It is only natural that if you have never taken art or painting for beginners lessons you may feel some apprehension. People enter art / painting class wanting to learn how to paint but they end up by learning a whole lot more. This is a process that is not just about learning how to paint. This is a process that will most certainly teach you a variety of techniques. Once you learn how to paint you will discover how it is an exciting and fulfilling means of self discovery.

photo credit: L`Yoshka

Painting and painting for pleasure is very much like any other art form. You can only break the rules when you know the rules. The whole point of teaching you different ways to learn how to paint is so that you can discover your own way of making your work completely unique. However, before you reach this point you have to learn from all the other painters who have gone before you. It is thanks to their dedication and hard work that we have so many techniques. There is no reason why you can’t add your own to the list.

You can be sure that during painting classes you are going to be given theory and you are going to be given hands on training. Painting is a skill that must be practiced. Your tutor will give you plenty of opportunities to paint a wide range of subjects. You could be asked to paint still life object, nudes and landscapes. You must learn how to paint and be comfortable painting any subject. Eventually you will find out what you enjoy painting and what you are best at painting.

It is possible your tutor may use music to inspire you. There are tutors who observe and explain or suggest as you go along. There are others who will actually take the paint brush and show you what to do. A tutor may show you certain strokes or techniques and then expect you to get on with your project. However, all tutors will welcome any questions you may have. Most art tutors interact well with their students. Painting is a disciplined art form but it is also an environment that is conducive to a relaxed atmosphere. Finding a place where you are comfortable is essential if you are trying to learn how to paint.

No matter how your tutor teaches you to how to paint you will enjoy the experience and it will become painting for pleasure. A tutor could rely on music, dance and even outings to get rid of anxiety and self consciousness. Getting rid of these obstacles allows you to express yourself authentically. Not every artist wants to produce deep and meaningful paintings. Many artists choose to paint pictures that are pretty and endearing and make people happy.

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Things to consider before you begin painting

The first step in any redecorating project is to select an overall color scheme. That means taking all aspects of your decorating plan into consideration — furnishings, carpeting and wall color.

Painting Your House Inside and Out: Tips and Techniques for Flawless Interiors and Exteriors

Color can create a mood, accentuate architectural assets and hide flaws. For more information go to interior paints

Be sure to consider the items listed below when selecting decorating colors:

1)What type of mood you want to create.

2)What furniture, artwork, architectural features, or other aspects of the room you want to emphasize

3)Any awkward physical characteristics of the room you would like to overcome.

The color you decide to paint your walls should be an integral part of your decorating decisions. Once you have decided on the wall color, you can select a specific paint shade using samples of all materials to be included in the room. Remember, color may appear differently depending on how large the painted area is, whether a glossy or flat finish is used, what other colors are nearby and the type of lighting used in the room.

Materials you will need for the painting job

Before beginning any new paint project, assemble all of the items you will need to complete it. Here’s a list:

Paint — in a sufficient quantity to do the entire job
Appropriate applicators (brushes, rollers, etc.) Refer to paint for more information.

Drop clothes — old sheets are fine

Stepladder

Screwdriver — to remove wall hooks, door knobs and switch plates

Plastic automotive tape — to edge window panes and cover other areas you don’t want painted. (Used for painting stripes on cars, it is available at auto supply and paint stores.)

Hand cream — to rub on your hand and arms before painting to make paint removal easier.

Turpentine or paint thinner — when using oil-based paint

Interior paint selection

Paint comes in a wide variety of brands and types. These brief descriptions will help you decide which type best suits your needs:

Latex paints — These are water-thinned and apply easily with a brush or roller. Clean-up with soap and water is a distinct advantage. Latex paints are available in most gloss ranges and will do a good job in most interior areas. They are not flammable and have a very mild odor.

Alkyd (oil) paints — These are solvent-thinned paints. They apply well with a brush or roller but need turpentine or mineral spirits for clean-up. Sometimes preferred for areas where constant cleaning is necessary, like kitchens and bathroom shower areas.

Very high gloss enamels are usually solvent-thinned. Odor is stronger during application than with latex paints, but disappears after a few days.

