Painting is a visual art practiced with the application of paint, pigment, color or some other medium to a solid surface. The paint may be applied with a brush, but other implements such as sponges and even airbrushes can also be used. Creating a painting requires a wide range of skills and techniques that can be learned and refined over time. Some of the most fundamental aspects of painting include drawing, color, value and composition.
Before you pick up a brush, it is important to determine the “big why” for your painting project. Having a clear understanding of what you want to achieve in your painting will help guide you along the way and ensure that you are on track to meet your goals. Having this understanding will help you avoid making unnecessary (and costly) mistakes and give your painting the best chance of success.
Once you have a clear understanding of what you are trying to achieve in your painting, it is time to decide which medium you would like to work with. There are many choices available, including oils, acrylics and watercolors. It is important to choose a medium that you are comfortable working with, as this will allow you to focus on the important aspects of painting such as drawing, color, value and composition.
It is also important to establish a work area that will allow you to create your paintings in a safe and healthy environment. This includes a large workspace that is well ventilated and the necessary supplies to work with your chosen medium. Having an easel to prop up your work can be helpful, but it is not always necessary.
Choosing your subject matter is another important step in the process of creating a painting. This will help you to create a meaningful and compelling painting that is unique and speaks to your personal vision as an artist. The subject matter should also provide challenges and opportunities for you to develop your skills as a painter.
The next step in the painting process is to start working on the composition of your image. This will involve light sketching the general shapes and placement of the larger areas of color. You will then begin painting the details, working in layers if you are using acrylics or oils, or alla prima if you are using watercolors. Some artists will do multiple sketches for a painting, while others will simply dive in and begin laying down paint.
A painter’s skill is reflected in the quality of the edges of their work. Edges can be hard, soft or lost and are determined by how the shapes and lines of the painting are arranged to communicate the desired meaning. It is important to practice a variety of composition methods to increase your knowledge of composition, as this can make or break a painting.
Often when a painting isn’t working it is because the values are off, not the actual colors. To understand this concept think of each color from the lightest it could be (almost white) to its darkest value (almost black). Then place a number between these two points to get a sense of their relative lightness or darkness.