What You Need To Start Your 1st Painting

Painting is a very rewarding and versatile skill that can be mastered by anyone who’s determined to paint. I am in no way an expert in the field of fine art.

As a medic, I appreciate that I am a big stranger in this field but yet again I believe art is medicine and medicine is art. Still waiting for someone who can prove me wrong on that!

I have always had a passion for the arts and painting in particular. My passion for fine art has been the main motivating force in my life as an artist and painter.

I have discovered that the more I paint, the better I get; and I know this can apply to anyone else.

Here I would list out the basic requirements for a beginner who wishes to start painting.

These are the things I have been using and I find them very helpful.

The materials required to start painting are simple but this list contradicts the complexity of the subject, but you have to start somewhere.

Here is a basic list that is by no means exhaustive:

Painting surface (e.g canvas, paper).
Brushes or palette/painting knife
Paint (e.g. oil, acrylic, watercolour).
Pencils (e.g. charcoal, graphite, lead).
Painting media (e.g. linseed oil, liquin, water).
Painting solvents (e.g. turpentine white spirit).
Easel or a table.
A palette (e.g. an old white tile, foil paper, glass or piece of wood)
Eraser.
A positive attitude.

Are you wondering why I included “a positive attitude”?

Well, the answer is simple. Without it you cannot be a good painter let alone be an artist.

Painting is all in the mind. Quite right, I pored through books when I started painting and they helped a lot. But I know very good painters who never read any book or had a formal education and their works are wonderful.

I hope you found this helpful. Always remember you can do whatever you set your mind on and your limits can only be set by you. Like I always say, if I can do it then you can do it.