easily, and have a smoother texture. Be playful mixing colors and creating figures by adjusting the intensity of color in different parts of your painting! A secret to have a professional watercolor painting, is to use adhesive tape to stick the painted paper to a flat surface like a table, and let it dry. This will prevent the paper to crinkle when drying, which is something very common on watercolor painting. In this way, the painting will look more professional and it will be easier to frame.
2. Acrylic painting
There are two types of acrylic paint: fluid and heavy body. The fluid paint is perfect for the flicking trendy technique we see everywhere now. By putting different color paint on a glass and moving the canvas while letting the paint go out, you can create the feeling of movement and an explosion of different colors! You can also use a hairdryer for moving the paint quicker and creating bigger abstract figures. You will see how beautiful abstract paintings come out of this simple trick. Also, the conventional acrylic painting, is perfect for beginners. The key thing: it dries very quickly. You can easily paint a layer over another without waiting. So if you do a mistake, you can paint on top of it and create something new without waiting! It is also very easy to clean. It goes out with soap and water.
3. Oil painting
This is the most common paint among all the masterpieces we know from art history. It is an old technique and it requires the use of turpentine to dissolve the paint. Oil painting is beautiful for the infinite types of brushstrokes that can be created to make the figures come alive in the canvas. But, unlike acrylic paint, oil paint takes long time to dry. It is more common for paintings which takes longer time to be made. It requires a lot of detail and precision. Still, oil painting is a good option to start practicing when you feel more confident and you already enjoy painting as part of your creativity routine!
Never be scared of starting a new hobby like painting, you only need passion! We are all creative minds, so everyone can paint! Go crazy and try new techniques, mix colors, mix materials, mix types of paint, invent new art pieces! One day you will find yourself varnishing and framing your creations to decorate your room, to gift it to a friend, or maybe to sell it to someone who loves your art, you never know!