Painting is one of the most rewarding hobbies that humans have ever engaged in. It’s a relaxing pastime, a great conversation starter, and if you’re really good at it, you could even make some decent side money!
But if you’re nowhere near the level of competence you’d like to be, don’t fret. Everyone has to start at some point, after all! Remember, if you invest the right amount of time and practice when you’re getting started, you’re way more likely to succeed.
Here are some common painting mistakes to avoid as you get started on your painting adventure.
1. Choosing the Wrong Sized Canvas
There are many types of painting, and most artists experiment with different mediums until they find something they like. If you’re new to canvas painting, don’t be surprised if you wind up having to keep buying new canvas so you can redo paintings you ruined. Everybody does this in the beginning!
The key is to get the right-sized canvass for your composition. If you try to squash everything into a canvass that’s too small, you’ll wind up cutting corners or leaving out too many details. Likewise, if your composition is too small, your canvass will have large vacant areas that look awkward.
It’s okay to buy multiple sizes until you get a feel for what works. Save the one you don’t use- because one of these days, it’ll be exactly what you’re looking for!
2. Making a Bad Brush Selection
Different painting styles require different brushes. Some brushes make specific patterns, like tree leaves or dots.
Trying to paint details with the wrong brush is not only frustrating, but it can ruin an otherwise perfect composition. If you don’t remember the kind of mark a brush will make or how it’ll handle paint, test it out on a piece of paper.
3. Trying to Do Too Much Too Soon
When you’re just learning how to paint, go slow and start with the basics. Don’t try to paint a masterpiece without first getting a grasp of perspective, shading, how to handle light and shadows, and good composition.
Once you understand what makes a good painting, you can add extra details or go the other way and paint pure emotion abstractly.
4. Forgetting to Prime Your Canvas
Getting the canvas surface ready for paint is important. If you don’t prime your canvass, you’ll become quickly frustrated. Your paint will soak in too quickly, and it’ll dry before you want it to.
Before your start painting, coat your canvas with a good primer and let it dry thoroughly. If you’re re-using a canvas for acrylic paints, you may need to apply several coats so you can cover up the underlying colors.
5. Getting Your Colors and Shading Wrong
When you know your painting color options, painting is easy. But if you try to use colors right out of their tubes, your painting will scream BEGINNER! Always, always mix colors, so you get them to match the shades of colors you want in your painting.
How to Avoid Common Painting Mistakes
Now that you’ve read through this guide on avoiding common painting mistakes, get your brushes and get busy. There are many blank canvases out there waiting for your imagination to work its magic.
If you’d like to read more tips and useful information, check out the rest of our blog.
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