Essential Artistic Painting Techniques and Supplies for Beginners

Do you long to paint? Artistic painting techniques are easy to learn. Whether you decide to paint outside in the sun or inside under lights, painting can be an enjoyable, creative activity. Painting can also test your patience and determination. Knowing the supplies that you need and some of the painting techniques that you can use will put you on the road to completing your first work of art.

Oil Painting Techniques and Supplies
Painting with oils may be the most challenging type of painting that you can try. One easy painting technique for beginners is the layering, or "fat on lean," technique. In order to give your painting depth and texture, start with a very thin layer of paint and wash your canvas with a base color. After this layer dries, the next layer should be thicker, followed by, yet again, another thicker layer. Patience comes in because each layer must be completely dry before you can proceed to the next layer.

Supplies that you will need include:

• Student quality paint
• Brushes, such as filbert, round, flat and bright. You can buy brushes with either synthetic or natural bristles.
• Primed artists' boards for painting
• Palette for mixing paint. You can buy one, make your own or use a sheet of glass.
• Media, or thinners, such as turpentine and linseed oil.
• Easel

These are the very basic supplies that you will need to paint oil paintings. As you get a little experience, you can move to professional quality paints, which cost more money than student quality paints. You may also want to start using canvas, which is more expensive than primed artist boards, as your confidence improves.  

Watercolor Painting Techniques and Supplies
Watercolor painting also involves layering. For the first layer, wet your brush with water and then paint your paper. Fill with a shading pigment, or color. Like oil painting, each layer needs to be dry before you paint the next layer. You can create special effects by blotting your painting with paper towels or sponges. In addition, you can wet down an area, drop pigment in and let the paint bleed.

Basic watercolor supplies include:

• Student quality or professional quality paint
• Cold press watercolor paper
• Brushes, including filbert, mop and pointed-round brushes. Consider synthetic brushes first, as they are less expensive than brushes with natural bristles.
• Pencil for sketching
• Two containers for water, one for clean water and one for dirty water
• Paper towels
• Easel

You can also grab your hairdryer. Using a hairdryer set on low will help move along the watercolor drying process if you start to get impatient.

Painting, whether using oil, watercolor or another painting medium, can satisfy your craving for creativity and bring you hours of enjoyment, both in painting and appreciating your completed work.