Learning to draw and learning to paint is within everyone’s reach, contrary to conventional wisdom. Of course, not everyone becomes a professional painter like Van Gogh or Rembrandt, but it is possible to draw well or paint well by following a few lessons.
There are many ways to learn how to paint, whether you want to do it as a hobby or do your job. Find out what they are through this article.
The study of drawing in high school
Although in the high school path (except the artistic one, of course!) Creativity is not precisely one of the founding elements of the training curriculum, and technical drawing can nevertheless allow a young creative to experiment with shapes and lines and can learn to observe through it the physical world that surrounds him, stimulating him to imagine the natural or urban environment in a completely new, modern and personal way! Think of the excellent work done by the great architects of history: with their technical expertise, their creative flair, and their incredible artistic impulse, they have been able to redesign the world by offering absolute wonders to be admired for eternity, if this is not art!
Indeed, to be able to embark on a serious and in-depth training course in the world of “technical” drawing, a specific commitment and a series of essential qualities are necessary:
- Capacity analysis
- Logical-mathematical skills
- Creativity
- Manual skills
- Precision
- Spirit of observation
To these must be added, as always, the essential quality: tenacity in learning and constant exercise! Here on the pages of Superprof, we often insist on this point: to learn and improve in a discipline, you need a little talent, but above all, a lot of tenacity and a lot of commitment, and technical drawing does not escape this golden rule!
Learn the basics of drawing
In addition to the technique, however, one must also learn the history of art. This subject is proposed in practically all high school courses. Of course, it is a fundamental discipline within a self-respecting humanistic curriculum, but it should not forget that this study is of primary importance also (and above all!) For all those who nurture a profound passion for drawing ideas and painting! One way to express oneself artistically and find one’s style consists of identifying the most suitable artistic form for one’s peculiarities and expressive needs, and all this is possible only through the study of the great works of the past and present.
Whatever the artistic path you wish to undertake and whatever the high school or higher education path followed, art history represents a fundamental key to access the infinite vastness of creative expression. So do not be discouraged if, by chance, you are not attending an art high school and you feel that you are not receiving the appropriate training suited to your aspirations. Technical drawing and art history can in themselves constitute a sufficient basis to be able to launch into the incredible world of artistic expression.
Drawing courses in an association
To learn how to paint with acrylic tempera, oil colors, or watercolors and make serious progress in the different painting techniques and drawing, it is highly recommended to follow specific painting courses!
Painting independently at home is undoubtedly an excellent exercise to fine-tune your technique, express yourself freely, and let your creativity flow. Still, to acquire the best expressive painting techniques, it is essential to follow a course and be led by a good teacher, and we must take into account the idea of having to invest a specific budget.
Furthermore, it should not forget that painting already implies costs due to the purchase of the material: tempera, pigments, brushes, canvases, and easel. There are numerous indispensable working tools that a painter cannot give up!
Learning to paint in a course proposed by a local association can present various advantages, starting from the cost of the systems, which are often much more accessible than those of art schools or those of private lessons. Among these, we find:
- Friendliness: in many cases, the associations are organized in such a way as to be decidedly more “familiar” and less formal, an aspect that for many turn out to be winning! Often, the climate of formality and “seriousness” of the academies can appear unattractive and inviting for a novice painter. This more relaxed and peaceful atmosphere for some represents a real plus!
- Freedom of expression: many associations that offer their users cycles of painting lessons allow their members to propose and implement their project and carry it out with the help and constant support of a teacher.
- Price: this is most likely the first criterion that leads us to turn to an association to follow a cycle of lessons dedicated to the different painting techniques. Costs (and timing) of the classes are much cheaper and more flexible than those offered by the “official” art schools.
- Personalized support: the idea that the environment of an association is more informal and quiet does not lead to a lower request for commitment and discipline in pursuing one’s dreams and artistic goals. On the contrary! If a student should show the talent or the ambition to become the future Rembrandt or the next Van Gogh, the teachers will know how to support him and make him blossom, helping him pursue his artistic dream! Suppose the painting lessons in the association are more certainly more accessible than those offered by the academies. In that case, the student is still there to learn and improve as much as possible!