13 Common Beginner Mistakes in Painting (and How to Fix Them)
Chrysanthemums by Claude Monet
13 Common Beginner Mistakes in Painting (and How to Fix Them)
Starting out in painting is a bit like learning to drive—you’ve got to focus on technique, avoid bad habits, and gradually build confidence. There are a few common mistakes that many beginners make, but once you’re aware of them, they’re easy enough to fix. Here’s a rundown of the usual pitfalls and how to avoid them.
1. Placing the Main Focal Point in the Very Centre
It’s tempting to put the most important part of your painting smack in the middle, but this often results in a static, uninteresting composition. Try shifting it slightly off-centre—look into the rule of thirds to create a more dynamic arrangement.
2. Painting with Small Brushes and Too Many Details from the Start
This one’s a classic. Small brushes encourage fiddling, and too much detail too soon can make a painting feel overworked. Start with big shapes and broad strokes. Save the fine details for the final touches.
3. Painting Similar or Equidistant Objects
Trees in a row, identical gaps between buildings, perfectly spaced waves—it all screams ‘stiff and unnatural.’ Nature (and life) is full of variety. Break up patterns, shift angles, and introduce asymmetry to keep things lively.
4. Equal Levels of Detail in Foreground and Background
Not everything in your painting deserves the same level of attention. If the foreground and background are equally detailed, the painting can feel flat. Think about atmospheric perspective—less detail, softer edges, and muted colours as things recede into the distance.
5. Using Landscape Greens Straight from the Tube
Tube greens (especially sap green) can be harsh and unnatural. Mix your own greens using blues, yellows, and even a touch of red to mute them. Observe how greens shift with light and shadow—nature is more subtle than you think.
6. Not Knowing How to Dull, Brighten, Lighten, or Darken Colours
Understanding colour relationships is key. Instead of just adding black to darken or white to lighten, learn how to mix complementary colours to adjust tones more naturally. A bit of red can warm up a dull yellow; blue and orange can create deep, rich shadows.
7. Being Stingy with Paint
If you’re hesitant with your paint, your brushwork will show it. A miserly amount of paint makes for weak, unconvincing marks. Be generous—lay it on with confidence, especially in alla prima painting.
8. Including Everything You See
Just because it’s there doesn’t mean it needs to be in your painting. Select the elements that contribute to your composition and leave out the unnecessary clutter. A strong painting often comes down to what you don’t include.
9. Painting Things Just as They Are, Even If They Create Visual Conflict
That awkward telephone pole splitting your landscape? A strangely placed shadow cutting across a face? Sometimes real life doesn’t translate well to a painting. Feel free to move things around, simplify, or tweak elements to create a stronger composition.
10. Painting What You Know, Not What You See
We all have mental shortcuts—clouds are fluffy, trees are green, faces are oval—but reality is often more complex. Train yourself to really observe rather than relying on assumptions. Squint, compare shapes, and check your values.
11. Using the Wrong Colour Because You Don’t Want to Waste It
We've all been there—grabbing a leftover colour from the palette rather than mixing the right one. But forcing the wrong hue into a painting can throw everything off. If it’s not working, don’t force it. Mix fresh.
12. Having Only Hard Edges
If every edge is sharp and defined, your painting can feel harsh and unnatural. Pay attention to edges—some should be crisp, others should blur or soften. Losing edges where necessary can make a painting feel more fluid and lifelike.
13. Worrying About the Results and Pleasing the Viewer
This is probably the biggest creativity killer. If you’re too focused on making a ‘good’ painting, you’ll tighten up and hesitate. Instead, focus on the process—explore, make mistakes, experiment. A confident, loose painting is often far more compelling than a ‘perfect’ but lifeless one.
Final Thought
Painting is about learning, experimenting, and developing your own style. Making mistakes is part of that process, so don’t stress too much—just keep going. The more you paint, the more these things will become second nature.
Beyond Perfection: Embracing Flaws to Elevate Your Style
It all begins with an idea.
Welcome to the debut of our blog series!
