Whether you’re a hobbyist painter or simply looking to add a new artistic element to your home, painting is one of the most helpful and cost-effective ways to decorate. There are so many different ways to paint, from doing it as a hobby or even professionally.
And while every single style has its own set of rules and techniques, they are all equally rewarding. The best part is that once you get the hang of it, painting can be endlessly entertaining and challenging. Luckily, we’ve put together 10 handy painting tips that will help you master this craft in no time!
Plan Your Project in Advance
Before you even begin to set up your painting station, you must first have a plan in mind for your project. Is it going to be a one-time series of paintings for a special occasion? Or, are you hoping to make it your full-time job? Once you know what you want to create, you can then take into account how much time you want to invest in each project and what type of workspace you’ll need.
Knowing these things will help you determine whether a certain room in your house is suitable for painting. Next, decide on the specific theme that you’d like to work with. There are countless ways to pick a theme. Perhaps you want to do wildlife paintings, or you’d like to pick a theme that relates to your home’s decor. When picking a theme, you’ll also want to consider the season and time of day. Certain paintings are more appealing to the eye at certain times of the day.
Use the Proper Equipment
There’s a reason why art supplies are a bit more expensive than those for other applications. While there are certainly many novices who believe that acrylic paint is simply a type of watercolor, the truth is that it’s a different medium altogether. The quality of the paint, as well as its flexibility and durability, will vary depending on the brand and type of paint that you choose to buy. Sticking with a basic brand like Crayola will get you reasonably priced paint that’s highly reliable in nearly every application. It’s also worth noting that different brands of paint may have different drying times. While Crayola paint can be applied and finished almost immediately, other brands may take a few hours to completely dry.
Be Aware of Safety Rules
As with any other kind of project, you must be aware of the safety rules that apply to painting. For example, when painting on wood surfaces, you’ll want to avoid applying paint on areas that are more than four inches away from the edge of the wood. This is for two reasons: first, it’s a safety measure to prevent people from getting injured if the paint accidentally spills from the applicator; and second, it’ll keep the paint from staining the wood.
If you’re painting on drywall, make sure to use the proper paint for the surface. While there’s a chance that the paint will easily adhere to the drywall, there are also safety concerns if the paint gets into the wall cavity. Before painting, you’ll want to make sure that all of the holes and openings in the wall have been covered with a piece of paper.
Protect Your Surroundings
Regardless of whether you’re painting in a studio environment or your own home, you’ll want to make sure to protect your surroundings. This includes covering any furniture and other surfaces that you don’t want to get damaged. It’s also worth keeping in mind that while you may be using matte paper to create your paintings, they will still be present until they’re completely dry. You may also want to consider painting outside if you’re planning to do it during the summer months. If it’s winter, though, you may want to consider doing it indoors. Either way, it’s important to keep your surroundings dry and to keep all doors and windows closed to ensure that no moisture gets inside the house.
Get in a Good Mood Beforehand
If you want to produce better results with your painting, then you’ll want to get in the right frame of mind beforehand. While it may be tempting to work on your painting after a long day of work, you should instead make it a priority before you start your day. This way, the painting will be something that you do every single day, preferably with a good book or newspaper set out in front of you.
Don’t Forget to Dry Times
One of the most common mistakes that novice painters make is forgetting to wait for the paint to completely dry. Badly dried paint can easily chip, crack and even chip away completely, leaving you with a completely ruined painting. You should allow the paint to dry 24 hours before moving it, touching it or applying other materials to it.
In some cases, you may have to apply multiple coats of paint to cover a surface. In this case, you’ll want to ensure that the first coat is completely dry before applying the second one. Badly dried paint will chip, crack and even chip away completely, leaving you with a completely ruined painting. You should allow the paint to dry 24 hours before moving it, touching it or applying other materials to it.
Take Breaks and Eat Beforehand
Every single project requires some form of concentration and focus. However, it’s important to take a break from time to time, especially if you’re working on a project that requires more concentration than others. While you may want to paint all day, it’s important to keep in mind that painting is a form of exercise as well. You’ll need to exercise both your muscle groups and your brain to get the best possible results, so you should give it a rest every once in a while.
Decide on the Right Type of Paint
The paint that you choose will determine how your paint job looks. You need to consider the type of paint that you want for the room. The walls in your house will have some humidity in them, so you will want to go with a semi-gloss paint to avoid a dull and dry look after a few months of being in the room. If you are painting an urban loft in an old building, you can go with a more distressed and distressed colour. If you are painting a classic home with a similar style, you can go with a colour palette that is classic and clean. You also need to decide on a colour scheme.
If you want your house to have a specific look, you can go with a colour scheme. You can also go with a more neutral and bland scheme that allows you if you have guests over and have to change the scheme in a day or two. You can also go with a colour scheme that is neutral and bold, where one wall is a light colour and the other is a dark colour. This allows you to have a bold pattern in your room that makes the room feel more interesting.
Get Professional Help if Needed
You may be able to do some of the painting yourself, but most of it is too hard and dangerous for a single person. You should call a professional to do the job instead.
You can also hire a painter and have them help you as they go. If you have a lot of wall colour changes, or if you have a lot of trim or ceiling work to do, you may want to call in a professional. You also need to have a painter who has experience painting houses, as some painters know how to do kitchens and bathrooms, but they may not know how to paint a house. You need to make sure that your painter is experienced with painting houses.
Stay Stylish While You’re Painting
When you paint, you may not want to change your style or wardrobe. However, you can make the experience more entertaining. You can use your walls to display some artwork, have some music playing in the background, have some flowers in a vase, and have some candles lit.
You can also put some items on your walls that remind you of moments in your life, such as pictures of your friends or family, pictures of your favourite vacation spots, pictures of your pets, or pictures that you have painted. You can also use your walls to display art that inspires you, such as art that talks about how to achieve your goals and dreams, art that talks about making your home a better place, and art that talks about your values and beliefs.
Conclusion
Painting can be a very fun and rewarding hobby, or you can create your artwork professionally. Before you begin, make sure to determine what style of painting you want to do, as well as what themes you’d like to tackle. You’ll also want to make sure that you have all of the proper equipment and safety procedures in place before you begin. Once you’ve got everything figured out, all you have to do is get started. Painting is a very rewarding hobby, so don’t be afraid to explore all of the new tips and techniques that you’ll learn.
