Just Start!

You're probably here because you have an inner voice that is crying out to be creative. You're also probably here because you're a little bit afraid, and don't believe you can create. I've been in your shoes. Totally. While the dragon of creativity was fighting to be released, the dragon of fear would hold it in. A constant pull. Eventually something had to give. And it did.

I wouldn't say I'm totally fearless yet, but I've made some strides. The very first technique I tried was a simple, "Just start!" As I said in my "About Me" post, a chance encounter with an artist I had seen featured in a video, was my tipping point. I took her simple words, "Just start," to heart. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and jump in.

I began with acrylic paints. You don't have to, but it's a good place to start for a lot of reasons we'll get to later. I always wanted to try painting, but had no idea where to begin. 'I can't draw,' I thought. 'But I do like color. Oh, and I like flowers, and flowing shapes.' Well, ok, if I'm going to start, at least I know what I like. I also knew, obviously, that I needed paint....and brushes.....and canvas. So, I went to a craft store and purchased a starter set of acrylic paints, an inexpensive set of brushes, and a few canvases.

Tip: Buy paint that is above student, or beginner grade. it costs a little more, but is well worth it. It's usually called "artists" paint. At the beginning, an art supply store might be too overwhelming. Your local craft store or ordering online will do just fine.

These are decent starter paints. Available in most craft stores.

Tip: Brushes make a huge difference. Buy a smaller set of better brushes, rather than a larger set of lower quality brushes. You can tell by the price! Believe me, I've learned this the hard way. Brushes come in different shapes. I recommend having a few flat brushes in various sizes, and a few small, sometimes called liner brushes. A good liner brush is essential.

This is a nice selection of different types of brushes. Make sure the brushes you get are for acrylic paints.

Tip: I started with smaller canvases. My first painting was on a 5x7". I would say go no larger than 11x14". Canvas boards are cheaper than stretched canvas and a good place to start. If you can't find canvas boards, buy the most inexpensive stretched canvases. You don't need professional grade canvases to get started.

The next question was, "Whatever will I paint?" The phrase "paint what you like," was chanting in the back of my mind, so I heeded that advice. I loved my beautiful garden full of flowers, and had taken many wonderful photographs. I chose a close-up of a Stargazer Lily, one of my favorites. I figured it was not too intricate to draw freehand. You can also go online to look for simple images to draw or copy. Any close-up image that takes up most of the space is good since it eliminates the need for a detailed background. Also choose something with simple lines and few details.

I had my supplies, and my subject, so now my back was against the wall. "JUST START!" "Ok, ok, ok. I will, I really will!" But first, I needed water, paper towels or a rag, a palette for the paint, a pencil and an eraser. I set it all up at the kitchen table, and was ready to go.

Tip: Freezer paper works well as a palette, as do coated paper plates. Any nonporous surface will work, a tray, plastic lid, old plate, etc. You don't need to buy a palette.

Tip: Cut up old t-shirts make the best rags. They are smooth, absorbent, and can be washed and reused. Cheaper and greener than paper towels.

Tip: Don't fill your water container too high. This will cut down on the amount of water dripping down your brush, which is very annoying! Keep it at a level just above the brush. It means changing the water more often, but saves on time mopping up drips from your brush.

Time to draw the outline. I took a deep breath, and began drawing the outline of the flower on the canvas with my pencil. I erased it a few times, and finally felt it was good enough to start painting. I chose the colors I thought I would need and squeezed far too much of each onto my palette. I dipped my brush into the water, then into the paint and......APPLIED IT TO THE CANVAS!

It worked! Paint was on the canvas. I repeated this process over, and over again. I had no idea what I was doing, or if I was doing it right. I just tried to look closely at the colors, tried to match them, and put the colors in the right places. I did know that I was THRILLED by seeing the image from the photo come to life on the canvas. Positively thrilled. And I still feel that thrill every time I paint.

Tip: Start with small amounts of paint. You usually need less than you think.

Tip: Experiment with mixing colors. See what you can figure out. If you want a lighter color, mix the darker color first, then add very small amounts of white until you get the right shade. Mixing with a palette knife instead of a brush is a good idea, but not necessary at first.

I bet you're wondering if I got frustrated at any point. Of course I did! I got some help with how to make the center of the lily stand out. I painted parts over, and over ,and over, again. I spent far more time on this little painting than a sane person should. But in the end, I couldn't believe my eyes! I was stoked! I could do this!

My first painting! I just painted exactly what I saw. It took forever, and I didn't know what I was doing.

So, go ahead. Give it a try. Keep it simple, be patient, try different strokes, different brushes, and different colors. You don't have to have a finished product. Just Start, and you'll be surprised at what you can do!

Next up: The Big Mix Up Part 1