How to choose the best art class for you.
When choosing the right art class for you, take into account your current skill level – beginner, intermediate or advanced – as not all classes will be relevant to your level. Also, check who’s teaching the course, and what their credentials are. That said, just because they’re university-level tutors may not mean their classes are amazing, or vice versa if they’re not; so it’s always worth checking out the reviews and testimonials on their site. (If they don’t have a section for these, that should set off alarm bells).
That’s why reviews are a great tool to help guide your judgment. Get on the web, find out what others are saying about these fine art classes on third-party review sites like Yelp or Google reviews. This would help reduce your chances of selecting a fine art classes that does not deliver the high-quality services you were looking for.
You also need to understand that different art classes require different media. So should check what materials you will need, which could affect the overall cost of taking the course. It is also worth seeing whether videos are downloadable, whether coursework is provided or not.
How to paint: the basic steps.
This is how I start. In the beginning, I was making just a simple sketch of something I wanted to paint, but than I was often tempted to improvise. Now I tend more to have a precise drawing, like this on the photo below. Than I transfer the drawing on canvas, using graphite paper, which saves time.
Here are a few basic painting techniques:
● Dry Brush – Earlier we recommended avoiding the dry brush, but when used with purpose, a dry brush and undiluted paint can be used to enhance your painting’s texture.
● Flicking – This is a technique in which the painter actually flicks paint from the brush to the surface. This results in a fun splatter effect that is rich in texture.
● Dabbing – This is about removing and dampening paint, not necessarily adding it. Beginners can use a paper towel or sponge to add texture, depth, and motion to paintings.
● Be Inventive – There are no official rules when it comes to painting. Look for new ways to get your paint on the canvas! Try using other household items instead of brushes. One technique that many think is reserved for advanced painters is using your palette knife as a brush. Give it a shot and you’ll see it’s fun and easy. Imagine you’re buttering a piece of bread and you’ll see the advantages of this technique.
The painting is basically done in Step 4. In this last step, I just check the details or adding color here and there (usually white at this point) if I want to emphasize some detail. But, this is the hardest step for me, because at some point I have to say: “Now it’s finished”, and I am always tempted to add one more brush-stroke.