Using contrast: painting tips for beginners
Posted on by Inesepaints

Tips for beginners and importance of art classes

Live art classes versus art classes on the internet

Why are live art classes loved so much when all kinds of online and offline art learning materials are available? For established artists or someone who has quite a lot of painting experience, watching tutorial videos can be beneficial.  They know what the demo is about, they understand how to achieve what is told they would, and there is usually no problem with following the guidance material, even though it can take pretty much time.

Are there any benefits for beginners?

It is a bit different with beginning artists or students, who have no painting experience. For people, who have encountered tough situations when painting on their own, for students, who struggle with some parts of painting, some colors or application of some techniques and who never get the result they are looking for, for somebody who tried and was ready to give up painting because of difficulties, nothing can replace live direct teaching and personal approach in live art classes.

How we gain experience

It is very obvious that knowledge can be achieved thanks to learning, trying and experimenting. I like shortcuts in all areas of life, so I am teaching how to get great results in painting without having to struggle and getting frustrated. It is no secret that many people give up painting, drawing or art because they assume it is something they will never manage or make work for them.

Specifics of acrylic painting

Acrylic is a specific painting medium: along with huge advantages it possesses some drawbacks, too. The most frustrating part is probably the very fast drying times which gives little time to work out painting properly. However, once one becomes familiar with these specific features, acrylic painting does not feel any more difficult. It is as easy to use acrylic paints as any other medium. We learn treating a painting in such a way that we can work in layers and on segments.

Art clases for adults

Painting tips for beginners in art

You shouldn’t overdo with blending. Instead of brushing all along from dark to light and from light to dark which very often will cause everything become the same color, try applying paint exactly on the spots which require it. Place dark colors where you see them, place medium tones where they belong and finish up using light colors and highlights. They come together with a careful, soft brush stroke of damp clean brush, usually flat brush.

Importance of contrast

Great artwork usually contains many or some contrasts and strong contrast areas: light, dark, subtle and strong values, sharp and soft edges, contrasting colors, both in tone and temperature, contrasting lines, layouts and shapes. Problems often arise when there is no contrast in the painting. Painting looks flat and unimpressive. Try not brushing around, but move smoothly from one color to another by applying paint in segments so that no dark spots are lost. If you lose your dark areas or sketch lines, or if your drawing has disappeared, recreate the dark areas and contrasting spots, as well as sketch new lines or shapes.

Advantages of participation in live art classes

While any advice can be helpful, in direct class, we can learn how to avoid most problems and issues; what effects to use, what techniques to avoid and what to pay more attention to. Your art instructor will provide with immediate solutions when a problem arises. Any issue can be fixed when it occurred.

Art classes for beginners

Bluebells and birches are always a lovely project for art classes and painting workshops. We usually prefer landscapes, but some subjects are simply more attractive than others.

Art project

Suggestion for beginners in art

Tip for beginners: unless your painting requires lots of pure white, use pre-painted canvas or canvas board since human perception works better with medium dark backgrounds. It is easy to add dark colors and light colors on pre-painted canvas. It can be dark brown, dark grey, cardboard color, black or red, any color which facilitates better creation process

Tip for everybody, who wants to start painting

Do not give up painting when you encounter the first problems. When painting does not work, instead of putting pressure on yourself and painting, set it aside, give it some time. Place it so that you can see it when walking around, and the right solution will cross your mind at some point. You will later understand easily what exactly you have to do with this painting and how to turn it into masterwork. Anger causes more mistakes, and frustration is even worse.

Cure for creativity crisis

Beginners in art: view the project as a step to success

Tip when using photo reference

If you are using a photo reference, remember that painting is more important as it develops than reference. The photo reference is just a reference. Always do things that matter for painting without trying to create a copy of your photo. That refers to color, shapes and details, as well. The task of art is not to recreate a photo, but to create something completely new which is perceived on its own.

For live art classes, please, sign up here: Sign up here

Happy painting!

31 Replies to “Tips for beginners and importance of art classes”

    1. Thanks so much, Lorrie! I’m teaching art practically every day, only weekends are sometimes off. It pretty much becomes obvious which areas need more attention and cause most problems to beginning artists. However, we move forward fast and eliminate any disturbances along the way!

    3. I didn’t want to be a teacher after University, but it happened so that I’ve been teaching for almost 30 years, both in high schools, colleges and in small studio settings.

    4. Isn’t it amazing how life works sometimes? I can feel your energy and I believe that you are an excellent teacher. You have touched many lives along the way…for the better! Many blessings to you 🙂

    5. True, life is an amazing thing. I’m still receiving letters from my former students who have their own children now. It feels nice to meet people on the street after many years, and they always still call you a teacher. About touching lives is true, as well. It happened so that I also saved some lives. Blessing to you, too!

    1. I sort of always have been drawing and painting, but nobody else in my family, however, my students prove that everybody who want to and is ready to put in some effort, can paint! Not only something, but good ready to hang or sell artworks!

    1. Hi Teresa! Thanks for stopping by! Classes are almost over for this season, and they will resume in August and September. There are still 2 acrylic workshops scheduled, this Saturday and next. Gallery is in downtown of Whitby, easy to access. If you are local, just feel free to e-mail through the schedule page.

  5. Those are some very helpful hints…. I especially like what you said at the end ..that you really shouldn’t strive to make your painting look exactly like the picture… at least that’s what I think you were saying…. Diane

    Reply

    1. Thanks Diane! That’s exactly what I meant! Painting should be much more than a picture since we can paint things which are impossible to photograph. I believe, there is a moment when every painting starts to tell how it should be done, and that’s when we can put the reference aside!

  6. I love the photos of your class! So great to see the photos of different artists painting the same thing. And I would echo and underline your statement that when a painting “goes south”, so to speak, place it in a room where you see it all the time from different angles and from a distance and it will become clear that a) it’s not really so bad after all, and b) you can do “x” to improve it. So true. I practice this ALL the time. In fact, I have a painting propped up in the great room right now to figure out how to fix it. It works! Great post. Thanks! 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much for checking this out! The amazing part is that everybody gets the same image in a completely different way, and, in fact, that’s what we want. Like one lady does thick textures, some other artists do very careful details, some love soft colors, some bright, so it’s nice, and at the end this all falls in the right place.
      Well, I have noticed it helps when some unfinished work is put aside because looking for too long onto that painting does not allow us to see it properly anymore. So we need to have some distance in order to discover it from new. Do you sometimes find solutions in sleep, as well? I really do, not always, but here and there.

    2. I agree. We don’t want everyone to paint the same. The point is to paint how you feel, what your interpretation is, what your experience has been. That’s the beauty and excitement of artwork. And yes, funny that you mention it, I do dream of painting and will sometimes find a solution. My husband thinks I’m crazy. I think it’s wonderful! 🙂

    3. It sure is wonderful to wake up and know exactly what to do! Brain doesn’t sleep, subconsciously we can work out amazing stuff! I’m happy you share the point of painting rather based on experience and feelings than only technical approaches!

    4. Really? I appreciate that. I’m wondering if it will continue to be interesting to readers. Just because it’s interesting to me…

    5. Well, I don’t see any problem with some stuff being more or less interesting to somebody. It was nice to exchange these thoughts with you and appreciate your kind comments! It’s past midnight, I will have to take a break. I wish you a refreshing sleep with lots of artistic dreams!

    7. Thanks, completely agree! I did some painting, in fact, I finished a larger piece. May take some touches yet, but I run out of paint at the moment. I hope you will have time for painting at the weekend, as well! Good luck!

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