subject: Ways To Learn Painting [print this page] Painting is a great way to express yourself, but you have to know what you are doing, if you really want to convey your message. Even if you are naturally good at it, you have a lot of learning to do. What I'm trying to say is that painting is much more a skill than a talent. And like any skill it must be learnt.
To many people this may come as a surprise, but the fact is that no one is born with the ability to paint like a pro. You must learn things like composition, perception, color mixing, brushwork techniques and so on. There are no shortcuts.
You will have to learn it, there is no doubt about it. But there is a right way and a wrong way to go about it. If you want lasting good results, I recommend doing it the right way.
First, you need to understand that lessons are a must. No matter how talented you think you are, you must take lessons. And not just any lessons, but well structured and well guided lessons. This is important, because without guidance you will have a very hard time and will probably develop some bad habits, which could be potentially very difficult to unlearn.
Second, you must take the time to really learn the basics. Basics form the foundation upon which you will build, so don't skip them. Many beginners do just that and latter on regret it. Remember, bad habits can come back to bite you.
For those who understand painting, it's really not that difficult to differentiate between an amateur and a professional. When you'll understand composition, perspective, and things like that you'll see how easy it really is.
How to find affordable and quality painting lessons? That's easy - DVD. It's cheap, accessible and easy to use. If you can afford a private instructor, then great, go for that, but otherwise DVDs will do just fine.
