The Path to a True Work of Art – A Guide for Amateur Artists

The world of painting offers a space for creative expression. Careful selection of materials, an understanding of compositional principles, and the development of a unique artistic perspective are key elements for creating moving works of art.

Continuous learning and patient exploration transform challenges into enriching experiences, ultimately rewarded with outstanding results.

But what should beginners pay attention to in order to look forward to an excellent end result? The following sections provide answers.

Complete beginners interested in starting their career as painters will find this book extremely helpful. While composing this, I was thinking about what I would do if I found I had to start painting all over again.

01 Consider why you are starting to paint and what you expect from it

You should first think about why you want to start painting and what you hope to gain from it. You should do this before investing in art supplies and starting to put paint on a canvas.

Your insights will determine your approach and which learning areas you should prioritize. I don't believe everyone has a fixed learning path to becoming a master painter. Everyone possesses different innate abilities, interests, and inclinations that determine the optimal learning process.

Some people lack the patience to sit down and faithfully depict every shade and nuance of a subject. Consequently, they might be better able to adopt the colors and brushwork of the Impressionists than the demanding techniques of the Russian academic painters.

Or perhaps you simply want a pleasant pastime or a rewarding hobby. In that case, you won't have any ambitions to enter the commercial art scene. In such a situation, you might prefer a more relaxed approach to your learning.

Alternatively, you might aspire to become a masterful realist painter like Julien Dupré or John Singer Sargent . To even come close to achieving this goal, you will need to complete a dedicated and rigorous training program. This should focus on drawing and other fundamental aspects of painting (color, value, composition, etc.).

02 Choose your medium – acrylic, oil, watercolor or something else

At least for the near future, you should concentrate on one medium . This will allow you to truly experience the medium and then focus more on the general characteristics of painting, such as color, composition, expression, etc.

The most important decisions involve choosing between oil , acrylic , and watercolor . Although I won't be discussing them in this guide, there are other options such as gouache , tempera, pastel , and water-mixable oils.

There's no right or wrong answer here. Each medium has its own specific advantages and disadvantages. Here's a crash course on the different media to help you choose:

a. Acrylic paints: The choice for beginners

Acrylic paints are especially popular with those just starting their artistic careers because they are easy to use and require no special tools. The downside is their rapid drying time.

Acrylic paints might be right for you if…

• … you are an absolute beginner and don't want to bother with the intricacies of oil and watercolor painting.
• … you short cleaning and tidying times .
• …They are subject to a limited budget.
• … you really enjoy working with mixed media (combining different materials).
• …They are sensitive to chemicals used in oil paintings.

Acrylic paints also have several disadvantages :

• The paint dries quite quickly. This means you only have a limited time in which your paint is receptive to the canvas.
• Some colors darken as they dry; lighter colors often show more changes.

Many years ago, I used acrylic paints for the first time. Frustrated by their quick drying time, I eventually switched to oils. But as a beginner, acrylics were excellent for acquiring comprehensive painting skills. There are also additives for acrylic paints that can slow down the drying time.

the Draw Paint Academy has been an excellent resource for beginners and newcomers to the field of painting. They offer countless great tutorials and guides for aspiring artists, both on their website and in online courses, as well as on YouTube ( @drawpaintacademy ) and Instagram.

b. Oil paints: The medium of choice for masters

For various reasons, professional artists most often use oil paints:

• They are flexible. By using paint thinner and adding more oil, you can drastically change the drying time and consistency of your paint. This allows you to use glazing, glazing, mixing, and sliding techniques, among others.
• The greatest painters preferred oil paints.
• Art collectors seem oil paintings more highly than acrylic paintings (there are, of course, exceptions).

You can't really go wrong with oil paints. If you're unsure where to start, I recommend either beginning with acrylics and moving on to oils once you're more experienced, or switching directly to oils.

Oil painting is perfectly suited to the conventional painting methods of earlier painters. I advise you to postpone oil painting for a while if you find it too demanding.

Oil painting has a few special "rules" that must be followed; the rest is similar to acrylic painting.

