Q&A for How to Paint

Pick up only a small quantity of paint with the paintbrush. If you have already made a small mess, cover it up with a darker shade of paint.

Abstract painting can be anything you wish. Try experimenting with different color palettes. Warm color palettes, cool color palettes, even black and white with a brilliant color added for accents. Use your imagination and you own color preferences. Look at some abstract artists for inspiration. Most importantly, keep your brush clean when mixing colors so you don't end up with a muddy mess.

No, there are millions upon millions of shaded colors. Consider removing black from your palette altogether and looking into the shaded areas on buildings, objects on a table, etc. Shaded colors can be purple, blue, brown etc. Make a few small studies of a favorite or interesting object in different environments, and watch how the shaded color changes in different light and spaces.

Put the apple or object you wish to draw or paint on a white surface on a table. Use one strong light source from a directional table lamp (like a desk work lamp) Sketch in its general outer shape. Now squint at it. Draw or paint in the darkest areas first paying attention to the form the shape is. Varying your strokes to follow the shape of the object on paper or canvas will add visual volume. Now find your lightest lights using a eraser or paint add them in. Now find your middle tones and apply it to the space in between the colors. Add transitional glazes to smooth out the color shifts. Also freshen up on your perspective lessons. This will help you depict volume in your pictures.

A single canvas may be reused up to 3 times. Each time the canvas is reused, the surface becomes stressed. To reuse the canvas, either wipe it while it's wet or sand it after it has dried. Another route is to purchase canvas paper, since it is inexpensive and comes in multiple sheets.

Poster paint can be used in a same way that acrylics are used. The downside is the pigment concentration is lower and the paint can be semi transparent. This transparency can make it difficult to get the colors ranges you set out to achieve.

Paint the darkest darks first, then the lightest lights. Squinting your eyes helps see the transitions better. Then find the middle tone of the two colors and blend in the space in between. Pay attention to the form of the object. Use transparent glazes to make your transitions smoother.

Many professional artists write their names in the bottom left or bottom right corners of the canvas.

Find a medium tone in between the two colors, and pay attention as well to the shape of the object. Transparent glazes help add dimension as well.

It is a suitable medium for beginner painters. Its pigment concentration is lower so it may be harder to get the exact colors you set out to achieve. Use them the same way you use acrylics.

A good student brand is Winsor & Newton. Princeton is also good. When starting out, experiment with different levels of hardness and softness. Try different brush types, different lengths of handles and lengths of the brushes. Also, make sure you are using the right brush for the job.

Use water. The more water, the lighter the color and the less water, the darker. Always work with light watered down color and add you darks over it. Use multiple transparent glazes of color to shade needed areas. Take your time. Watercolor is not a fast medium. It is a slow balance of light semi transparent color painted over each other.

It depends on the paint. For watercolors or acrylic paint, add more water to lighten it. For oil paint, add a solvent. You could also add white or lighter-colored paint to create gradation.

You cannot mix colors to make red. Red is a primary color, meaning that it is not made by mixing other colors. However, you can mix red with other colors to get different shades of red. For example, white will lighten your red until it eventually becomes pink, and a tiny bit of blue mixed with bright red will give you crimson.

Of course. If you enjoy painting, then paint!

Depends what kind of brown you want. Blue and Orange, Purple and Yellow, Green and Red all make brown.

Sketch out the shape of the car you want to paint. Make sure everything looks good when you do the drawing, because it will be difficult to fix later. Start to paint in the car, using the techniques shown above. Cars have a very square look to them, so the shadows and lights on it will be less round.

Use your own paper. I recommend not using glossy paper, as the water won't stick as well. Use a smooth, fine paper.

Yes, but the results much better on paper, as canvases are designed for heavier paints.

It really depends on what size it is and how well it is painted. Try comparing yours to other ones you've found online and in stores. However, it also depends on your reputation; the more people know you and your style, the more people will pay.

It really depends on what kind of paint you are using. For example, watercolor would need watercolor paper and acrylic or oil paints would work the best on a canvas.