If you want to learn painting then, first of all, you should find an art teacher who loves art and want to teach it to children. One can teach art to anyone by using the subjects and techniques according to the age of the learners to keep them inspired and engaged. An experienced art teacher can be the right choice to learn to paint. You can learn how to paint from your teacher by following the tips provided in this write-up.

Tips for learning how to paint

A few tips are provided here under to help you to learn to paint.

Avoid the use of erasers and pencils
Though it seems ridiculous but most art teachers avoid using pencils and erasers unless it is entirely necessary. The main reason behind it is that the use of a pencil while making a painting can frustrate the painter while painting the sketch he has drawn in pencil. Moreover, when you draw a sketch with a pencil then you have to use an eraser again and again which can waste lots of your time and you may not achieve anything at the end. So instead of using a pencil and erasers, you should use markers or pastels to draw sketches and learn painting quickly.

Choose the paint you want to use
While learning to paint the next step is to choose the type of color you want to use. There are four types of colors normally used for this purpose like traditional watercolors, oil paints, pastel colors, and acrylic colors. You can change the color type if one is not suitable for you.

Watercolors: These are traditionally used paints which can be mixed with additives and a binder like Arabic gum to improve the flow and solubility of the paint. These water-soluble paints are available in liquid form as well as in pan and tube forms also. The dried watercolors can be reactivated even after many years just by adding water into them. Their popularity is because of the convenience to use them, easy to clean and port.

Oil paints: These paints are another form of traditionally used paints to make paintings. These paints can be used after mixing them with a medium like a linseed oil or poppy oil and using turpentine oil for thinning them. These paints also protect the surface on which they are used, including paper, from the acidic effect of the oils mixed in them. These paints can be used for several days after mixing once as they dry slowly. Some of these paints are also soluble in water to make it easier for learners to learn to paint a good painting without sending a lot.

Pastel colors: They are considered ideal for beginners. You can find more than 400 types of pastel colors sold all over the world individually as well as in sets so that you can use them as per your requirements. You can also create new shades by mixing different shades of pastel colors. Some of the brands have introduced pastel colors with butter-like texture which can be used easily on the surface on which heavy work has already been done. So, to start to learn to paint pastels are considered as the best option.

Acrylic paints: They are the latest quality of paints that are mainly used commercially since the 1950s. in these paints, a plastic polymer has dye suspended in it which is stirred before to mix both the elements. It can be applied on any surface without applying a primer on it. It dries quickly and until it dries it is water-soluble which makes it easy to clean it. After drying acrylic paint gives you a flexible, water-resistant and durable surface. It can be used thickly like oil paints as well as thinly like water paints as per your requirements.

Learn how to mix colors
After selecting the type of paint you want to use, it is time to learn how to mix them to make new shades to make your painting more attractive and eye-catching. Most of the novice painters avoid mixing colors as it is one of the most complicated tasks for them. In fact, there is no complication in mixing colors as it provides them an opportunity to create different types of painting throughout their life by developing new hues and shades. So, to learn painting you will have to learn how to mix colors instead of getting scared of it.

You can change the tone, shade, and tint of the color you are using at any point of time while creating a painting. You can increase the tone of your painting by mixing white hue to the dark-colored paints left on your palette, if you do not want to throw them away or waste them. Now when you have made up your mind to mix colors, it is the time to learn where you should mix them.

It is advisable to mix the colors or paints directly on the paper instead of on palettes. When you mix colors on palettes then you may not get the color you want even after spending several hours on it. If you have limited time and want to finish your painting along with other students in your class then you should mix colors on your paper. It will make it easier for beginners to get the best results as well as keeping the space clean and tidy.

Avoid using art aprons and smocks
Though aprons and smocks are recommended by some painters to wear to protect your clothes but it takes a lot of your time to wear, organize and store them every time you paint a picture. For instance, your art class is for 30 minutes then you can waste 5-10 minutes in organizing the usage of art aprons and smocks. So instead of wearing aprons and smocks, you should wear something that is powerful to soak stains and easy to clean.

Time to think
When you selected the colors, learned how to mix them and are ready to learn to paint then you should sit quietly for a few minutes to think about the type of painting you want to make. It will provide you an opportunity to explore the art and the creative skills in you. At this time you should not talk even to your best friend as it will encourage you to improve your performance better than others in your class. After spending at least ten minutes you will be allowed to consult your teacher about your thought so that they can direct you in the right direction.

Learn to draw an image
Now is the time to draw an image so that you can paint it. You might have imagined a very beautiful image but to start learning painting you should start by drawing simple images. It will be fun if you draw a few different drawings including some silly drawings, animated drawings, and realistic drawings, etc. You can make some funny mistakes while drawing images on white papers. In this situation, your art teacher can guide you on how to convert your mistakes into a meaningful drawing. Mistakes are also important to explore the artistic instinct of the beginners. These mistakes can inspire budding painters to improve their skills.

Save time by using half sheets
Normally standard drawing sheets are used for most of the painting projects but the beginners can complete their painting project much earlier if they use half of the sheet at a time. It will save their colors and other supplies along with saving a lot of their time. So, you should not shy using small papers for this purpose as initially most of the painting projects can be completed on half sheets.

Outline your image
You can give a complete look to your painting just by outlining the figures in it. an outline is necessary n a painting because it can pop-up your piece of art. You may not be able to make your art more conspicuous if you draw the figures with a pencil and then use watercolors or any other type of color to paint it. By drawing dark lines to outline your figures you can create a much better contrast in them. In order to outline the figures in your painting, you can use oil pastels or black paint with a small brush or a sharp black marker to make a real difference in your painting. It is not necessary to always use block color to outline your painting. You can also use red or blue color, according to the colors used in your painting.

Thus, when you have decided to learn to paint you must find an art teacher to guide you at every step. The steps provided in this write-up can be very helpful for beginners to learn how to start painting, especially if they are unable to find a teacher to help them in this respect. When you follow these tips then you can know certain basic things that can help you in learning painting without wasting a lot of time, money and effort.