If you're concerned about the strong solvents used in oil painting, such as turpentine, you should look into odorless solvents. This makes oil painting much more appealing. You should also consider water-based oils.

c. Watercolors: untamed beauty

Because water is unpredictable and mistakes cannot be corrected (since the paper can only absorb a certain amount of water), watercolors are generally considered the most difficult to learn. Nevertheless, when done well, watercolors can create exquisite, elegantly beautiful works.

Therefore, I recommend that you start with either acrylic or oil paints before experimenting with watercolors. However, since watercolors teach different skills than acrylic or oil painting, they complement each other beautifully.

John Singer Sargent, for example, painted impressionistic and informal landscapes and portraits in watercolors, but was better known for his meticulous oil portraits. For Sargent, who would have been accustomed to long and strenuous portrait sessions, these watercolors most likely felt quite refreshing from time to time.

03 Colors, painting supplies and basic equipment

In the third step, we should begin assembling our art supplies . You really don't need that much stuff, so you should read this section completely before you start buying all the brush types or paints.

The media you have chosen (see above) will affect the necessary purchases of paints and art supplies. All you will always need as a basic set is:

• An easel to support your work;
• For acrylic or oil painting: canvas; for watercolor painting: paper;
• a range of colors for mixing;
• Brushes to match your chosen media;
• Palette knife; paints; solvents (for oil paintings); and paper towels for wiping your brush between strokes.

That's exactly it. Painting can be so easy.

Your local art supply store will have all of that on hand. If you're a complete beginner, it might be a good idea to start with a starter kit that includes most of the basic tools you'll need. You can always expand later.

As with your brushes, canvas and paints – a high-quality easel does not automatically make you a better painter – it makes perfect sense to buy quality where it matters.

Choose high-quality colors

High-quality paints form the foundation of every work of art. You can recognize them by their intense pigmentation, lightfastness, and creamy consistency. They allow for even application and give the painting depth. The quality of the paint directly influences the expressiveness and impact of the painting.

A targeted investment in top-quality paints contributes significantly to the success of a work of art. Those with high standards can, for example, order various types of kratom .

Regarding colors, I recommend starting with a limited palette of red, blue, yellow (the primary colors), white and an earth tone reminiscent of raw umber.

Here is a decent entry-level range :

• Cadmium red
• Ultramarine blue
• Titanium white
• Cadmium yellow
• umbra

Finding the right canvas and easel

Modern oil and acrylic paintings are mostly on canvas. Canvas replaced wooden panels for Renaissance paintings because stretching the canvas over wooden bars allowed for larger works. This also made it lighter, rollable, and more stable than wooden panels, and less prone to warping and splintering. Canvas originates from hemp, and the first artists' canvases were made from high-quality Venetian hemp sailcloth. Cotton was introduced later as a substitute for linen.

There is a wide selection of canvas fabrics available, whether you're making your own or buying stretched canvases or canvas panels. The surface you choose will depend on your needs. Different fabric weights, materials, and surface preparations create different painting experiences. The final look of your painting will also be affected.

Paintable, stretched canvases are available in many sizes and styles. Applying a primer allows you to customize the surface. Thin canvas panels and Ultralite sheets are lightweight and ideal for plein air painting. We offer 40 canvas sizes by the meter or in 10-meter rolls for stretching.

Many artists experiment with different canvases, primers, and supports to find the best surface. Surface properties can greatly influence some artists' paintings, especially when working with oil or acrylic paints.

Considering the media you'll be working with, also think about the stability and durability of the easel you'll need. While lightweight materials would be suitable for smaller, less demanding tasks, a sturdy wooden easel provide the necessary support for heavy materials like large canvases or mixed media. Ergonomics really is important.

04 Familiarize yourself with the basics of artistic design

I firmly believe that it's important to learn effectively, rather than simply wasting time aimlessly. Without proper guidance, you could practice for years and see little to no improvement. Here are the essential principles of the art:

• Color
• Expression
• composition
• Edges / Lines
• Brushwork
• Painting technique

I consider them the cornerstones of painting. It's important to familiarize yourself with them early on, as they help you understand exactly what happens when your brush touches the canvas. Mastering these essential areas will improve every application of paint.

Here is a concise overview of the essentials:

Color

Color is something we all know so well that we often overlook its meaning. Many people don't fully understand or appreciate the true nature of color.

