How to start a

painting

A digital guide book to help

your start your creative
journey

Renate van Nijen

Table Of Contents

Introduction : About the artist, Why an Ebook, What will you

learn

How to prepare for your painting session : How to set up

your space, What do you need

How to prepare your paper or canvas

How to set up your design/drawing :

Use only ve colours : Various videos about how to mix colours,

How to recognise good quality colours, Do colours have a

meaning

What to expect when you enrol in a (an online) class

How to start painting
A digital guide to help you embark on a creative journey, creating art and
nding your own unique style!

Introduction

Page 2
 01

Introduction

Introduction
Page 3
Welcome to this eBook about
how to start painting. I like to First a little bit
invite you to nd out about how
to set up a painting, what you about me
need to start painting and a lot
more.

Why did I create

this eBook?
Well, I just love it when people
discover what creating art can do
for them. It is beautiful to see the
development of personal styles My name is Renate van Nijen, I’m a
and the enjoyment and fun, and professional Dutch artist (for over
even what overcoming frustration 35 years), I have held solo
through nding solutions can do exhibitions and participated in
to someone. I know from group exhibitions in The
experience that getting creative, Netherlands, Italy, France and
and especially painting, allows you Spain, including Amsterdam,
to express yourself in your unique Rome and Paris. I have sold my art
way. It is a wonderful outlet to internationally and many art lovers
visually communicate emotions have invested in my art, from
and ideas. It is also therapeutic to Moscow to New York and many
paint as you get in touch with more places.
your inner feelings and this is very
calming. Because of this it can
reduce stress and anxiety. I know
this because painting has so often
helped me get through
challenging situations in my life
and I like others to experience the
power and pleasure of creating a
painting as well.

Introduction

Page 4
Since 2006 I have been
conducting art classes and
workshops both in my studio in La
Herradura, in southern Spain and
online. I specialise in acrylic and oil
paintings, but for my classes I
advise to use acrylic paints, simply
because it’s a bit easier to use and
when you make a mistake you
can change it quickly.

I absolutely love inspiring

teenagers and adults alike to dive
into their creativity and nd their
own voice in creating a piece of
art. My teaching approach is to
guide you to create an artwork
that you are happy with. I don’t
like to tell people what they MUST
do, I guide them with tips and
tricks to create their unique
artwork. Art is in the eye of the
beholder and with some practice,
you too can create beautiful art!

What will you

learn in this
eBook?
In this eBook you will learn how to
prepare your space, what
materials you need, how to draw
your image, and how to mix your
colours.

Introduction

Page 5
 02

How to prepare for

your painting session

Introduction
Page 6
 How to set up
your space:
If you can, it will be great to nd a
space that you can use to create
your art, a space where you can
spend time on your own without
being disturbed. And even better,
a space where you can leave your
materials without having to pack
them away after a painting
session. However, not everybody
can nd such a place in their
homes. Don’t worry. Just nd the
best space you can nd, perhaps a
kitchen table or an of ce desk
that you can use for your session
and then clear up after you have
worked on your art.

What do you
need:

Introduction

Page 7
 acrylic (or mixed media) paper or canvas. If you use paper, I
recommend that you get a block of acrylic paper, a good size is A3,
but this is up to you. I do recommend to opt for a good quality paper.
masking tape
a pencil and an eraser, some people like to work with charcoal. It’s
ne if you have experience with that. As a beginner I advise against it
as it might smudge too much.
a ruler
a jar with water
wood or board for the background
brushes of different sizes, preferably a few brushes with a round tip
and some with a at tip. You don’t have to spend a huge amount of
money on your brushes, but sometimes those very cheap sets of
brushes that you can buy are not ideal. You can be lucky though. Try
and nd brushes that are made of nylon, and if you can touch the
brushes, gently pull at the tip and see if hairs come out. If you are a
beginner these will be ne. I recommend to get at least one very
small round tipped brush, usually size 0 and then one slightly bigger
round tipped brush. Also get three or four brushes with a wide tip, of
different sizes. See photo.

Introduction

Page 8
 a palette to mix your paints. For this you can also use a plate,
preferably a glass plate. This is because when the paints dry, you can
put the plate in a bucket or plastic bowl with water. Let it soak for
about 10 minutes or longer and then take the plate out of the water.
All the paint will come off in akes. If you then drain the water
through a sieve you can throw away the left-over paint without it
going into the sewage system.
It is also nice to have a palette knife but this is not a must.

Introduction

Page 9
 03

How to prepare your

paper or canvas

Introduction
Page 10
 Use an easel if you have one. You can also use a table easel; they are

relatively cheap and easy to store.

If you are using paper to paint on, then you can tape this onto the

wood or board with masking tape to tape. You want the masking

tape to completely go from top to bottom and side to side. This is

important (see image) as when you work with acrylics you also use

water. This water can then cause your paper to bubble up. When the

painting is dry it will go back to normal again.

