Some basic advice

                      Introduction to Painting……..

The address of this blog is :    painthobby.blogspot.com

Painting can be a great relaxing hobby and it is that aspect I will address here.

Painting can can provide numerous benefits, including stress relief, improved focus, and enhanced creativity.

Paint for emotional and mental wellbeing…….

Paint to communicate …… to say something.

Paint for self expression ….

Paint because adults of all ages need to play….. the opposite of play is depression.

Paint to be still…….a way of doing nothing while doing something…….

Therapy …..

Painting dosen't require talent …. just passion.

But I have no idea where to start……Its a minefield …… too many choices …… Its messy and expensive ……

I can’t draw a line ……. Not in the mood …..I don’t have time ……

Painting is a teachable skill anyone can develop, regardless of innate talent.

Get a sketch pad and some pencils - 2 hard and 2 soft pencils and 2 erasers … Lyra kneadable eraser and and an ordinary free eraser.

Where>   Visit      Evans Art supplies, Dublin     You can order online

Paint

Many suggest you start with Acrylic paint. Its inexpensive …. less messy …….

Buy 5 colours         Blue   Red   Yellow    Black and a large white.

Daler Rowney 500ml Titanium white  €17  

The colours €4.30 ea.

But if you prefer Oils then go for it —— Same basics applies ….just get a few colours…Large white and 4 colours.

Evans do their own brand of oils …. very big and great value.   e.g.  €9 for 200ml

Which  ones?   Get the Evans brand  Titanium White        

Get the Windsor and Newton  Winton colours        Ultramarine Blue    Cad Red   and Cad yellow      Ivory black

OR  experiment with these    Magenta        Cyan        Yellow      

Brushes for oils

Brush set   Royal and Langnickel   ,,,, Maroon coloured handles   … about 10 in the pack.

If going with acrylics get acrylic brushes.

Clean your brushes   ….. keep them clean.

Medium

For acrylics all you need id water - a large container of it and an old rag/cloth.

For oils you need something to clean your brushes ( Zest.it - non toxic alternative to turps - Evans)

and a liquid to mix in with your paint to make it more fluid and manageable -(GAMSOL from Gamblin -no smell -Evans)

  Surface to work on

I would start with PAPER    You can get pads of special paper for oils and also for acrylics ….. various sizes. A4 size to start.

Painting on canvas and prepared boards later.

General well accepted good advice

Use large brushes and plenty of paint.

Experiment as a way to learn various styles of painting.

Be open minded as to what style attracts you most    Abstract….. Impressionist ….. Bad loose painting

Portraits      landscape      Seascapes        Abstract       still life ……

Experiment with colour mixing    Red+Yellow =various shades of Orange    add white

Blue and Yellow = shades of Green

Black and Yellow  shades of Green     add a little white

Blue and Red =  shades of purple    add some white

Black + white various shades of grey.

Don’t get “Precious” about either the work surface or the paint. Use lots of paint put on with a large brush!

If the painting doesn’t work out - no problem…..Paint over it. Thats why you start with paper.

YouTube is an excellent source of lessons in all aspects of this hobby.

I suggest the following people to drop in on and possibly Follow

Sam Burridge   He works in Acrylics   “BobBlast”     Excellent no-nonsense Loose work.

Robert Mee    Oils and watercolours

Paint Coach     Chris Fornataro     Oils

Learn to Paint academy   Rod Moore   “3 steps  3 colours   - 3 brushes”   

Those 4 are enough to get you started. Be aware some YouTube videos are way too advanced for beginners and may just confuse.

Once you get started and are painting at least 3 times a week go and attend a class anywhere….

You will learn that there are very many beginners out there

There are as many styles as there are people

You will learn not to be so self critical and judgemental

The end product is not always the goal ……… the doing, the taking part, the process can be satisfying - 

Beware...... 

there are some very badly run "classes" - where they provide the space to paint with little instruction or demos.

The Schoolhouse in Enniskerry may fit the bill.  See them online.

Contact:   seankent1@gmail.com

I welcome questions on any aspect of painting and would be glad to help.

Feel free to pass the address of this blog to anyone you feel might be interested.

The address is :       painthobby.blogspot.com

Remember  Festina Lente ……..