Have you ever wanted to paint a beautiful scene but you didn’t know how to get started? With a few tips, I’ll get you painting in no time! Painting a landscape is a good way to start, as you can make them as simple or complex as you’d like.
Choose your Medium and Material
Before you begin, you’ll need to decide what sort of paint you want to use. I prefer oil painting, but perhaps you want to try painting with acrylics or even watercolors. Choose an array of colors to get you started, and don’t forget to pick up a high-quality white paint. You’ll also need to decide if you want to paint a canvas or if you want to paint on something else, like paper. A primed canvas is a good option for a beginner.
Gather your Tools
Once you decide what paint you’re going to use, you’ll need to gather the appropriate brushes, cleaning supplies, a paint palette, a pencil, and anything else you think you may need. Don’t forget a palette knife, which is not only good for mixing colors, but for adding texture and edges as well. It’s good to have these all in the same location so that once you start painting, you have everything at your disposal.
Draw your Landscape
If you’re overwhelmed by the endless options of scenery you can paint, start with something basic and easy. You may want to sketch out your design in pencil before you start painting. It doesn’t have to be a perfect sketch, but rather just a guideline.
Start with Dark Colors
To get an idea of where the shadows and light will be in your scene, it can be effective to start by painting with your dark colors first and then moving to the lightest colors.
Embrace Colors
Even if you don’t have a lot of paints to start with, you can create subtle variance by mixing colors. It will create variance in your painting and keep it from looking monotonous.
Emphasize Focal Points
Every part of your painting doesn’t have to be full of intricate detail. Instead, emphasize the focal points of your painting with bold colors or special brushstrokes. You can really make these focal points stand out by simplifying the rest of the painting.
Think in Lines and Shapes
You may find yourself struggling to paint a tree or clouds if you start thinking about it too much and trying as hard as you can to perfect it. You may find yourself painting what you see in your imagination rather than what’s in nature. Simplify it by thinking of trees, clouds, and the rest of your landscape as simple lines and shapes.
Embrace Imperfections
You may be frustrated if your painting doesn’t look perfect. You must remember that you are a beginner, and there are imperfections in nature. Learn to embrace the imperfections in your painting as you learn.