Today, we're diving into the intriguing concept of imperfections or flaws in our work. Why is it, that as we learn to paint, we strive for perfection? Could it not be that these imperfections might actually hold the key to unlocking our creative potential, and enhancing our artistic process.
To begin with, we need to ask the fundamental question: What exactly constitutes an imperfection? is it when a painting doesn't match exactly what we're looking at that makes it "flawed". If so, is this truly a flaw? One of the terms I use a lot when I'm teaching is "less is more." The phrase originates from the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi. Wabi emphasizes simplicity and the beauty found in solitude, while Sabi celebrates impermanence and the depth that comes with age and weathering.
In art and design, wabi-sabi often manifests through asymmetry, roughness, and simplicity – qualities that some may perceive as flaws… but not in Japan
So, how do we embrace these so-called flaws?
When it comes to execution, imperfections can actually be a positive force. Not only do they create a human connection between the artist and the viewer, but they also preserve the artist's unique perspective on the subject matter.
Just think of Vincent van Gogh's bold, primitive brushstrokes and vivid colors – while some found his work unsettling, others were captivated by its raw emotional power.
Similarly, Monet's impressionist style initially faced skepticism, but his loose brushwork ultimately revolutionised the art world.
Jackson Pollock's accidental splashes and dribbles of paint, invited viewers to explore his work in a more visceral way.
While Basquiat's unconventional techniques challenged traditional notions of beauty and left an indelible mark on contemporary art.
Postmodernist art challenges the authority of traditional notions of art and explores themes of individual experience and our interpretation of it . Artists such as Damien Hirst, Cindy Sherman and Gilbert and George are examples of British artists who explore these concepts.
So, let's embrace imperfection and celebrate the journey of artistic discovery. After all, it's through trial and error that we uncover our true artistic potential and create works that resonate with meaning and authenticity.
What’s your painting process?
It all begins with an idea.
1. Preparation:
First things first, let's set the stage. Find yourself a cosy spot with plenty of light. Prepare your canvas or chosen surface, giving it a solid foundation with which to paint. I chose pink as my underpainting colour, as the reference photo had a pinkish light that I wanted to peek through the other colours. I tend to paint on board, mostly, so I when I do I use clear or white gesso or acrylic paint in neutral tones.
Next, I gather my tools: paints, brushes, palette knife, palette, kitchen roll or old rags and low odour white spirit. I’m not ready to get started on mixing my colours!
2. Sketching/Underdrawing:
I lightly sketch out the main parts of my image in pencil or charcoal, focusing on shapes and composition. Paying attention to the big picture – proportions, perspective, and balance. If I’m painting a portrait, I’ll draw it out first then I’ll transfer the drawing using compressed charcoal on the reverse of the paper.
Here the background is so dark, I’ve used oil pastels and oil paint to block in the areas I’ll paint in this copy of a Milt Kobayashi painting.
3. Blocking In/Underpainting:
Time to lay down the groundwork. Blocking in the main shapes with colour, using broad strokes with wide brushes.
Basic colours are blocked in and no details are added at this stage.
4. Building Layers:
Layer by layer, the painting will come to life. Starting from the background, working my way to the foreground. Keeping an eye on the details, textures, and how colours blend and transition. I sometimes work wet on wet, if I’m on a roll, other times I let each layer dry before adding the next. There are no hard and fast rules on this, its just sometimes if you’re starting out, you’ll find it easier to work wet on dry.
Colours are blocked in and the colours are being ‘balanced’ to give depth and recede where necessary.
5. Refinement:
Then I’ll refine the rough edges and go round the painting sorting any “snagging” issues! Paying attention to the finer details, tweaking shapes, colours, and contrasts to create depth and dimension. It's all about adding that something extra, adding a bit of magic at the end!
My final painting of ‘Flo’ 4 x 6 inches
6. Evaluation:
Throughout the process of painting it’s essential to walk away for a short time. Take a toilet break, have a cuppa. When you return to the painting, whatever you were struggling with, should be easily resolved once you’re got fresh eyes on it. Trust your instinct, what you saw that first moment you returned, is what you should change. But remember if it’s a fundmental flaw in the drawing that may take a long time to rectify. And may well ruin the painting, then decide if it’s something you can live with.
