Getting Started (Rev 2-26-20)

OK, so you have your paints and brushes and you’re ready to go. That’s great but you can make things easier on yourself by being a little organized.

Pick a working space where you can set out everything you need, on a surface that will not be damaged by the paints, or where you can put down cardboard or a big towel or anything to protect the dining room table. Remember to protect the floor also and to wear clothes you can get paint on. Dried acrylic paint is very permanent. Being near a sink helps too.

  1. Lay out your paints, brushes, two rags or paper towels, a saucer or paper plate for a palette and a rinse cup for your brushes. Then set up whatever you’re going to paint on: Cardboard, poster board, wood, canvas, etc..

  2. Put small amounts of paint on your palette. A little goes a long way and it will not go back into the tube. You can always go back for more.

  3. Gently wipe, rinse and dry your brushes frequently. Don’t put a brush down with paint in it for a few minutes - If the paint dries on the brush it will be ruined. Do not leave your brushes soaking in water. This will, over time, do bad things to your brushes.

  4. When you finish a painting session gently wash your brushes with a mild soap and warm, not hot, water. Rinse them thoroughly, shake out excess water, shape them with you fingers and lay them flat to air dry.

  5. Finally, if you can’t leave everything set up, find a box or plastic bin to keep your materials together.

Repeating things from another post, start with two colors (I like black and white), experiment with the paint, sketch and play with it. See how the paints mix or blend when painted side by side. See how the medium, if you have it, thins the paint. See how quickly the paints dry so you can layer one color over the other. This may seem too simple, like a primary reader, but it serves the same purpose. Learn the basics first, like playing scales on a musical instrument, then everything else becomes possible.

Copyright Jay Helfrich 2020

Jay Helfrich