An Introduction to Painting: Top Tips to Get Started - AmO: Life Beauty Without Limits...

Experiment with different mediums

Artists have a selection of paint mediums to choose from. You should experiment with different mediums to find what works best for you. Often, you can purchase tester pots of different mediums and experiment with them before investing in large quantities. To help you decide, here are some of the pros and cons of different paint mediums:

Oil - Oil paint is thick in texture and dries very slowly. This allows more time to blend the colors and make changes to your painting. This has its benefits but means that you may need to wait days between painting sessions.
Acrylic - Acrylic paint is very similar in appearance to oil paint, although it is very fast-drying. This means you don’t have to wait long between painting sessions. However, it also means that you need to work fast and avoid mistakes.
Watercolor - Watercolor paints are semi-translucent and can give a beautifully blended finish. It is also water-soluble which makes it possible to make changes to the painting ever after it has dried. However, building color can be difficult without experience and you will need to wait for the paint to dry before applying another layer.

Purchase art supplies

Once you have decided which medium you want to paint with, you should order your art supplies. The equipment you need will depend on the type of paint you are using. Typically, you will need your paint of choice in various colors, paintbrushes, an artistic palette, and a painting surface such as a canvas. Keep in mind that you will also need products to clean up after you have finished painting i.e. solvents, soap, and an old rag. It is a good idea to purchase quality paint supplies from a reputable company. Make sure you have all of the equipment and tools you need before you start painting.

Attend a painting class

Learning to paint can be daunting and you might feel unsure where to start. If you are new to painting, then it may be a good idea to attend an art class to learn some basic painting skills. A painting class will teach you core painting skills such as mixing colors and using artist tools. You will also have the opportunity to mingle with other artists and build connections with like-minded people in your local area. There is a great selection of items that can help you when you are learning how to paint. For example, paint by numbers kits from justpaintbynumber.com make it easy to create beautiful paintings at home, regardless of your artistic talent or level of experience.