Article for people beginning to paint. How to mix colors, chose canvas, treat brushes, and more.
If you are new to painting, it may seem that there are an endless amount of things you need to learn. Really, there are some simple basics tips that can send you from blank canvas to finished painting in no time. Read on!
Basic Color Theory
- Contrast is made by using colors that are opposites on the color wheel. Contrast creates drama.
- Harmony in a painting can be created by using colors closer on the color wheel.
- A color’s hue depends on how much red, blue, or yellow was used to create it.
- Monochromatic paintings are painting where several hues of the same color is used.
- A painting should primarily consist of either "warm" or "cool" colors. Warm colors are colors with more yellow in them, such as a rust red or burnt orange. Cool colors have more blue to their hue, such as purple.
Mixing Paints
- You get what you pay for. The more expensive a brush, the better it will work and the longer it will last. Don’t worry about dishing out tons of cash for brushes, though. Usually, brushes better than "student" quality will work just fine for the beginner.
- Do not leave your brushes bristle down in water basins or holders. This splays the fibers and will ruin the effect of the brush.
- Roll your brushes in fabric before transporting them to protect the bristles.
- Wash your brushes with warm water and mild dish soap.
- The type of canvas you use will depend on the type of paint you use.
- Watercolor typically requires paper for "canvas". To learn more about types of papers see Art Paper Terms and Uses.
- Canvases that are used for oil and acrylic painting come in many types. Cotton duck is generally used for acrylic painting, while linen and cotton duck is used for oil.
- If you don’t want to frame your work, use a gallery wrap type canvas where the canvas itself stretches around to the back of the frame so that no staples are visible. This way you can paint on the edges of the canvas as well. This makes the painting look finished even without a frame.
- Canvas board, or canvas glued across cardboard, is not acid-free and warps easily. It is not used for art that is meant to last longer than a few months.
The copyright of the article How to Paint in Painting/Drawing is owned by Alina Bradford. Permission to republish How to Paint must be granted by the author in writing.
