Painting 101: How to Start Painting for Beginners in 2024

Painting for beginners can be challenging, especially when you feel you have no creative skills. However, it’s also incredibly rewarding and therapeutic. The best part is that with discipline, you can transform yourself into your own version of Picasso or Monet.

Whether you’re looking to explore your creative side, relieve some stress, or simply try a new hobby, starting your painting journey doesn’t have to be intimidating. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential steps and tips to help you get started, from choosing the right materials to mastering basic techniques.

So, want to know how to start painting as a beginner? Grab your brushes, read our guide, set and go!

Jump to Section

• How Can I Teach Myself to Paint?
• What Kind of Paint Should a Beginner Start With?
• Acrylic Painting Tips for Beginners
• Tips for Painting on Canvas for Beginners
• Easy Painting Ideas for Beginners
• Painting Kits for Beginners

How Can I Teach Myself to Paint?

The best way to teach yourself to paint is through tutorials and videos. Start by gathering the basic materials or a painting for beginners kit, which usually includes brushes, paints, a palette and canvas or paper. Then, use online resources to find tutorials that interest you and start learning fundamental painting techniques.

When it comes to painting for beginners, the key is to practice regularly and experiment with different styles until you find the one that resonates with you the most.

Additionally, consider exploring art classes near you that can provide valuable hands-on instruction and feedback. Whether you’re seeking art classes in Columbus, art classes in San Francisco, art classes in Seattle or across other cities, these will help you refine your skills and connect with other aspiring artists. 

What Kind of Paint Should a Beginner Start With?

When it comes to painting for beginners, does selecting a type of paint make a significant difference in your learning experience? What kind of paint should a beginner start with?

The truth is that there is no definitive order to start painting. While acrylic painting is often recommended for its versatility, it doesn’t mean everyone should start with it. The best way to introduce yourself to painting is to start with what catches your eye the most.

Painting is about connecting with your intuition and emotions, so it's important to consider the basic traits of each type of paint. 

For instance, watercolor is all about controlling the flow of water, gouache is an opaque watercolor that covers like oil but cleans with water, acrylics offer versatility and quick drying time, pastels have beautiful colors and don’t require brushes. Oil paints provide rich, vibrant and glossy colors.

Once you’ve made your pick, joining fun experiences like online paint and sip sessions can also enhance your painting skills. These are excellent ways to practice your techniques, receive feedback and connect with other aspiring artists. All from the comfort of your home.

Acrylic Painting Tips for Beginners

Acrylic painting is one of the most popular mediums for artists, particularly for those that are starting out. Most start by tracing an easy acrylic painting for beginners on canvas, and explore the textures and colors.

Known for its versatility, quick drying time and vibrant paint, acrylic paint is water-based which makes it easy to work with and clean up. Unlike oil paints, which can take days or even weeks to dry, acrylics allow you to layer and correct your work more rapidly. This is why it is commonly used in painting for beginners classes.

The choice between acrylic vs oil paint boils down to personal preferences and the qualities that you’re looking for in your work. If you’re leaning toward acrylic, here are some essential tips that can help you get started and make the most of your painting for beginners journey.

1. Gather What You Need

As basic as it sounds, every artist needs to have their toolkit. If you’re not sure what you need, you can buy a painting for beginners kit. This usually includes the basics such as brushes, the paints and a canvas. While you don’t need to buy the most expensive things, make sure that you have quality paints and brushes as this can impact on your painting experience. 

Particularly for acrylic, try to buy the things that are neither too expensive nor too cheap. For acrylic painting it is better to use synthetic brushes as they adhere much better to the paint. 

2. Find a Simple Reference

If you’re just starting your journey as an artist, be patient. Start by practicing with easy acrylic painting ideas for beginners on canvas, those that involve basic shapes are better to get a sense of the texture and properties of acrylic paint. 

You can look up easy acrylic painting tutorials for beginners to start with something simple, or look for references online. 

3. Experiment with Techniques

One of the best things about acrylic is that they are incredibly versatile. When starting, you can try different techniques like dry brushing, glazing and stippling to see what effects you can achieve.

You can also use tools like a palette knife to add more textures, whether it’s scraping paint away, adding thick layers or even your fingers.

4. Don’t Be Afraid of Layering

Acrylics dry quickly, which allows you to build layers without long waiting times. You can brighten the paintings or give another level of depth by layering properly. Start with a background layer and then, gradually add details. It’s important to let each layer dry by applying the next. 

5. Practice Color Mixing 

Painting for beginners is all about understanding color theory. When you understand this and how to mix colors effectively, you can get the most of acrylics and overall, all techniques. 

Practice mixing your paintings to create different hues and shades, which will help you to enhance the depth and vibrancy of your work. You can do this by using warm colors (red, yellow, orange) next to cool shades (purple, blue, green). 

