Painting is more than just a hobby people fill their free time with. It’s a creative process through which one spills emotions and vision on paper and canvas. And to do that artists use all sorts of pencils, paint and techniques. In a way, paint is a medium that gives physical shape to the imaginary. Therefore if you too are fond of art and painting, you need to know the basic techniques and styles, to begin with.
Sketching and Drawing with Pencils
Usually, artists use sketching to initially shape their drawing, although that’s not a rule. A drawing can be solely made with a pencil and still stun everybody. Sometimes a single pencil is enough for a person to make a sketch or a drawing. But, professional artists work with whole sets in order to create amazing pieces.
You can find plenty of different types and sizes of pencil sets. And inside you have everything you need to draw, create and let your imagination run wild. A big artist pencil kit contains dual markers, bleed proof marker paper, watercolour paper, coloured charcoal pencils, charcoal pencils, paper stumps, tortillon, paintbrushes, graphite pencils, sketch paper, watercolour pencils, colouring brush markers, fine tip markers, sharpener and an eraser - a dream for someone that likes combining lines to create parallel worlds on paper.
Back in the 18th-century artists used sketching to capture picturesque landscapes and draw beautiful portraits so that they don’t get lost in time, rather printed on a piece of paper that’ll last. Now, sketching is a technique and drawing style many prefer because of the raw and simple appearance of the finished sketches. Sketching is considered to be the technique that gives the artist the most freedom. That’s because one can’t make a mistake while sketching. There isn’t such thing as a wrong line. So, if you want to start with something that gives you full freedom, start with sketching.
Even more, you can sketch anytime, anywhere. All you need is a sketchbook and a portable artist pencil kit. Among the many sets available, you also have small ones that can fit in your backpack or even your pocket. All you need to sketch is graphite pencils, charcoal sticks, sharpeners and an eraser. And that’s exactly what a small pencil set contains. The art pencil set allows you to get in action whenever inspiration strikes you.
Oil Painting
As the name suggests, oil paints contain drying oil pigments that work as a binder. Oil paint is quite thick and makes for dramatic paintings. In fact, some of the most famous art pieces in the world are created with oil paint and such is the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh, The Kiss by Gustav Klimt etc.
But, you don’t have to be a renowned painter to start painting with oil paints. If that’s what you’re drawn to, you should go for it. You never know what will come out of all those brush strokes. Oil paint dries off rather slowly giving an opportunity to the artist to make changes and corrections long after the painting is initially done. Oil paints allow flexibility and make for amazing artworks that take the breath away. There are a lot of oil paint tips and tricks that you’ll learn along the way and that’ll help you became even better at what you’re doing.
Painting with Acrylic Paints
Unlike oil paint that contains oil pigments, acrylic paint is water-based and dries off very quickly. But, despite that, it has a similar texture to oil paint and once fully dry it’s hard to tell the difference between an oil painting and an acrylic one. Although water-soluble, acrylic paint becomes water-resistant when it dries off completely.
Artists love acrylic paint because it’s easy to work with. One can mix colours, use different shades and even adjust the thickness. You can lower the density of acrylic paint by mixing it with a bit of water. Acrylic paint is suitable to use on any surface. It can be a canvas, paper, hard surface, you name it. Andy Warhol is among the famous artists that use acrylic paint to create artworks. i
Watercolour Painting
Watercolours can only be used with water and they appear very transparent when applied on paper. To achieve a darker and richer tone one must apply several layers of the colours. Watercolours come in pallets and can be applied on paper with the help of a brush. They are perfect for a beginner that wants to start experimenting with shapes and colours.
As you master the skill you can become a real pro in watercolour painting. Watercolour paintings are as good as oil paintings are. In fact, it’s not about the type of paint used, it’s more about the technique and style of the artist. Watercolours create a unique and interesting texture. They blend in nicely and when properly used can create a complex painting of unmatched quality.
Ink Drawing and Painting
Ink painting is for the ones that appreciate the black and white aesthetics and simplicity. It is believed that ink painting originated in East Asia and later spread all over the world. In the beginning, ink was only used for writing and calligraphy, but later it became something people started creating paintings with. Same as watercolours, ink is water-soluble and that helps in making drawings with different shades. Artists apply ink on the canvas with the help of a brush.
Although the combination of ink and paper sounds like a very plain one, ink paintings can be quite demanding, complex and detailed. You can add multiple layers, black details, texture etc. It’s not as easy and as simple as it might seem. But, considering how amazing ink paintings look, it’s totally worth the hustle.
There are a couple of different types of ink to choose from: alcohol-based, pigment-based, solvent-based and water-based. The difference between all of them is in the drying time, the finish, the time they need to dry off etc. You should pick the ink according to your painting style. If you’re aiming towards creating a more complex picture then you’re going to need ink that dries slowly so that you have plenty of time to work.
