Painting
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- mitsurugi
I'm going to learn how to paint. I'll probably buy some literature first, then take a few beginner courses.
Does anyone have an idea of reputable part-time courses offered in NYC?
Also, any good books for a beginner?
Thanks,
Mike
- abstrakt0
i don't have any advice on courses or books, but i can say it might be a good idea to use oil paint at first. when i tried to learn painting i liked oil because i could leave it overnight and it would still be wet the next day.
- -leah-0
i love painting, i have been painting for about 12 years. i prefer acrylic paints because i work fast and i like to have clean lines, which is difficult with oils if you paint fast like me.
good luck and have fun! :)
- Neuarmy0
stick with acrylic. less complicated... especially with clean up and all. i never really liked oils, i'm like leah, i work fast and olis take for freakin ever...but to each his own, so try it all.
- mitsurugi0
two very good points. i think i will start with oils.
any more info?
- canuck0
I would stick with acrylic at first, then work up to oils. Have you done any illustration before? its good to get an understanding of light, shape, proportion etc. You might want to look into a figure drawing class first.
- winter0
yup, drawing first. imho go for the cheaper paints first; you'll waste a lot. put your money on good brushes instead.
acrylic works nicely and cheaper on other surfaces (wood, cardboards. etc.), but it cannot give you the depth, transparency and spirit over canvas such as oil does.
- mitsurugi0
yes, i can illustrate.
so oils give you a slightly different effect compared to acrylic?
another question, i love the softness and detail of mark rydens work. can that be accomplished with either paint type?
thanks for your comments so far.
- loopyd0
Oils are great, but they can be tricky to use, mess around with them, 'cause trial and error is the best way to learn, but get a good basic book to guide you through the rules and idiosynchracies of each color.
- de4k0
oils are a different skill altogether. more about building up layers of paint gradually. Painting with acrylics is much easier and cheaper.
- CliffRaines0
what kind of painting? check out burn hogarth. he has a few human figure books, & they are really inspirational.
- arseni0
It doesn't really matter what you use, oil or acrylics - you can achieve same effects with both. It's more a matter of a style.
If you decide to go with acrylics, get a lot of Glazing Liquid, it will make it stay wet longer and allow you to mix it the way you mix oil.But stilll, you have to wait about 12 hrs for oil to get dry before you can continue to draw , and about 30 min for acrylics.
Try community colleges, I don't know about NY, but in SF they're great to learn techniques.
- -leah-0
painting with acrylics is neither cheaper or easier. and yes you can get the same effects as with oils if you use glazing liquids etc.
also if you spend a lot of money on good brushes (which you should) NEVER soak them in you cleaning water, it will ruin them. clean the brush off and then lay it on paper towel to dry.
- dippy0
If you like Mark Ryden's work, you're better off using oils (it's easier to get that diffused, soft look, especially if you've never painted before). Don't bother with sable hair brushes -- get some high-quality synthetic hair ones instead.
- JazX0
imo, you're born with it, you don't learn how to do it, although you can become better, so good luck :)
- dopepope0
Look into the classes at the Art Students League. They have some of the best painters teaching there.
- ricstultz0
Start with acrylic, unless you wanna deal with mineral spirits and disposing of them. I paint in oil, but it takes awhile to get use to.
- gruntt0
paint ball gun and a broom.
have some fun with it!
- -leah-0
here are some of my paintings, some are painted with acrylic, and others with watercolors. please excuse the ass ugly website...i threw it together really quickly :)
- -leah-0
ricstultz that is really wonderful! i like that painting :)