Have you ever been captured by the bright colours of a canvas painting and wished to express your artistic nature in such a way? If so, then know that you are not alone!

This activity is quite rewarding and therapeutic because it allows us to reach deep within ourselves to learn more about our most confidential thoughts or emotions. Starting this journey can be exciting and terrifying regardless of whether you are amateurish about painting or an expert who has been in this field for many years.

Our team at Artist Material has compiled valuable resources to serve as a complete beginner’s guide to painting. Are you ready to unleash your inner Picasso by painting unique pieces that will leave you (and others) gazing in awe?

#1. Define Your Artistic Goals

Starting a new creative endeavour like painting can be exhilarating but also intimidating. However, before taking the plunge, it would be advisable to reflect on what motivates them or their dreams. Are you drawn to painting for self-expression simply because you love capturing beauty in the world, or perhaps you merely want something fulfilling to do during leisure hours? These answers will influence how you go about your painting and what techniques you may focus on.

Furthermore, some may be drawn to Impressionists' free and loose brushwork. In contrast, others may gravitate towards the meticulous realism of masters like John Singer Sargent or Joaquín Sorolla. On the other hand, if what someone might want from their paintings is unclear initially, they will find it challenging to continue.

#2. Medium Selection

Having identified one’s objectives, it is time to select the most suitable medium for painting. Diversity is possible because there are three main options: watercolours, acrylics, and oils, each with its own characteristics and respective challenges.

Acrylics: The Beginner’s Friend

This has made them quite popular among beginners, who find them more accessible than other types. However, I know people who work for hours on end who hate them because they dry up almost instantly.

Oils: The Master’s Choice

Oil paints are very flexible and allow artists to change their minds once they start painting. On the downside, oils require solvents and good ventilation; however, many great artists have selected them because they can last hundreds of years.

Watercolours: The Untamed Beauty

In expert hands, watercolours can produce the most delicate pictures, though they are extremely difficult to work with. If you are ready for the challenge, watercolours will complement your acrylic or oil painting activity well.

#3. Gathering Art Supplies

After choosing your medium, it is time to prepare your supplies. Though it can be tempting to buy every brush and every paint colour available on the market, start with the basics: an easel, canvas or paper, palettes, brushes, painting knives, paints, and solvents if you use oils. Invest in quality where it matters most, i.e., brushes and paints, but remember that even the most humble tools can produce masterpieces when put into the right hands.

Buy Top-Quality Art Supplies (But Don’t Go Broke Doing It)

Starting with cheaper supplies might seem appealing but remember that quality equipment can considerably improve your painting experience. Buy suitable paints, brushes and canvases, but you don’t have to spend big on the most expensive ones immediately.

There are many ways of finding cheap, high-quality supplies. You could attend local art workshops or go through thrift stores in search of them; some household items may be used for other purposes.

#4. Mastering the Basics

Learn more about the general rules behind all great art as you begin this journey into painting. It is essential, therefore, that you familiarise yourself with colours (hue), their purity or intensity (saturation) and how light or dark they are on a scale from black to white (value). Similarly, understanding composition – the arrangement of things to communicate intended messages – is crucial. Edges, brushwork, and technique are the elements that will help you enhance your abilities and come up with your style. Such principles will enable you to approach art well and appreciate others excellently.

#5.Selecting Your First Subject

You’re now ready to choose your first subject since you have found out a lot about the essential aspects of painting. When selecting the perfect topic, sight, sound or smell should inspire and challenge you in equal measure if you want an object that will let you showcase what you can do as an artist while at the same time enabling you to grow. Also, always think about your subject's colour harmony, design and overall appeal—can you imagine it being painted before you start?

#6. Creating Your Masterpiece

Put the pen on the paper or canvas (if watercolour is used). If this is your first time, approach it patiently and with an open mind – remember, even the renowned artists were once novices. Focus more on your first impression, plus broad shapes and colours, before refining and adding details as you go along

#7. Review and Improve

Once the first painting is finished, look at it critically. Celebrate your accomplishments while identifying areas for improvement. What do you like about it? What would you change? Have you captured the mood of your subject through the composition and likeness? This will help you improve in subsequent work.

Conclusion: Embrace The Journey

Just like life, art is a marathon, not a sprinting contest. Engage with the creative community, seek inspiration from the masters, and embrace experimentation. Focus on mastering the basics and ignore trendy gimmicks or shortcuts promising quick results.

Painting is a deeply personal and fulfilling pursuit that offers self-expression, discovery and growth throughout life. Enjoy the process; take pride in your work because it’s an extension of you. Whatever you do along the way, enjoy it. Making a painting gives someone immense satisfaction, and there is always a feeling of self-accomplishment after completing one.