Is it hard to learn how to paint?

Question

I have never really painted except ceramics and those type of things, but I want to learn how to paint. Maybe oil paint or watercolor. Is it hard to learn? Tips?

What exactly is acrylic?

Is acrylic paint the same kind of paint that you can use on ceramics?

Answer 1

Here is a GREAT little gift set for $20.00 It includes a lot.. Paint brushes, Acrylic tubes, Paint brushes, Easel, etc.. (I personally don’t use an easel for mixed media) You really cant with watercolours.
You could buy something like this to start off….

http://www.dickblick.com/zz016/15/?obs=y
OR

Really.. Ya want the easiest way to paint... Grab the basic colours in acrylic, BLUE, YELLOW, RED, WHITE and BLACK, (You also can pick up a couple of other colours of greens and blues and such. Then get yourself a few tubes of water colours like Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber- (Browns) and Sap Green, Permanent Lemon Yellow, Prussian Blue. That’s 6 watercolurs and 5 Craft Acrylics, I use the cheep quirt bottle stuff, Around .97 - $1.59 for a small 2oz bottle.

Acrylic Craft Paint
http://www.dickblick.com/zz007/27/

Water colour tubes
http://www.dickblick.com/zz003/71a/

Cost About $26.00

The reason for BOTH types of paint is so you can mix them. Yep, It works well and you now are using a MIXED MEDIA.

Mix the colours to what you need.
A few semi cheep brushes. Get a few cheep brushes. Something like these. They are synthetic brushes and will probably last awhile depending on how heavy a hand you have. About 4 different sizes. Flats and rounds.. (I wouldn’t do the
http://www.dickblick.com/zz053/77a/

Buy a couple of MONGOOSE brushes. 00 (Double Zero) and 0 (Zero) in the “round” brushes. Also a Small FLAT brush. Like a #1 (Mongoose is VERY Stiff and good for small detail.)
http://www.dickblick.com/zz052/75a/

Then get a couple of SABLE brushes. Any that you may want. Just get a couple.
http://www.dickblick.com/zz059/05a/

The reason I say get these 3 types of brushes is so you can see and feel the difference. The ONLY reason for the LINKS above is so you can get an idea of what these brushes look like….
10 brushes Cost About $22.00

A tablet of water colour paper… 14x19 would be good.
http://www.dickblick.com/zz101/45/
Cost $10.00

GET A COLOUR WHEEL (THIS IS HUGE and WILL HELP)
http://www.dickblick.com/zz049/98/
Cost $6.00

Mixing bowl palette..
http://www.dickblick.com/zz030/46/
Cost $4.00

TOTAL $46.00


Keep the paints KINDA thick.. Don’t add to much water.

If ya mess up don’t worry. Accidents can be fun. Really..

When using WATER COLOUR paper tear off a sheet and use it.. Don’t use it while in the tablet…

This is basically stuff that will get you aquatinted with the brushes, mixing colours, how it flows, etc…
Start off easy.. Paint landscape,,,, Even flowers.

Here is a Link to my website for some examples of mixed media. The colours REALLY explode and the pictures don’t do justice to the actual art. (Pictures never do.)
http://www.jrcenterprises.homestead.com/MixedPage.html


Have fun… Just work with it.. Easiest stuff in the world.

I personally started off with something like this in 6th grade. It’s fun and so easy.. The colour wheel will answer questions on how to get what colour you want if you get confused.

I personally didn’t like just acrylic but many people do. What’s nice is with the water colours you can take the pure water colour with NO acrylic and change the flavor of certain areas without mixing a new colour. Or you can take Black or White Acrylic and use it loose (kinda watery) and apply it to the project and pick up the dry mixture and create a highlight of the color beneath. There is a lot of mixing JUST on the pieces itself. No fuss…. Even if the work is dry the colours will lift if you do it right. Just takes a little practice.

Sorry about being SO lengthy.....

Happy Painting

Answer 2

my art teachers started me out with oil, but that's not such a good idea. You should go with acrylic paint, it's a water based paint, washes off easy and you can get it at walmart for like 44 cents. Play around with acrylic and then maybe work you way up. Good luck!

Answer 3

If you want to learn oil painting, start out with arcylic. Oil paint is extremely difficult to control (not mention hard to work with too)

I don't reall know what style of painting you want to learn, so I'm assuming you want to paint realistically. So if you can draw with in regard of depth and shadows, I don't think you will have a problem with painting.

Answer 4

Anyone can paint. Painting WELL is hard.
Watercolours run into each other, and smudge.
Oils are better, let one section dry before trying to paint over it.
Acrylic is better again.

Answer 5

Watercolor is a difficult medium. Oil is easier but more expensive. Try acrylic... it is easier to handle.

Answer 6

Nothing in life is easy. It is all hard. And it can all be done.

Answer 7

im terrible

carttonists arnt painters!