Image submitted to the public domain by Sean Da Ros.
Over the years, I’ve had a number of people comment on the art I’ve made, saying that they wish they could do something like that, or how they had always wanted to learn to draw or paint. Yet, many are unsure of where to start. For some reason, people don’t tend to believe me when I say that they can start making art whenever they like. There seems to be some strange societal belief that art isn’t for everyone, that only a select few are worthy of wielding a paintbrush. Frankly, I am fed up! So, with that being said, here are three ways that complete beginners can start making art – because anyone can create.
Drawing from Observation
This is exactly what it sounds like – making a drawing based on something you can see. I don’t mean drawing from a photograph; I mean sitting in front of something and just trying to recreate it on paper. It’s easy to get caught up in the details of copying a photo, drawing from observation means your perspective is always changing very slightly, so you’re forced to adapt. It’s the best way to learn to trust your own technique.
So, grab some paper, any kind, cartridge is nice but printer paper will do if it’s what you have. Then find yourself a pen or pencil. Again, this doesn’t have to be anything fancy – a HB pencil will do, or a biro – but you really can use anything, even a bright pink crayon if that floats your boat. If you can draw with it, it works.
Next up, it’s time to pick your location. This could be a bench in the park, a seat in a café or you can even sitting in bed. Anywhere can be a hotspot of creativity, as long as you have something to see.
Get yourself situated and then you can decide on your focus. It’s perfectly fine to not be the next Michelangelo on your first try but it’s good to know what you’re trying to capture, be it shape, texture or just the atmosphere of what’s in front of you.
Then… get going! There are no mistakes, draw what you see and if it looks a little different on paper then that’s okay – this is your interpretation. With practice, the drawing inside your head and the one on paper will start to look more and more similar. By the end you should be absolutely fed up of staring at your windowsill or a tree or the back corner of a café or whatever it is you were drawing from – this is how you know it’s working.
Photography
If you have a phone with a camera then you can start out with photography. You don’t need to go out of your way to find something to capture, just snap a pic of anything you think looks cool. Have fun with angles and lighting, if you’re indoors you can easily change lighting to completely reinvent the atmosphere of an image.
You could enlist a friend for a photoshoot, have them dress up in whatever they like and get them to pose for the camera. This is where playing with angles can be even more effective, try mid and long shots, incorporate other props and objects, see if you can take a good close-up portrait.
Once you’ve got some photographs you really like, you don’t have to stop there. If you have access to editing software then you can use that to adjust your images however you want, but if not then even the editing options in your photo app will do the job. You will still to be able to adjust the image in lots of ways, despite not having the ability to make the more specific changes that you can with specialised software.
Photography can be a great hobby; you can print and compile your work in collages or scrapbooks to show your progress over time. You can even enter photography competitions and start learning more complex editing techniques, and perhaps even build your own portfolio.
Image submitted to the public domain by Tinh tế Photos.
Watercolour Painting
Unfairly seen as intimidating, watercolour painting can become a very relaxing hobby once you’ve nailed the basics. Picking the right paper can be a little confusing, but here’s the key information.
Watercolour is best used with watercolour paper as it holds liquid better – if you were to use regular cartridge you may find that it rips or that the paper becomes distorted. Watercolour paper comes in varying types – you might come across cold press and hot press. The basic difference here is that cold press is rougher and more textured and absorbent, and hot press is smoother and is potentially better suited to use with pens if you are going to draw as well as paint. You can use either, find what works for you.
For a paintbrush you can use anything that you have – but the ones that will work best are designated watercolour brushes. These are usually soft and often round in shape.
To start painting, I find it useful to experiment a little in order to get used to the medium. Try some mark-making, add different amounts of water – more water equals paler colours. The main thing is not to get too much water on the paper as it may rip.
Watercolour works very differently to most other paints; it is recommended to paint from light to dark. This means adding the palest colours first and building up to the darkest ones through layering. Often it is useful to let the paper dry between these layers. You don’t have to be painting anything specific, see what you can make with colours and shapes.
Just give it a go! Experimentation is key, and soon you’ll find yourself creating something really interesting.
Give it a go as after all, the world is yours to capture!