Introduction

Page 11
 04

How to set up your

design/drawing

Introduction
Page 12
To nd the right subject, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Choose a subject that is appealing to you.
If you are a beginner, it’s best to not start with abstract art.
You can set up some objects to work from, for example a vase with
owers or a fruit ball or work from an image.
When you work from an image, I advise you to work from a painting,
not from a photo, as photos can hugely distort reality. If you are an
experienced painter, it’s ne to work from a photo. When you do use
the painting of another artist as your example, then always, always,
always, mention this artist, and if you can with a link to their website,
when you share your work online. I don’t believe it is OK to sell a
painting that you copied from another artist if it’s an exact copy. If it’s
inspired or resembling then still always mention the artist. You can
then for example say “this is a study of an artwork by………..!”
I personally do not take my students outside. For beginners this can
be too much of a challenge and I like people to feel happy after
creating an artwork, not frustrated.
If you are a beginner and working from an example, you might like

to use a grid. You can make a photocopy of the artwork you are

going to create a study from. Then draw three or four vertical and

horizontal lines. If your canvas/paper is larger, then you upscale your

grid on the canvas. This can be really helpful.

Opinions differ. Some artists swear by creating a background rst,

others don’t. Important is that you don’t get discouraged by what

different teachers say. I belief it very much depends on what you are

painting, and especially if you are a beginner, I often advise against it.

Work loosely, don’t push your pencil too hard on the canvas or paper

as it will then be more dif cult to erase lines in case you’ve made a

mistake. I advise you to rst create a sketch of the painting you are

going to create.
 If you create your own art, so not from an example. Use the golden

rule of not exactly in the middle unless it’s a portrait. So especially in

landscapes. Things look more interesting if they are not exactly in

the middle.

You have my permission to use this painting of a seated amenco

dancer called ‘Vrojo’, provided that you don’t sell your artwork, and if

you show others you refer to my name and website.

www.renatevannijen.com

Introduction

Page 15
 05

Use only ve
colours

Introduction
Page 16
You might think “only ve colours?” We always
see those fancy boxes with lots of tubes of
different colours paints. I don’t say that you
cannot use any other colours. Please do if you
like to, but you don’t have to. And think about
it, Printers (well most standard printers) use a
combination of four colours: - cyan, magenta,
yellow, and black. Together these create a wide
range of colours. The process is called
halftoning, this means that the printer creates
tiny dots of each colour and then overlaps
them. They might not reproduce all colours
imaginable, but they surely come very close.

The colours I recommend using, and if you go

to my website (see link below) and check out
my artwork you might be surprised to hear
that I’ve only used the following ve colours:

Primary or lemon yellow

Naftal or another bright red
Phthalo blue (the dark one)
Titanium white
Magenta
A video of the ve colours
No, I don’t use black. You can simply create it
by mixing red and blue.

Below I will share some links in which I show

you how to mix colours.

Introduction

Page 17
 Create shades of orange
Create shades of green
Create shades of purple
Create shades of blue
Create shades of brown
There are colours I did not create a video of, for
example pink, as most people know it’s adding
some red to white.

How to recognise good

quality colours
You can buy cheap acrylic paints or expensive
acrylic paints (or oils if you like) but there is a
way to recognise a good quality paint and it
doesn’t have to be over the top expensive.
Colours can be completely transparent, half
transparent, or covering and paints of a good
quality indicate this on the paint (tube or pot).
They either have a little circle or a little square
and if this circle or square is transparent, this
means the colour is completely transparent. If
the circle or square is half transparent - half
black, then it is a half transparent colour and if
the circle or square is black then it is a covering
paint.

Introduction

Page 18
Do colours have a meaning?
I believe they do and you can nd out about this when you click on the

following link

The meaning of colours

Introduction

Page 19
 06

What to expect when you

enrol in an Online class
with me

Introduction
Page 20
 The rst session is free, so you can get a feel of how it works. After this
you can opt for different payment plans. When you join an art class in
my studio in La Herradura the rst session isn’t free as I have to
prepare the class, provide materials and I also offer tea/coffee and a
treat.
You need a computer to join the class, as sessions are conducted in
zoom. This works very well. It is nice to be in a group and you can
interact as well, potentially with people from all over the world. When
someone needs help, I will either show it through a quick sketch or
immediately create a short video with the explanation. I will then
upload that in the Facebook group (see below) so you can check it
out.
You will be part of a private Facebook group, where people can share
their work and we can interact and give (positive-constructive)
feedback. We can also share interesting art-related information,
photos and videos, so it will be a very inspirational space to be.

Introduction

Page 21
 I will share weekly suggestions of what to paint in the group. If you
cannot make it to the zoom session, you can still participate and
when you share your artwork in the Facebook group you can still ask
questions and I will give you advice.
I will set challenges for those who like that, but it’s not obligatory.
I will guide you to paint what you want, not what I want. I’m a
professional artist with over 35 years of experience and I love to show
you that you can paint too!
My art classes are suitable for beginners and more advanced painters!

Teenage art classes online

Online art sessions for women

If you plan to come to La Herradura there are different options to join an

art class or an art workshop, you can check this out in Get Creative in La
Herradura.

If the times of my online art classes are not suitable for you, please contact
me for other options. I'm happy to start a different group. You can also
start your own group with a group of friends and book a 4-week course
online. Minimum 7 people.

Introduction

Page 22
Create your own unique artwork

Have you ever wondered whether you can paint, but you don’t know where
to start? Did you draw or paint when you were younger, but you have lost
con dence? Would you like to know where to begin?

This eBook gives you tips and suggestions about materials, what you need to
start a painting, how to set up your space and much more. Painting is not
about creating a perfect artwork. These days you can use AI for that. However,
it is much more fun to create your own unique artwork and get in touch with
your imagination and intuition. Surprise yourself and discover that you too
can express yourself with colours and images.

This eBook was created by Renate van Nijen, professional artist and writer.