New To Painting? Here’s How You Can Develop Your Creative Side

Nearly nine in 10 adults who participate in creative activity say that successfully finishing a creative project brings them joy, and three quarters also say they love the process of creating, according to one online survey. However, this may not be the case for those who are new to painting, as developing your creative side can seem nearly impossible as a beginner. Thankfully, there are a number of ways to encourage and develop your creativity, which will allow you to thrive as a new artist.

Starting simple through the basics

When it comes to developing your creativity as a new painter, there is a lot of value in starting simple. Perhaps one of the best ways to do this is by drawing and sketching, which will allow you to get a feel for and develop skills in creating basic shapes. For example, keeping a sketchbook and starting small with learning to draw something like a simple cat, whether it be via structured classes or through step-by-step guides, will familiarize you with valuable skills such as size ratios, in addition to giving you the ability to create basic shapes. Afterwards, you can apply your newfound skills to painting, which will undoubtedly make things easier, helping you to translate your ideas to the canvas and allowing you to flourish in your creativity.

Trying anything and everything

Trying out everything from different color combinations to brushes, painting surfaces, and techniques is another fantastic way to develop your creativity, as well as your journey as an artist. One great way to get started is by trying out different paints, as there are several worth testing. From oil and acrylic to watercolor, experimenting with different kinds of paint is a great way to dip your toes into art on different levels, since each kind of paint will bring a different experience. Experimentation will not only allow you to figure out what you like, but it will also give you a good idea of what you don’t. With discovery and experimentation being the first two stages of creative work, trying new mediums, tools and surfaces will be a valuable tool in finding your niche as an artist, as well as bringing uniqueness to your own paintings.

Finding inspiration and sparking new ideas

Aside from learning the basics and trying out new things, gaining inspiration is crucial to developing and discovering your creative side as a new painter, and can aid greatly in sparking new ideas. This can be done through consuming other artists’ work as much as possible, whether it be the work of a friend, a local artist, or timeless classics. Taking the time to visit local art museums is a wonderful way to get started, and can allow you to further discover what types of mediums and styles spark your interest. A great way to supplement this activity is by keeping an inspiration journal, which will allow you to log and keep track of works that peak your interest, in addition to giving you a place to compile ideas of your own that may be sparked in the process.

Picking up a creative hobby like painting might sound like a simple thing to do, but actually developing your creativity and transferring it to the canvas can be a frustrating process that seems like a dead end. However, by gaining inspiration through others, trying out new things, and working on developing basic skills, you’ll be able to thrive as a creative painter in no time at all.