Want to paint but don't know where to start? Here are three steps that have helped me overcome the initial hesitancy of starting a new painting.  

1. Cover the canvas fully with paint

If you have ever had a writing assignment, you might have experienced “writer’s block”, which is the inability to begin the writing piece. I have experienced a similar phenomenon when starting a painting. Therefore, my first step to combat this is to cover the whole canvas with paint. I do this by choosing a very light color that will easily blend in with the painting, and I apply the paint evenly onto the canvas using either a brush or a palette knife. Another option is to use a very light layer of a copper or orange color that brightens the painting once additional layers are added. I find either method a very fun and soothing process. Most importantly - as one of my high school art teachers told me - never leave any part of the canvas uncovered.

2. Start with the lightest color

Most paintings contain very light colors and very dark colors. To display the lighter colors as brightly as possible, I begin each painting with the lightest colors. For instance, I will paint the sky a very light blue or pink color (depending on the time of day). Remember, you can always go from light to dark, but you can’t always go from dark to light. Keep in mind that other artists may prefer to begin with the darkest colors, so this step is subjective and can change with experience. 

3. Introduce Darker Shades

After I have covered the canvas fully with paint and added the lighter colors onto the painting, I gradually introduce darker shades. These typically include lining of clouds, tree stumps, shadows, birds, etc. Since the lighter colors are likely to have dried by now, I usually do not face any issues with blending. The painting really starts to come alive when I place darker shades right next to lighter shades!

Tried these steps and want to share? The comments section is for you :)