I would like to learn how to paint, which should i choose, watercolor, acrylic, or oil?

What website can you recommend that can give step by step instructions for beginners?I would like to learn how to paint, which should i choose, watercolor, acrylic, or oil?
hi,great hobby to try! acrylic might be the easiest to try at the moment although it does depend on what effect/result you want.


acrylic is very versitile and will paint on most surfaces including canvas/wood/walls/clay/wicker/hardboard and paper(heavyweight or will cockle/soak into)it will even paint on lots of different metals and plastics, you just need and undercoat primer called gesso.


you can get great 3d effect with acrylic by painting on thick layers.


acrylic is opaque and can be thinned down with plain old water as its water based. dont let acrylic dry on your brushes as you wont get it off,and brush is ruined.mistakes mistakes can just be painted over


oils are very sim to above but not as versitile. primed canvas is ideal for oils.this medium does however take quite a long time to dry.


both of the above are cheaper to frame as you dont have to have glass.(although you can put behind glass but you need a spacer called a mount/matt to stop work from sticking to glass.


you can also paint oils over acrylic but not acrylic over oils.


watercolour is transparent and you can get some great softer looking results with this medium. you can still get a bold/strong effect by painting straight from the tube and not thinning with water. there are many different watercolour papers on the market both lightweight (which you should stretch yourself to prevent cockling/buckling) and heavyweight (paint straight on-no stretching) various surfaces include very smooth to rough textures.


at the moment there are lots of beginner painting classes and these are usually held in the evenings at comprehensive schools,try the local library for the classes as usually advertised there!


good luck and i hope you have hours of enjoyment!!I would like to learn how to paint, which should i choose, watercolor, acrylic, or oil?
Water colors is easy for a beginner, as long as you done get technical right off the bat, as you progress it gets harder. I find acrylics easiest, because you can cover up your mistakes, it is fast drying, and have done them for years. Finally, I tried oils for the first time and I love them. I love the layer, the progression it takes to finish the picture. As for website just goggle it, you might want to check your park district who may also have classes.
Acrylic is best for me, it is like between oil and watercolor...about web sites, it depends...what do you want to paint? abstract, hyper-realistic, nude, classic, impressionism, murals?


Just paint what you see, like Bullwinkle the moose.
This question is on the edge of an opinion as far as what is best to learn with. To me, having painted with all 3 mediums and being self-taught, acrylic was the easiest. You can spend more time on painting as opposed to technique. Depending on what you are painting acrylic out of the tube is kinda thick, so if you want to paint details you'll have to thin it with either water or an acrylic medium. I use either a gloss or matte medium, depending on the subject, but again, water will work fine. To try it just buy a 'starter set' of paints. Aaron Bros, Michael's or any art supply store carries them. Once you try with acrylic then try another medium. I love oils passionately, but on occasion I'll do a painting in acrylic. Bottom line is try one of 'em, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.


As far as how to begin, just buy a pre-gessoed stretched canvas in the size you want to try. Draw or trace your subject then add the color, and BAM, you are on the way.
try everything so you have a variety of techniques......
wherever you want to start. each paint will give you a different type of picture. if you want a realistic looking painting, like a portrait, i would recommend oils. take a class.
I think you should start with regular paints. Then move on to watercolor and so on. Start out slow. When you feel you got the hang of it........move on a step further.