6. Make Swatches on a Notebook 

At the beginning, especially when you have zero experience using acrylics you’ll notice that when they dry colors change, usually to a darker tone. To get a better idea of the final result, you can create swatches of your colors to see which ones dry darker. 

Paint a small square of paint on a painting notebook, scrap canvas or piece of paper and wait for it to try. This is useful to anticipate how the color will look when it's dry and how you can mix it. 

7. Keep Your Brushes Clean 

One of the best tips when it comes to painting for beginners is to always maintain your work area and tools clean, particularly when it comes to brushes. 

Brushes are an investment that can easily get ruined when you forget to clean them. Make sure that after every use you rinse them thoroughly with water, to prevent the paint from hardening and making your brushes dry and rigid. 

Tips for Painting on Canvas for Beginners

Whether you’re interested in oil painting for beginners or acrylic painting, one thing is certain: canvases are scary.

As a beginner, it often happens that when you have all your materials to start, you just blankly stare at the canvas, afraid to make the first stroke. Canvas might seem intimidating at first, but it’s all about getting familiarized with your style of painting and practice.

1. Choose the Right Canvas

For beginners painting on canvas, it’s essential to select the right type of canvas. Believe it or not, there are different types of canvases that work for different purposes. 

Usually, pre-stretched and primed canvases are the best ones for beginners as they are ready to use right out of the package. Look for canvases labeled “tripled primed” for the best quality. 

There are also three types of materials used as canvases: cotton, linen and the canvas board. Linen canvas is generally the go-to choice of professional artists as it is more durable and rigid. However, given it’s the most expensive option, for those just starting it's recommended to go with the cotton canvas as it's more affordable and naturally flexible and durable.

Another option for beginners is canvas board which is primed and stamped to have the texture of canvas. 

2. Angle Your Canvas

When it comes to painting for beginners one of the most valuable tips is regarding the prep. You need to be comfortable to do your best work. 

Start by choosing if you want to paint seated or standing. Then adjust your easel based on your height and how comfortable it is to hold the brush up to the canvas and that you can also see your painting subject easily whether it’s a photograph, an object or a drawing. 

3. Gather Your Supplies

Make sure you have all your necessary materials before you start. This includes brushes of different sizes, your paints, a palette for mixing colors, water to clean your brushes or solvents if you’re painting with oils. 

For painting for beginners on canvas, starting with a basic set of acrylic or oil paints is perfect. Then you can start exploring with more tools and techniques. 

4. Start with an Underpainting 

Underpainting will save you from a lot of mistakes as a beginner. An underpainting is a monochromatic version of your final painting. It helps establish the composition and values before you start adding color.

You can either make a sketch of your image, or do the underpainting technique that is when you watered down paint to make a rough sketch that makes it easy to follow with other colors. 

This technique is useful for both acrylic and oil painting. For more on oils, check out our in-depth guide on how to start oil painting for beginners.

5. Learn Basic Techniques

Painting for beginners is intimidating, especially when you’ve never done it before. But if you see the white canvas as an experiment, it’s easier to give basic techniques a try. Before diving into complex subjects or trying to make over the top paintings, start small.

Practice basic techniques like blending or dry brushing. You can also look out for free step by step painting for beginners tutorials available online that can guide you through these techniques. 

6. Experiment with Different Brushes

For oil or acrylic painting, avoid using watercolor brushes as these tend to be softer and can break down quickly when using a canvas. It’s better to look for brushes with stiff bristles as these move perfectly on the rough surface of a canvas.

Additionally, explore with different sizes. Flat brushes are perfect for broad strokes and backgrounds, while round brushes work better for detailed work. Fan brushes can be used for blending and creating texture. 

7. Use Free Resources to Practice

How do I start painting with no experience? The best thing about painting for beginners nowadays is the internet. You have all the resources and guides in one google search away.  You can use free step by step painting for beginners tutorials available online, on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok.

Most of these resources offer valuable guidance and can help you learn new techniques at your own pace. 

8. Learn to Erase Mistakes

It’s easy to make an accident when painting. It not only happens to beginners but also to professionals. You can use water, titanium white paint or sandpaper to fix painting mistakes.

When your painting is still wet you can scrape off the unwanted paint with a palette knife, then apply water, or linseed oil if you use oil paints, and wipe the rest away. You can then paint over with titanium white.

If the paint is still dry, use fine sandpaper to erase the area where you made your mistake. Use a damp tower with water or linseed oil and paint over with titanium white. 

9. Have Fun!

The best advice for painting for beginners is to have fun! Don’t stress if your paintings don’t turn out the way you envisioned; it’s all part of the learning process. Most of your initial paintings might not match what you picture in your head, but remember, it’s about enjoying the journey and practice.

