Avoid These 15 Common Mistakes Beginners Make When Learning Painting Fundamentals

The Essential Painting Supplies for Beginners

Starting painting can seem daunting, especially when facing the myriad of art supplies available. However, you don't need to buy everything at once! Here are the basic painting supplies every beginner should have to get started.

Canvas

Canvas is the foundation of your painting. For beginners, it's best to start with:

• Pre-stretched canvas panels - convenient and come ready to paint!
• Stretched canvas - provides a smooth, taut surface.
• Canvas pads - great for practicing techniques.

Aim for a smaller size around 8"x10" or 11"x14" to start.

Paint

The two main types of paint are:

• Acrylics - great for beginners, fast drying.
• Oils - take longer to dry but allow blending.

Some affordable student grade options:

• Acrylics - Liquitex Basics, Blick Studio Acrylics.
• Oils - Gamblin 1980, Winsor & Newton Winton.

Start with the primary colors plus black and white.

Brushes

Good quality brushes make a difference. Look for:

• Synthetic bristles - nylon or polyester, economical option.
• Natural bristles - sable is best for oils.
• Variety of shapes and sizes - flats, rounds, filberts.

Must-haves include flats in sizes 10 and 4, and rounds in sizes 10, 6, and 4.

Additional Supplies

Some other painting essentials:

• Palette - for mixing paints. Disposable paper or plastic palettes are affordable options.
• Painting medium - helps with blending and flow. For acrylics, try acrylic retarder medium. For oils, linseed oil.
• Brushes and jar for cleaning.
• Rag or paper towels.
• Easel - helps prop canvas at an angle.

Start simple and add other supplies as you progress. Focus on quality canvas, paint, and brushes in the beginning. And most importantly, have fun with your first paintings!

Canvas, Brushes, Paints, Easels, Palettes - Everything You Need to Start Painting

Ready to dip your toes into painting but not sure where to start when it comes to art supplies? Here's a comprehensive guide to the fundamental painting materials you'll need to begin your artistic journey.

Choosing Your Canvas

Canvas provides the foundation for your painting. Consider these options:

• Stretched canvas - pre-stretched over wood frames, provides a taut surface.
• Canvas panels - pre-primed and mounted on cardboard, convenient for practice.
• Canvas pads - multi-sheet pads, ideal for studies and sketches.

Aim for 11"x14" or 16"x20" sizes to begin.

Selecting Paints

The two most common paint types are:

• Acrylics - great for beginners, fast-drying.
• Oils - longer drying time allows blending colors directly on canvas.

Some student grade acrylic brands:

• Liquitex Basics
• Blick Studio Acrylics

Affordable oil paints to try:

• Gamblin 1980
• Winsor & Newton Winton

Start with 14 ml tubes of the primary colors plus white and black.

Picking Paintbrushes

Look for these features in beginner brushes:

• Synthetic bristles - economical option good for acrylics.
• Natural bristles - best for oils, invest in sable.
• Variety of shapes - flats, rounds, filberts, brights.

Must-have sizes:

• Flats - 10, 6, 4
• Rounds - 10, 6, 4
• Filberts - 10, 6

Start with 2-3 brushes of each.

Assembling Additional Essentials

Other fundamental supplies:

• Palette - for mixing paints. Disposable paper or plastic palettes are affordable.
• Palette knife - useful for mixing and moving paint around.
• Painting medium - helps with paint consistency and flow. Try acrylic retarder or linseed oil.
• Jar or cup - for washing brushes.
• Rags/paper towels - for cleaning up spills.
• Easel - helps prop canvas at an ideal angle.

Consider a basic field easel or tabletop easel to start.

Filling Out Your Painting Toolkit Over Time

As you progress in painting, build on your fundamentals:

• Upgrade paintbrushes - invest in sable or synthetics with longer handles.
• Add painting surfaces - try wood panels, canvas paper, watercolor paper.
• Expand paint colors - build out your palette with more pigments.
• Try specialty painting tools - painting knives, mahlstick, brush cleaner, etc.

The essential supplies above will equip you to begin painting in acrylics or oils. Develop your skills first, then add to your artistic toolkit over time.

How to Choose the Right Paints for Your Style

With so many types of paints available, it can be tricky to know which ones are best suited for your particular artistic style and subject matter. Here are some tips on selecting the right paints to match your creative goals.