Enamels — Enamels are generally smoother and dry to a harder surface than other interior paints. They are available in high or low gloss and can be either latex or alkyd.

Gloss — The gloss is the luster or shininess of a dry paint. Paints are usually classified as flat, eggshell, semi-gloss or high gloss. A wide variety of gloss ranges is available.

Special paints and coatings — These are available for most surfaces. Wood floors, concrete or masonry and metal surfaces require specific products. Consult your paint retailer and read the paint can label carefully for recommendations.

Since masonry usually contains alkali, the paint used to cover it should be alkali-resistant. Special paints are generally recommended.

Over iron or steel, a rust-inhibitive primer is usually desirable.

Any type of enamel or paint may be used over the primer as a topcoat — depending on the use of the area to be painted. Visit paint colors for further information.

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Chili hot red!

Burnt orange!

Pea green!

Sky blue!

Its time to put some color back in our homes. Gone are the 1990s when interior design was all about neutrals and soothing pallets. Dreary safe schemes just don’t do it for us any more. So here’s a guide to putting some “va va voom” back in your room. For more information go to interior paints

photo credit: majansaFirst lets understand color. Colors are primary, secondary and tertiary. The three primary colors are red, yellow and blue. Mix these in equal quantities and you get secondary colors – orange, green and purple. But mix the primaries in unequal quantities and you get a whole range of colors and different hues, for instance lighter or darker purple according to the mix of red and blue. And then tints are created by adding black or white.

A color wheel is a useful tool that shows you the different colors in the visible spectrum. Colors that are next to each other are “family colors” and work well together (for instance blue is next to green). Colors that are opposite each other on the wheel are contrasting and can look very striking together, for example red and green.

When choosing colors for a room, whether you are going to use them in small or large quantities, you need to understand the mood and effect they will give.

Neutrals include off whites and pastels and can be useful, classic background colors. Although light and bright a completely neutral scheme can be bland and needs to be accented with contrasting or bright colors to give a room depth. Naturals are often stronger colors than neutrals, taken from nature, plant and earth colors and also natural materials such as wood and stone. These colors can be soothing and calming but should be used carefully; too much brown or olive green can look drab.

Red is an incredibly diverse color. It can be deep and dark or bright and bold. Red is meant to be invigorating and many think it stimulates your appetite, so it is often used in dining rooms. It is a great accent color to use on one wall or for accessories, surrounded by more cooling colors such as neutrals.

Blue is cool and calming and is a popular color for bathrooms and bedrooms. Dark and light shades can be teamed together very effectively to create a harmonious effect. Go to paint for more information.

Yellow reminds us of sunshine and happiness. It ranges from acid, citrus tones through to deeper autumnal shades. Yellow can work well in darker, north facing rooms. It partners well with many colors, according to the shade, it can look great with browns, greys, greens and of course black and white.

Green is a very popular decorative color. It is warmer than blue, and is associated with nature, having a calming effect. Some greens are very strong or acidic and should be used carefully, others are passive and relaxing and can easily be used on all walls in a room.

So how do you choose which of these colors will work for you? Finding the starting point can be the most difficult part when redecorating.

photo credit: Team Dalog

If a room is to have a dominant piece of furniture or painting then that can be a good place to start. Decide what will complement or highlight that item and go from there. Similarly if you travel you may have rugs, pottery or other items that you can use to set the tone. Alternatively you could use the style of your home as inspiration. Many paint manufacturers now offer traditional colors from the Victorian or Georgian eras that can help restore period homes.

If you need to touch and feel a scheme then furniture stores have room displays that can help you imagine what a scheme would look like in your own home. Similarly interiors magazines can be a great source of ideas, you can create a scrap book or mood board to capture ideas that appeal.

Just be wary of being too radical. If you enjoyed your holiday in Morroco, creating a “souk” in your living room may be tempting but its probably worth paring down, to suit the light and style of your home. Otherwise it could end up looking incongruous.

Color allows you to stamp your individuality on your home and set it apart from the rest. So take time to work out a scheme that reflects the way you want to live and that works well in your home. Visit paint colors for more information.

Color at Home: Creating Style with Paint

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