I find it easier to understand color by considering hue, saturation, and tonal value. These are the three elements that make up a color.

Hue indicates the position of a color on the color wheel. Red, blue, yellow, green – these are all different colors. Saturation describes the richness, intensity, or vibrancy of a color. Tone value describes the degree of lightness or darkness of a color.

Familiarize yourself with these three terms, as they will appear in every piece of artwork you produce.

Tonal value is an aspect of color, but due to its importance in painting, it is often considered a fundamental concept in its own right. Every color possesses an inherent value that lies on the spectrum between white and black .

If we remove color from the equation, we get a spectrum of values ​​ranging from light gray to almost black. A solid tonal structure isn't strictly necessary (think of many of the remarkable Impressionist paintings), but it undeniably helps give your artwork a strong foundation. Painting with different tonal values ​​gives you more flexibility in applying brushstrokes, colors, and details.

composition

In discussions about composition in painting or photography, you will encounter a multitude of complicated terms, "rules," and theories that aim to explain the principles of composition in the visual arts. Terms such as…

• focus of attention
• rule of thirds
• Golden Mean
• Horizon line
• Guidelines
• Equilibrium / Balance
• rhythm
• Movement
• harmony

…and so on. Ultimately, however, there are only two essential questions that are important for creating outstanding compositions.

1. What would you like to express?
2. How will you express it?

That's all. Everything else is relatively insignificant

Let's examine these questions more closely…

What would you like to express?

If your painting had a voice, what would it express? It could be as simple as… “I want to depict how light is reflected off the surface of the water.”

It is important to have clarity about your message.

How will you express it?

How do you organize all the elements of your painting to create harmony and convey the intended message? Consider each of your unique brushstrokes, shapes, lines, colors, and textures as tools at your disposal.

Edges / Lines / Boundaries

Edges serve as a dividing line between two shapes. They can be explicit, soft, or absent. Hard edges create a distinct transition between the two shapes; soft edges provide a smooth transition; and lost edges are so subtle that they are almost invisible.

Brushwork

Brushwork refers to the tangible impressions created by the brush, palette knife, finger, or other tool used in the painting process. This is a frequently neglected element of painting, yet it is a distinctive feature that gives a painting its unique appearance .

Without brushwork, we might as well choose photography or engage in digital art instead of dedicating ourselves to traditional art.

Painting techniques

Technique refers to your ability to perform specific actions. As you gain experience and become more comfortable handling brushes and paints, your technique will naturally develop over time. However, it's important to be aware of any negative habits you might develop during your artistic journey.

This can be related to how you hold your brush or the strokes you use. Correcting bad habits that have been ingrained for many years can be quite a challenge.

To cultivate an effective painting technique, I recommend watching master artists create their works (this can also be done on YouTube, in online courses, or virtual workshops). Pay attention to their brushwork, how they apply paint to the canvas, how they mix colors, and similar details.

05 Start with your first painting

You are now ready to begin your first painting. Just a small warning: it might be more challenging than it seems 🙂

Master craftsmen seem to create works of art with impressive ease. But one must not forget that they have dedicated many years, and in some cases even decades, to their craft.

I recommend starting your first painting with a rough sketch; focus on capturing your initial impression of the subject. Consider the subject through the lens of shapes and colors. You can then refine the painting and incorporate further details.

Tip 1: Start with rough sketches

Don't stress about drawing. Just make some sketches. Tell yourself you're just playing, experimenting, and seeing what looks like.

If you can write, you can draw; you already have your own form, a way of writing letters and numbers, and unique doodles. These are also forms of drawing. When marking and sketching, pay attention to the physical feedback you receive from your hand, wrist, arm, ears, and touch.

Change the way you approach it. Wrap your fingers in fabric to alter your touch, and experiment with your other hand to see what happens. All of this is telling you something. Become completely still inside and pay attention to everything you feel. Don't think positively or negatively. Think emotionally, imaginatively, and unconventionally.

Tip 2: Always take a sketchbook with you

Mark out a large piece of paper at a time. However, don't simply fill the entire page from edge to edge. Look at the shapes, forms, structures, combinations, details, curves, build-ups, scatterings, and compositions that appeal to you.

