How should I start painting?

Question

I want to start painting contemporary pieces on the box style canvases that are for sale in art shops. What sort of paint should I use? Should I paint the 4 edges as well as the face?

Answer 1

you need to use oil. it is much better than acrylic as it stays moist for longer allowing you to take your time in perfecting it. you should Defo paint around the sides if you are not intending to frame it...although frames always make a painting (even contemporary ones) look great.

Answer 2

Acrylic would be best to start with. It dries more quickly, therefore if you make a mistake you can paint over it after a short while. Also you only need water to clean your brushes/dilute the paint and, if you want it to dry more slowly like oils, you can buy tubes of gel retarder to mix in.

Personally if the stretcher frame is nice and deep, I like to paint the edges too. Though probably for a contemporary style you would be best to make a nice, sharp edged frame.

I have used oils in the past, they would often take over a week to dry! Though the advantage is they stay nice and creamy and you can blend colours to your heartscontent. And with oils you get the real artist's studio experience - the smell of linseed oil and turpentine is great, unless that is you are painting in your living room when it will stink the house out :-)

Enjoy painting. Don't expect to make heaps of money till after you are dead ;-)

Answer 3

When I started I went to a few art classes and found a wealth of techniques and 'tricks' you don't get from books. You eventually find which medium suits you from experience (and it doesn't take long). I tried oils first but ended up preferring water colour. If your painting a canvas it doesn't do any harm to go right over the edge but it's a bit more difficult. If you just want to paint up to the edge mask the sides with masking tape to give a clean edge.

Answer 4

learning to paint has very little with what you paint, rather it being how you paint. landscape today , a still life tomorrow . a abstract or portrait next week. it matters little learn to paint anything and everything. That is a mark of a good artist. It is true most Artist start with Stills , but there is no set rule to that. Start with the basics of form(shape) value(color) and edges. In Landscapes that is a large curve to learn believe me. So large many Artist become stuck of sort in one of the many elements. Just as many become stuck in stills , landscapes etc. Just view it as learning to paint ANYTHING Good luck

Answer 5

I'm no expert..but I have a friend who paints alot. She doesn't paint the sides, it's a waste of paint. She uses acrylic paints since these dry at the rate she likes..oil paints dry slower . So it all depends on what kind of art work you plan..I think starting with acrylics is the way to go..they are cheaper and easier to work with. You could check out your local art store for info on any art classes you could go to. Hope this helps...
Ravyn

Answer 6

Your art is your art. Do what comes natural. I would recommend starting with acrylic paints, and work your way up to oils, when you are comfortable with them. If you want to be a serious artist, take some classes and do things that challenge you. Always practice, even when you think it isn't helping. Every masterpiece started with a single stroke.

Answer 7

i know the answer to this question.if u use oil then ur work will look shiny but if u use archlic then u can mix it with water too but it doesnt have that shiny effect.i do my work on canvases but i dont paint the 4 edges...good luck....

Answer 8

Get a Bob Ross video and you will be painting master pieces in no time.

Answer 9

Painting by numbers could paint you in the right direction!!!

Answer 10

Before you waste your money and fustrate yourself, enroll in a class that teaches the use of different mediums and styles.