6 Steps to Creating a Painting You’ll Love- The Artist Life

Steps to create a painting you’ll love 

Composing a painting involves several key steps that will help you create visually balanced and engaging artwork. Here are some general guidelines to get you started:

Choose a subject for your painting:

Decide what you want to paint. This could be a landscape, a still life, a portrait, or any other subject that inspires you. We all have subjects that we have more interest in than others. Find something that speaks to you. Take photos for reference or use open-source photos as a reference.

Determine the focal point of the art piece:

Identify the main point of interest in your painting. This could be a particular object or area that you want to highlight. You will use position and color contrast to draw attention to the focal point.

The tomatoes in this photo make a great focal point.

Select a composition:

Consider different ways to arrange the elements of your painting. Common compositions include the rule of thirds, the golden ratio, and the triangle composition.

Example of triangle composition

The rule of thirds divides the area into a grid with three sections top to bottom and left to right. You would place your focal point along one of the lines or intersections created by the grid.

The golden ratio is found using a mathematical equation. I do not use this, but I am sure you can google it. 😉

The Triangle composition is also something I don’t use, but is a grid of diagonal lines that create triangles which you can use to create an interesting composition for your painting.

Example of the rule of thirds

Create a preliminary sketch:

Before you start painting, sketch out your composition to get a sense of how it will look on paper or canvas. This is usually called a thumbnail sketch. The thumbnail will help you make any necessary adjustments before you start painting. I usually apply paint to this smaller painting to help me with the next step, choosing colors.

Choose your colors:

Decide on a color scheme that will enhance your painting. Consider the mood or atmosphere you want to create and choose colors that support that vision. If you don’t know where to start, I recommend you mix colors in a sketchbook to get some ideas before starting on the painting. If we just start and have no idea where we are going, it can get frustrating.

Apply paint:

Once you have your composition and color scheme in mind, start applying paint to your canvas. Use layers and different brushstrokes to create depth and texture in your painting. I like to add an underpainting with contrasting colors as my first coat of paint. I then try and leave little hints of that color poking through the other layers.

Evaluate and adjust:

As you work on your painting, step back and evaluate it from different angles. Make any necessary adjustments to the composition, color, or brushwork to ensure that your painting is balanced and visually appealing. Step away and look at your painting from the other side of the room. You will experience a messy middle, work through and keep going. If you just aren't loving the painting, set it aside for a day or two and come back to it. You will be surprised how much better you like it after a break.

Remember that creating a painting is a process that takes time and practice. Be patient and enjoy the creative journey. Do it for the process, not just the finished product.