Realism

If you aim to paint realistic portraits, landscapes or still lifes, lean towards:

• Oils - great for blending and detail work, with flexibility for glazing techniques.
• Soft body acrylics - mimic oil paints with a buttery, thick texture.

For example, Gamblin 1980 oils offer rich, creamy pigments perfect for realist work. Liquitex Soft Body acrylics also provide vivid colors that can be layered and blended.

Abstracts

For bold, expressive abstracts, consider paints like:

• Fluid acrylics - vibrant colors with a smooth, fluid consistency.
• Heavy body acrylics - thick, tactile paints that hold peaks and textures.

Heavy body Liquitex or Golden Acrylics offer thick textures perfect for knife painting. Fluid brands like Amsterdam Excel flow smoothly for colorful pouring techniques.

Watercolors

For aqueous techniques from realism to abstraction, use:

• Tube watercolors - concentrated, thick paints to be diluted as needed.
• Pan sets - compressed round cakes activated with water.

Professional grade tube watercolors like Daniel Smith provide brilliant hues. Affordable pan sets by Cotman offer a wide yet portable selection.

Outdoor Painting

Painting en plein air requires:

• Acrylics - fast drying and water-soluble.
• Oils - versatile but require more drying time.
• Watercolors - travel friendly pan sets.

Fluid acrylics like Liquitex Inks dry lightning fast outdoors. Water-mixable oils like Winsor & Newton Artisan can paint wet-on-wet. Portable prismacolor pan sets are perfect for painting outside.

Portraits

For both realistic and stylized portraits choose:

• Oils - excellent blending for smooth skin tones.
• Soft pastels - laid down in layers to capture skin's luminosity.

Old Holland Classic Oil Colors offer nuanced mixes for true to life flesh tones. Soft pastel sets by Sennelier provide creamy coverage and vibrancy.

Consider Your Budget

Student grade paints offer affordability without sacrificing too much quality. Or invest in professional grades for ultimate lightfastness and permanence. Most importantly, let your artistic vision guide you to the right paints.

Acrylic, Oil, Watercolor - Pros and Cons for Realism, Abstract, Landscapes, Portraits

Choosing between acrylic, oil, and watercolor paint can be challenging. Each medium has advantages and disadvantages depending on your painting style and subject matter.

Realism

For realistic representations aim for:

• Oils - great for blending, detail work, and glazing techniques.
• Acrylics - faster drying but can mimic oil techniques.
• Watercolors - difficult for precision but great for washes and layering.

Oils allow time for mixing nuanced colors and fine brushwork. Acrylics dry faster but high quality brands have improved blendability. Watercolors require control for crisp realism.

Abstract Painting

Abstract styles shine with:

• Acrylics - thick or fluid acrylics birth bold textures.
• Oils - long drying time enables mixing directly on canvas.
• Watercolors - wet-on-wet washes yield colorful abstraction.

Heavy body acrylics hold their form for thick impasto knife work. Watercolors blend beautifully for freeform effects. Oils can be manipulated for color field techniques.

Landscapes

For capturing landscapes aim for:

• Oils - traditional for landscape painting, unmatched color vibrancy.
• Acrylics - suit plein air painting with quick drying times.
• Watercolors - excel at atmospheric effects in nature.

Oils render foliage and scenery with stunning depth. Acrylics work quickly to capture lighting effects outside. Watercolors imitate mists, clouds and water naturally.

Portraits

For lifelike or stylized portraits use:

• Oils - blend smoothly for natural skin tones and textures.
• Acrylics - achieve crispness, avoid overblending.
• Watercolors - create ethereal washes and effects.

Oils build color complexity needed for true to life skin. Acrylics provide control for graphic qualities. Watercolors add a delicate luminosity.

Considerations

Also factor:

• Drying time - acrylics fast, oils slow, watercolors very fast.
• Versatility - oils most versatile, others have limitations.
• Portability - watercolors compact for painting anywhere.
• Budget - watercolors and acrylics most affordable.

Skill level matters too. Acrylics and watercolors suit beginners. Oils have a steeper learning curve but offer unmatched richness.

Weigh your artistic goals, subject matter, and preferences to choose the best painting medium for you!

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid When Learning to Paint

Starting painting for the first time? Here are some common beginner pitfalls and how to steer clear of them as you develop your skills.

Overdiluting the Paint

It's tempting to add too much water or medium to paint make it flow easily. But overdiluting can cause:

• Loss of vibrancy and color strength
• Difficulty building opaque layers
• Excessive bleeding and mushy textures

Instead, mix just enough water or medium to make paint workable. For smooth blending, add medium or water sparingly as you work it.