Practice makes perfect, so find the type of painting that suits your style best and dive in. It's helpful to have references that inspire you and guide you toward the art you want to create. This way, you can practice specific techniques and gradually improve. With time and dedication, you’ll develop your unique style and achieve your version of perfection.

Easy Painting Ideas for Beginners

Ready to get your creative juices flowing? These 15 ideas are great for aspiring painters looking for some inspiration.

1. Abstract Shapes 

Painting for beginners is all about experimenting with color and form, so abstract shapes are ideal for this. You can start by sketching out different shapes like circles, triangles and rectangles on your canvas.

Then, choose a vibrant color palette and fill in each shape, experimenting with color combinations and blending techniques. The best part of abstract art is that there are no rules. 

2. Simple Landscapes

Capture the beauty of nature with simple landscape painting. Maybe it’s a picture of your favorite sunset, or of a great vacation in the mountains. These acrylic painting ideas for beginners allow you to practice techniques such as color blending and creating depth through perspective.

Bob Ross’s landscapes are great references for guidance. 

3. Silhouette Art

You can create silhouette art by painting a gradient background and then adding black silhouettes of trees, animals or people. This easy painting for beginners project focuses mostly on contrasts and shapes, making it simple and visually appealing.

You can start by painting your background with a gradient effect (think of a sunset transitioning from orange to purple), and then once it's dried, paint black silhouettes over it. Look for examples of African sunset paintings for more ideas of this style. 

4. Floral Patterns

Try painting simple flowers like daisies or tulips. These are classic beginner painting ideas that help develop brush control and color mixing skills. Begin by drawing basic shapes of the flowers on your canvas, then fill them in with colors, adding layers for shading and highlights.

Look at Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” for more inspiration.

5. Beach Scenes

Capture the calmness of the beach with simple waves, sand and a clear sky. This painting idea for beginners can be both relaxing and rewarding. Start by painting the sky and the sea, using horizontal strokes to create the water’s movement.

Add the sandy beach with different shades of beige and yellow. You can also include small details like seashells or footprints. 

6. Starry Night

Recreate a simplified version of one of the most famous Van Gogh paintings, “Starry Night.” This project is a fun way to explore swirls and bold colors, a perfect painting for beginners. Begin with a dark blue canvas and add swirling patterns with lighter blues and whites to mimic the night sky. Add stars and the iconic swirling moon. 

7. Animal Portraits

Paint a basic portrait of your favorite animal. Start with simple shapes and gradually add details. This is an engaging painting idea for beginners that helps develop your observational skills and attention to detail. Use reference photos of animals to guide your drawing and painting process. 

8. Fruit Bowl

Set up a still life with a bowl of fruit and paint what you see. This classic easy painting for beginners helps you understand light and shadow. Arrange different fruits in a bowl and observe how light interacts with them.

Paint each fruit with attention to its color and texture, using shading to create a three-dimensional effect. 

9. Seasonal Trees

Paint a tree in different seasons—spring blossoms, summer greenery, autumn leaves and winter snow. This series of easy paintings for beginners provides practice in varying color palettes and techniques. Start with the tree’s basic structure and add details to represent each season. 

10. City Skyline

Try painting a simple city skyline at sunset. This is one of the painting for beginner ideas that helps you practice perspective and color gradients. Begin with a gradient sky, transitioning from warm sunset colors to the darker hues of night.

Add the city skyline in silhouette, focusing on the shapes of buildings. Look at works by Edward Hopper for guidance.

11. Galaxy Art

Create a stunning galaxy scene using sponges and brushes to blend colors and add stars. This is a popular painting for beginners project that looks impressive with minimal effort.

Start with a dark background and use sponges to dab on different colors like purples, blues and pinks. Add stars with a small brush or by splattering white paint. 

Painting Kits for Beginners

Painting kits for beginners are a great way to start your artistic journey, providing all the essential tools you need in one convenient package. These kits typically include a variety of brushes, a palette, a selection of paints (often acrylics or watercolors) and canvases or canvas boards. 

Whether you're interested in watercolor painting for beginners or acrylic painting, these kits simplify the process by offering a selection of materials that work well together.

Some kits even come with additional accessories like palette knives, sponges and instructional guides like free acrylic painting tutorials for beginners, making them a comprehensive solution for those new to painting.

Painting for beginners can be the start of an exciting journey filled with creativity, color and imagination. If you’re not sure where to begin, consider joining art classes where you’ll receive expert advice and techniques from experienced instructors.

These classes can help you find your unique painting style more easily. Additionally, utilizing free resources, such as free acrylic painting tutorials for beginners, is a great way to practice your techniques. These resources enable your inner artist to explore and shine, making learning enjoyable.

For even more fun art ideas, check out other experiences happening on Classpop!