Painting is the process of using pigments in liquid to coat a surface (called a support). The purpose may be simply decorative, as with a fresco, or more ambitious, such as depicting real or mythical subjects, or conveying an idea or emotion. In the early days of painting, the craft was highly regulated by tribal, religious, guild, and royal court traditions which controlled the forms, imagery, subject matter, and other aspects of painting. The notion of the painter as a creative artist is more recent.
When painting at home, it’s important to take your time and use high-quality products. This will help you achieve professional-quality results that will last for years.
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced painter, it helps to have a clear goal in mind. Do you want to master the basics and learn how to paint realistically, or do you want to explore abstract ideas? Once you’ve established your goals, it’s easier to decide what materials and tools to buy.
Painting supplies can be expensive, but you’ll save money in the long run by buying quality equipment. A good brush is the key to a professional-quality finish. A cheap brush will leave a sloppy, uneven finish, while a high-quality one will give you a smooth, consistent coating. Also consider investing in a paint roller for the ceiling and a painters’ tape for woodwork.
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, it’s important to prepare the work area before beginning to paint. Wash walls and woodwork with TSP and water to remove grease and grime, which can interfere with paint adhesion. Cover floors and furniture with drop cloth or plastic sheeting, and lay down painters’ tape to protect areas you won’t be painting. If you’re using a roller, a paint tray and a roller extension pole are essential to keep your hands clean and avoid spills.
Begin by mixing your colors to create a variety of tints, tones, and shades. Then apply these to the canvas or paper in small areas to see how they look. This practice will help you understand how to control the intensity of color and how to mix the right hues for different moods.
When choosing a color, remember that warm colors advance more rapidly than cool ones. This optical illusion is exploited by painters to suggest depth and movement in a composition. For example, a green will seem to recede in relation to blue-green, while it will advance against yellow or red. This effect is enhanced by painting the edges of your shapes with different textures, as in the soft and lost edges of this cypress tree.