Allowing Paint to Dry on the Palette

Acrylics and oils can dry out quickly on the palette. This leads to:

• Wasted paint when it becomes unusable
• Gummy or chalky paint texture
• Inconsistent color mixing

Prevent this by:

• Squeezing out smaller amounts of paint at a time
• Using a stay-wet palette for acrylics
• Spraying palette with water for oils

Clean your palette thoroughly after each session.

Using the Wrong Brushes

Using brushes not suited to your paint can cause frustration. For example:

• Old stiff brushes won't hold watercolor washes
• Tiny brushes hinder covering bigger areas fast
• Hog bristle won't hold up with thick acrylics

Select brushes tailored to your medium:

• Soft synthetic brushes for watercolor
• Stiff nylon or polyester brushes for acrylics and oils
• Variety of brush shapes and sizes

This allows better control.

Ignoring Value Contrast

Lack of value contrast leads to flat, muddy paintings. Avoid this by:

• Squinting to see values without color distraction
• Mapping out darks, lights, and mediums first
• Using a full value scale from white to black

This creates bold focal points and dimensional forms.

Choosing the Wrong Painting Surface

Painting on a surface not suited for your medium can also thwart good results. For instance:

• Canvas needs to be primed for watercolors.
• Paper needs heavier sizing for wet acrylics.
• Surfaces with no texture make controlling oils difficult.

Instead, match your surface to the medium:

• Heavy watercolor paper for watercolors
• Primed canvas for oils and acrylics
• Proper paper weight for paper painting

This provides the right starting texture.

Avoid frustration by dodging common beginner pitfalls! Starting with good fundamentals allows your creative confidence to blossom.

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Benefits

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• Access to free books and magazines with Prime Reading

Cost

In the United States, Amazon Prime costs $139 per year or $14.99 per month. There are also discounted student and EBT/Medicaid rates available.

Trials

Amazon offers a 30-day free trial of Prime so shoppers can test out the benefits before committing to a paid membership.

Overall, Amazon Prime can provide good value for frequent Amazon shoppers. But be sure to analyze your own shopping habits and needs to decide if the membership makes sense for you.

Find The Perfect Painting Supplies For Your Next Masterpiece.

When it comes to finding the perfect painting supplies for your next masterpiece, there are a few essential items to consider. Here are some of the most important supplies to have on hand:

Paint: Whether you prefer acrylics, oils, or watercolors, having a good quality paint is essential for creating a beautiful painting.

Brushes: High-quality brushes are a must-have for any painter. Look for natural bristle brushes, such as hog hair brushes, to start with.

Canvas or paper: Depending on your medium, you'll need a surface to paint on. Stretched canvas or watercolor paper are both great options.

Easel: While not strictly necessary, an easel can make painting more comfortable and help you achieve the right angle for your work.

Solvent or oil medium: If you're working with oils, you'll need a solvent to clean your brushes and thin your paint. An oil medium can also be used to add gloss or texture to your work.

Markers: If you're interested in adding details or accents to your painting, markers can be a great tool to have on hand.

Of course, there are many other supplies you may want to consider, such as charcoal pencils, acrylic inks, or spray sealants. Ultimately, the best supplies for you will depend on your personal preferences and the type of painting you want to create.

• The Essential Painting Supplies for Beginners
• Canvas
• Paint
• Brushes
• Additional Supplies
• Canvas, Brushes, Paints, Easels, Palettes - Everything You Need to Start Painting
• Choosing Your Canvas
• Selecting Paints
• Picking Paintbrushes
• Assembling Additional Essentials
• Filling Out Your Painting Toolkit Over Time
• How to Choose the Right Paints for Your Style
• Realism
• Abstracts
• Watercolors
• Outdoor Painting
• Portraits
• Consider Your Budget
• Acrylic, Oil, Watercolor - Pros and Cons for Realism, Abstract, Landscapes, Portraits
• Realism
• Abstract Painting
• Landscapes
• Portraits
• Considerations
• Beginner Mistakes to Avoid When Learning to Paint
• Overdiluting the Paint
• Allowing Paint to Dry on the Palette
• Using the Wrong Brushes
• Ignoring Value Contrast
• Choosing the Wrong Painting Surface
• An Overview of Amazon Prime
• Benefits
• Cost
• Trials
• Find The Perfect Painting Supplies For Your Next Masterpiece.