When we were young, children were taught to paint, by their teachers.
Although you may think that only a few talented people are able to paint, in years gone by this teaching showed that most people could produce a painting of some kind if they tried, and it is the same today.
The first thing to learn is how to look at the subject of your painting.Study it carefully and see what is really there.
For example:- if you were going to paint a picture of your garden, you might think that a flat green area would depict the lawn, but if you really study a lawn you will see that it is made up of lots of different shades of green, and probably has some yellowy or browny bits in it too. Nothing is ever a flat color, because light falls on part of it, making it brighter, while another part of it will be in shadow, making it darker.
The second thing to remember is that most paintings have to be built up, stage by stage, from sketches. So if you want to paint a flower, pick one from the garden, bring it into the house, and look at it. Choose an easy flower at first, like a buttercup. Flowers with lots of petals, like roses, are very difficult to draw and paint. Put your flower where you can look right into its face, and study it for a few moments. Notice where the light and the shadows fall, and any markings on the petals. When you think you know your flower, try drawing it lightly in pencil first to work out its shape.
When the time comes to paint, make sure that your paints, brushes and water are all clean. You cannot get true, clear colors if they are not. If the water gets dirty as you paint, then change it.
Moisten your brush in the water, then wipe it on the paint. Don’t make it too wet or you will have trouble controlling it. Paint the lighter parts of the flower first, then add a touch of a darker color to paint the shadowed areas. Again, you must be very careful not to have the paint too wet or the colors will run together and make a nasty muddy mess.
If you find you can paint a single flower quite easily, try adding its stalk and leaves, and then try to paint several flowers together in a vase. If you are not very good at it, don’t be disheartened. Keep practicing and one day you will find that it becomes much easier.
Once you can paint flowers, you can use your skill to help decorate all kinds of things, cards, posters, party invitations, letters to friends. Your parents will probably be very pleased to receive something painted by you, too.
