Painting is an art form in which artists use the elements of shape, color, line and tones to create paintings that convey sensations of movement, volume, space and light. Paintings can represent natural scenes or objects, describe a narrative or be wholly abstract.
Whether you’re just starting out or an experienced artist, there are a few things to keep in mind as you paint:
1. Using your own imagination and technique
Often, the first thing that strikes you when you sit down to painting is the sheer amount of freedom you have to play with your own ideas. It can be easy to get caught up in big visions, but it’s important to stay focused on the actual process of painting and not allow your creative mind to wander.
2. Making sure that your painting has a sense of depth and movement
Paintings are a great way to explore the idea of depth and movement because they typically have a lot of negative and positive space. This can be a great way to capture the essence of a scene or object, like a tree or water. It can also help to use your painting skills to express emotion, such as fear or sadness.
3. Focus on your brushstrokes
When you’re painting, you want to make sure that every brushstroke you use makes a difference in the final result of your work. You can do this by practicing the different types of strokes and how they relate to each other.
4. Having a strong palette
When experimenting with paint, it’s helpful to have a large variety of colors on your palette. This will give you a chance to try out all of the different shades and tints before you actually begin working with them on your canvas.
You can mix up a little bit of each and then just dip your brush into the different colors, so that you can see which ones blend together best and which ones aren’t as good. This way, you’ll be able to know when to stop mixing and just let your brush do the work for you.
5. Creating highlights and lowlights
Another important part of painting is creating contrast between the brightest parts of your image and the darkest parts. This will make your painting look more realistic and complete.
6. Taking time to paint in detail
A good rule of thumb is to paint one area at a time before moving on to the next. This will help you to be consistent and ensure that the painting has a solid base.
7. Adding texture
To add texture to your painting, you can mix in different types of mediums to create depth and dimension. You can do this by using a medium like oil, a water-based medium, or even a powdered pigment.
8. Creating shapes and edges
Edges are an important part of your painting because they can help to convey the shape of your subject. You can do this by drawing edges in between two shapes or letting the paint flow over the edges of your painting.