What type of painting do you want to create?

A beginner's guide to starting out in painting

To begin painting you first need to consider what it is that has inspired you to want to paint in the first place.

Then you can choose your medium, which is to say type of paint: watercolour, oil, acrylic and so forth.

If you want to paint impressionistic landscapes, for example, then oil paints or acrylics might work for you. If you want your paintings to look like the works of the French Impressionists then buttery oil paints would be your first choice.

If you like bright modern paintings such as those of Lichtenstein then acrylics would probably be your first choice.

If you like delicate washed and brushed paintings on paper then watercolours are probably your best option.

You may also have a preference for paints which do not require solvents that can be a hazard to health, children and pets. In this case acrylics or water-mixable oil paints could be better for you.

I have laid out your options below.

Traditional Chinese and Japanese art is painted in watercolours

Traditional art from China and Japan is painted in watercolours on paper.

In medieval times artists often used paints made out of eggs. This type of paint is called tempera. Few artists use it now and it is absolutely not recommended for beginners!

Medieval painters often painted with tempera which is made out of egg yolk

The Old Masters generally painted in oils on canvas or wooden panels

The Old Masters painted mostly in oil on canvas or wooden panels. Oil paints can capture all sort of effects but the use of unpleasant solvents is required, and cleaning up also requires solvents.

Water-based oil paints work similarly but can be mixed with water and easily cleaned up.

The French impressionists painted in oil on canvas.

French impressionists such as Monet painted loosely with oil paints on canvas

Vincent Van Gogh painted thickly with oils on canvas

The post-impressionists including Van Gogh painted in oil on canvas.

Picasso and all of the pre-war modern painters painted in oil on canvas. During his Cubist period Picasso also added in other materials into collages or paintings made up of different things.

Picasso painted with oil on canvas and also used collage

Abstract painters before the 1960s painted in oil on canvas.

Modern artists since the 1960s often paint in acrylics. Acrylics are related to plastic and are bright and some say garish, but they dry fast and are easy to use and clean up.

Modern artists since the 1960s have often used acrylic paints

At least now you have an idea of what type of painting you might want to create and with what medium.