7. Finishing Touches:
Almost there! Add those final flourishes – highlights, accents, anything to give your painting that extra wow factor. And don't forget to sign your masterpiece – it's your stamp of approval!
8. Drying and Varnishing:
Patience is key! Let your painting dry completely before even thinking about varnishing, especially if you're using oil paints. A protective varnish will not only preserve your work but also make those colours pop.
9. Cleanup:
Lastly I tidy up, cleaning my brushes thoroughly with odourless white spirit, then washing them with olive soap or washing up liquid in warm water. Pat dry and let them air dry. And don’t forget to clean the palette, scrape the paint off with a palette knife and wipe if off into a kitchen roll to throw away. Then clean the residue with white spirit.
Cleaning your brushes is essential if you don’t want to ruin them
Nurturing tomorrow’s artists: The importance of art education
It all begins with an idea.
Collaborative painting, helps with social skills
In a world brimming with technological advancements and rapid changes, the value of art education often finds itself under scrutiny. However, amidst the hustle and bustle of modern life, one thing remains clear: nurturing the next generation of artists through comprehensive art education is indispensable. Beyond the confines of galleries and studios, art education plays a pivotal role in shaping young minds, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and cultural appreciation. Let's delve deeper into why art education is essential for nurturing the artists of tomorrow.
Bleach and ink dream paintings. Inspired by Marc Chagall
1. Cultivating Creativity and Innovation: Art education provides a fertile ground for nurturing creativity and fostering innovative thinking. Through experimentation with various mediums, techniques, and forms of expression, students learn to think outside the box, explore unconventional ideas, and problem-solve creatively. These skills are not only vital for aspiring artists but also for individuals in any field who seek to innovate and push boundaries.
Protest posters! Learning about the world we live in and what we feel should change.
2. Developing Critical Thinking and Visual Literacy: Engaging with art cultivates critical thinking skills as students learn to analyze, interpret, and critique visual imagery. Whether dissecting the symbolism in a painting or deconstructing the composition of a photograph, art education encourages students to ask questions, make connections, and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them. Moreover, it enhances visual literacy, empowering students to navigate the increasingly image-saturated landscape of the digital age with discernment and insight.
3. Fostering Self-Expression and Emotional Intelligence: Art serves as a powerful medium for self-expression and emotional exploration. Through the process of creating art, students learn to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a tangible and cathartic manner. Whether through painting, sculpture, or performance, art education provides a safe space for students to express themselves authentically, fostering self-awareness, empathy, and emotional intelligence.
Self portraits in the style of Jean Michel Basquiat
4. Promoting Cultural Awareness and Diversity: Art education exposes students to a diverse range of artistic traditions, perspectives, and voices from around the world. By studying art history, exploring different cultural practices, and creating art inspired by various traditions, students gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and diversity of human expression. This exposure not only broadens their horizons but also fosters empathy, tolerance, and cross-cultural understanding.
Lewes bonfire diorama’s
5. Building Confidence and Resilience: Engaging in the creative process can be both exhilarating and challenging. Art education teaches students to embrace failure as an integral part of learning, fostering resilience and perseverance in the face of obstacles. As students experiment, take risks, and learn from their mistakes, they build confidence in their abilities and develop the resilience to overcome setbacks – valuable skills that will serve them well in any endeavor they pursue.
In conclusion, art education is not just about teaching students how to draw or paint; it's about nurturing their potential as creative thinkers, empathetic individuals, and engaged citizens of the world. By providing students with the tools, knowledge, and opportunities to explore their creativity and express themselves, we empower them to become the artists, innovators, and leaders of tomorrow. As educators, parents, and advocates, let us recognize the importance of art education and strive to ensure that every child has access to the transformative power of the arts.
Blog Post Title Four
It all begins with an idea.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.