Touchup Art - Painting For Kids

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Whether a kid wants to explore their artistic side or simply enjoy a hobby, painting is a great way to go. A few techniques and skills will help even brand-new painters get the most out of their work. A person who wants to paint should figure out what types of paints to use, what tools and equipment are needed to make great art and how to clean up the area and protect all tools once the work is done. By keeping these tips in mind, the art of painting becomes a fun challenge to pass the time and learn art skills. From here, kids can explore their talents in a cool, new way!

Types of Paint

Before becoming the next Picasso or Michelangelo, a new artist needs to learn all about the different types of paints available. These paints are different and unique from each other, and provide exciting ways to create artwork of all kinds. Artists use all sorts of paints, but the four most common are watercolor, acrylic, oils and pastels. Before putting brush to canvas, become familiar with each type.

Watercolor

The main feature that sets watercolor paint apart from others is its transparency. While other paints are solid in color and hard to impossible to see through, watercolor paints are lighter and clearer. Many people use these paints for lighthearted paintings, because the bright colors are great for painting sunshine, flowers, clouds, water and other objects.

Acrylic

Acrylics are very useful, water-based paints. Painters can use these in a number of ways, because they are solid enough to make bold artwork, while versatile enough to mix with other paints and thin with water. Some paints need paint thinner in order to thin, but acrylic only needs a bit of water. This way, painters don't have to deal with the strong odors of thinner. Acrylics dry incredibly fast, which might be a good or bad thing, depending on the type of artwork a painter hopes to make.

Oil Paint

Some of the most famous paintings of all time were created with oil paints. Artists like Rembrandt and Picasso are remembered forever due to their skill with these paints. Oil paints are thicker and possibly messy, but they add more levels of texture than other types of paint. A painter who becomes skilled with oils can make magnificent paintings with different layers of pigment and shade. Since oil paint is flammable and contains an odor, safety is very important.

Pastels

Kids love pastels, because they are very similar to crayons. These paints come in the form of hard, crayon-like sticks, and produce deep, rich colors. Artists wanting to create work that has a natural look typically use pastels. This paint type also allows for a number of techniques for an artist to explore, including scraping out and dry wash.

What does a painter need to get started?

First, an artist must decide which types of paints will get the job done. Each paint type has its benefits, but they might be better than others depending on the type of painting. For instance, a sunshine portrait would look great in watercolor, while a picture of dark, rippled oak tree could possibly be best in pastel paint. Painters should also choose a paper type or canvas that goes best with the project. The artist must decide on the size, color and texture of the paper, while keeping in mind how the colors will mix and blend with it. A person not used to painting should grab some sample paints and papers, to test out how they will look with a finished product.

Depending on the paint type, artists should also choose a brush that would go well with the project. Brushes come in a variety of sizes, with different bristle types and levels of toughness. Before putting the brush to the canvas, artists need to also make sure the area is safe and protected. They must use protective clothing, floor coverings and other items, while have plenty of water available in the case of drips and spills.

Cleaning the brushes

As an artist paints, they will constantly have to clean the brush between strokes. Keep a bottle or container of water and brush cleaning solution handy, and dip the brush whenever necessary. At the end of a paint job, artists should run cold water in a sink and use mild soap to wash excess paint from all bristles.

Fun painting tips!