Paint Beginner

[TheBatman]

Okay.

I like to plan ahead for everything.

The girl I've been in love with since forever (doesn't feel the same way, but that's fine, and I'm getting off topic) is having a huge birthday party next year. Pretty much a year away.

I'm going to paint her something.

But I don't want to just throw myself into it.

Which is why I'm here about a year early asking you guys for help.

I'm a beginner at painting. I don't know anything about it. I don't know anything about art, or anything.

I'm the clay, y'all are the potters.

Make me into a painter.

...

Okay that's kinda impossible.

But I do need help. Where should I start? What should I use? What books can you recommend? What kind of paint should I use?

I need HELP!!!

 

[Androgs]

can we know what you want to paint? still life, human, animal, environment or else?
If you want to be a painter than you can start to draw everyday with pencil, to practise your hand and learning how to see things around you..mass, form, detail, color..etc. I dunno what book to recommend, I myself not a traditional artist, I'm using a pencil to draw in paper but when it come to painting I'm using digital tool.

 

[TheBatman]

I plan on doing a kinda sunset with a dove. I think it's going to be kinda abstract, not really incredibly photorealistic.

 

[Lenora56]

I agree with Androgs about the drawing practice. You may want to take some paper (little sketch book, maybe) and pencils around with you. Draw from life instead of pictures whenever possible. You will be surprised at how much you will learn from observation while drawing. Beats taking photos by a mile. Don't get me wrong; I have lots of photos, but they don't take the place of drawing from life.

Do you know whether you want to paint in acrylic, oil, or watercolor? You may like drawing so much that you choose to make the picture in color pencils or pastels or something. You can get bright, nice colors with either medium.

There are scrillions of things I could tell you, way too much to put in a post and it would take an incredible amount of time. Do start now to practice the drawing, ok?

There is a book called How to Draw What You See by Rudy DeReyna (may be misspelled). It helps you with things like perspective and other basics, which are important to good artwork, whether drawn, painted, or both.

 

[GodsMerryLittleAngel]

well it's excellent that you already have planned what you wish to paint. i'm more so of a drawer than a painter. i have many painting materials, but i hardly use them.
i would recommend oil paint maybe? oh wait..water color is excellent for a beginner, easy to use, plus the colors are beautiful and your painting will look really professional and stuff

 

[GodsMerryLittleAngel]

oh and goodluck with your painting, i'm sure it'll come out wonderfully