Do it yourself decorating: Painting Artwork

March 9, 2010

Where to begin…

If you would like to paint an abstract painting and you don’t know where to begin, here are a few tips.The first thing you will need to do is go to your local art/craft store and purchase some supplies. You can start by picking out your canvas. I recommend buying canvas that is 1.5″ thick so your painting doesn’t warp over time.

art supplies

For your first painting I would recommend picking up a standard, inexpensive paint brush. You can even buy a multi-pack of different sizes that are under $15. Here is a link that will help you decide which paint brush to buy and also how to properly use a paint brush. When it comes to your paint you will have to decide if you want to use oil or acrylics. Acrylic is my paint of choice because it dries very quickly and cleans up easily with water. Most craft stores sell starter kits of paint as well.

Set the mood…

The next thing you’ll want to do is set the mood. For most artist they are very effected by their environment. Play music that gets you motivated to paint. It can be a variety of music depending on the style of painting you are going to paint. If your going to paint a tranquil painting I would recommend music that is peaceful and makes you feel good. Use colors of paint that you are drawn to. If you like bold colorful paintings use more primary bright colors. Earth Tone colors create more of a tranquil painting, while dark colors create the opposite.There is no right or wrong way to paint or create art. You’ll need to let your imagination take over and paint from feeling. When I first started painting I mindlessly put paint on the canvas until I started to feel the painting. That can happen sooner than you think. It’s a good idea to stand back and get a good perspective of your painting. Once you know what direction your painting is going the fun begins and your painting begins to take shape.

Find inspiration

Find Inspiration…

It’s very important to study art that you admire and are drawn to for inspiration. You can also turn to art magazines or interior design magazines for color inspiration. Have fun with it and you might just discover your inner artist.