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So, there you have it – a brief overview of the three most popular painting mediums; Watercolor, Oil and Acrylic, what you need to start your painting odyssey, what the materials do and how to use them.

Now that you’ve read all about these three mediums and have had a chance to digest all the information, get out your pad and paper and make a shopping list.

Make a list of the supplies you’ll need to purchase from an art or craft store and what supplies you can buy elsewhere.

Also, don’t overlook the “shopping” you can do around the house and garage. Any money you save by shopping at home, thrift stores or dollar stores is more money you’ll have to spend on those expensive paints, brushes and supports.

It Doesn’t Need To Cost A Great Deal

Learning how to paint in any of these mediums doesn’t need to cost a great deal. You can start your art experience on a budget and add to your supplies as your pocketbook allows. The most important thing is to go ahead and get started.

Painting is a Journey

Just thinking about what you’d like to paint, looking at what other people are doing and doing preliminary sketches is all part of the journey. Give yourself permission to doodle, make mistakes and play with your materials. Don’t be so serious that you lose sight of having fun.

Practice Often!

And, don’t be afraid to practice. Practice is one of the most important things you can do for your budding art career. Don’t paint an object once and move on. Paint it again and again. Look for new perspectives and angles from which to recreate that image. Think outside of the box; think inside, over and under the box until you know your subject like you know your best friend.

Copy the Best

Copying other artist’s work is also useful. You’re among good company, as many of the finest artists throughout history spent a lot of time copying works of old masters. It’s a common sight to see art students sitting in the Louvre or London’s National Gallery with a sketchbook and pencil. These men and women are working to perfect their skills and look to the world’s most renowned painters to help them.

Be Observant

Another very important thing to learn on the road to becoming an artist is how to really observe what you see. We all have preconceived notions of what something looks like. Don’t believe what you remember. Memory is foggy, and unless you’re examining an object with the intent to learn its true structure, your recollection will be faulty. Once you’ve really learned how all the colors, shapes and textures work as a whole, you’ll be able to stretch the truth with artistic license and pull off a truly artistic creation.

A Blank Canvas

One really scary thing for a lot of artists, both beginner and professional, is a blank canvas staring back at them. Perhaps you’ve heard of “writer’s block” or “test anxiety.” This is sort of the same thing. You know you’ve got a million great ideas, and there are misty, unfocused images dancing around in your head just waiting to spring to life on the canvas.

Unfortunately, your hand just won’t cooperate with your heart, so you hem and haw and procrastinate. Don’t clean your studio. Don’t go to the kitchen for a snack. Just pick up a pencil and a pad of paper and start sketching. Grab your colored pencils or the kids’ crayons and block in some colors. Develop that glimmer of an idea into a full-fledged composition and go for it.

Be Creative!

The worst thing that can happen is that you’ve created a poor painting. So what? Re-gesso the canvas, or turn the paper over and start again. Maybe there’s some interesting passages in the piece, and maybe there’s a few jewels among the rubble. Use those good points in the new painting. Or, you may be able to use the painting as it is in a multimedia piece that highlights the good parts and obliterates poorer sections. You’re an artist – be creative.

Don’t limit yourself early to one genre, style or subject matter. Pick the most nondescript item you can come up with and see what happens when you allow your muse to run free. Choose a cacophonous, wildly outrageous subject and see where it leads you. Pick a technique that intrigues you. Grab a fistful of colors that you would never choose.

Prepare for some Fun

So, now it’s time. Go ahead and start preparing for one of the most fun, exasperating and challenging skills you could ever wish to learn. It’s hard work to reach a level of competence and even more work to achieve success. But the journey is a satisfying and continually surprising one that’s sure to keep your brain cells active and your soul enriched. Go paint something.

FREE Online Art Paint Course

There are 27 Chapters in this Free Online Painting Course:

Let Us Begin…

The Beginners Guide to Painting

Watercolor Paints

Watercolor – Where to Start
Watercolor Paints
Watercolor Paint Brands
Watercolor Supports
Watercolor Paint Brushes
Watercolor Basic Painting Techniques
Advanced Watercolor Painting Techniques
Watercolor Painting Accessories
Watercolor Painting Tips and Tricks

Oil Paints

Oils – Where to Start
Oil Paints
Oil Paint Brands
Oil Paint Supports
Oil Paint Brushes
Oil Painting Techniques
Oil Painting Accessories
Oil Painting Tips and Tricks

Acrylic Paints

Acrylics – Where to Start
Acrylic Paints
Acrylic Paint Brands
Acrylic Painting Support
Acrylic Paint Brushes
Acrylic Painting Techniques
Acrylic Painting Accessories
Acrylic Painting Tips and Tricks

In Closing…

Getting Creative! (This Article)

Enjoy the Free Art Course!

Paint on! :)