Now repeat this on a different surface, any surface, to determine what kind of material you like. Draw on stone, metal, foam cores, coffee cups, labels, sidewalks, walls, plants, fabric, wood, or anything else. Simply make markings to decorate these surfaces.

Don't worry about achieving more. Every piece of art is a kind of gain. Ask someone what ideas they have when they see what you've created.

06 The path to your own handwriting

A distinctive artistic expression requires perseverance and passion. Inspiration from other artists can serve as a catalyst without compromising one's own authenticity. Consistency in technique and expression shapes an individual style.

Courage to explore new creative territory

Courage to take creative risks, explore new approaches, and trust one's own intuition are crucial. Through continuous practice, a unique style emerges, enriching and personalizing the artistic journey.

Imitation allowed

Everyone starts as an imitator. That's perfectly okay! But when you do, focus and feel the possibility of making all these things your own – even if the ideas, tools, and techniques come from other artists.

Imagine entering a vast stadium filled with ideas, paths, approaches, tools, and materials whenever you create something. 

Develop an exercise routine

Practice drawing your own hands while waiting on the subway or sitting around. Lots of hands on the same side, hands overlapping other hands. Other people's hands, if you like. You can also sketch other clearly visible aspects of your body.

But you have to look closely and then sketch or draw what you observe. Mirrors are also useful if you only want to sketch the point where your cheek meets your mouth. Experiment with different scales, enlarging, reducing, and rotating objects.

07 Developing your skills

Evaluate and develop further

Once you've finished your first painting, it's time to pause and evaluate your work, noting areas for improvement. Your first painting most likely won't be a masterpiece unless you're a genius; but that's okay. Even the masters start as amateurs.

Consider your artwork as if it were art criticism. Here are some questions you can consider:

• What features of the painting do I like?
• Which elements would I change?
• What is the atmosphere of the painting?
• What is the first impression of the painting?
• Does the combination of colors work?
• Does the composition make sense?
• Are there any obvious brushstrokes that complement the image?
• Have I presented the topic correctly in general?
• Does the image bother me in any way?
• Have I grasped the point of view reasonably well?

Gather feedback and implement it

Constructive feedback is another key to artistic development. Open communication with others allows for new perspectives on one's own work. It is important to carefully evaluate suggestions and align them with one's personal vision.

Reflection helps to gain valuable insights and integrate them purposefully into the creative process. The art lies in critically examining external influences and selecting only those that authentically enrich one's own artistic path.

Constructive handling of failed attempts

In the creative process, failed attempts are valuable events. They create opportunities for self-reflection and continuous improvement. From a constructive perspective, obstacles become instructive moments.

Those who view failure as a learning experience continuously improve their methods. This approach fosters the entire creative process and supports personal artistic expression.

Diversity through different techniques

Experimenting opens up new creative dimensions for artists. Besides established methods like oil or watercolor painting, unconventional approaches (keyword: mixed media) can produce astonishing results. Each technique offers its own possibilities, textures, and characteristics. The resulting artwork can then be used individual club offices , kitchens, living rooms, or bedrooms.

The key lies in the willingness to push boundaries and playfully discover new paths.

8 Bonus Tips

1. Don't worry about what other people think. While you should welcome criticism, don't let it dictate your behavior.
2. Become part of a community. Participate in competitions, visit galleries, network with other creatives, read artist blogs, subscribe to newsletters, etc. The more you exchange ideas with like-minded people, the more motivated you will be.
3. Try not to be intimidated by highly talented artists. There will always be someone more technically skilled, knowledgeable, or experienced than you. Look for inspiration instead of feeling threatened by them.
4. When you start, don't think about developing a unique or memorable style. Experience will allow you to grow gradually.
5. Focus on the fundamentals – color, value, composition, edges, brushwork, and execution. Every brushstroke you make will benefit these basics. Over time, this will amplify your progress.
6. Seek out the masters who came before us. Learn about their work, learning, and life circumstances. This will make knowledge and inspiration readily available to you.
7. Don't hesitate to explore new activities and ideas.
8. Look at clever approaches, secrets, methods, or strategies from other creative people.
9. Make your learning flexible and open.
10. Learning, practicing, checking, and developing are the only secrets to becoming a great painter.