What is painting?

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Martha uses acrylic paint to make a painting inspired by Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh.

Painting techniques

There are many different types of paint, brushes and styles to try when you are painting.

Watercolour paints are normally the easiest to start with.

Water is used to release the colour and you can get strong or weaker colours depending on how much water you use.

Acrylic paint or poster paint can be used as well, as these paints are good for adding texture when applied thickly.

Sometimes we can use palette knives to paint with these paints.

Watercolour paint

Watercolours are quick drying and can be used to cover large areas using a big brush.

You can reuse the paints at different times even when they have dried as adding water will activate the colour again.

Watercolours were very popular in the 18th century as they were very quick and easy to use. People would paint things to remember them. Paintings were the equivalent of our photos today!

Choosing a brush

Skip image gallery

Image caption,
A round brush can hold water and colour for thicker strokes.
Image caption,
A liner brush is used for fine detail.
Image caption,
A flat brush can be used to wash the paper with water or a colour wash.

Painting tips

Skip image gallery

Image caption,
Underpainting
Paint the background with one colour, let it dry and then paint on top of it with colours that stand out from the background colour.
Image caption,
Use a lollipop stick
Try using a stick to spread the paint. Set blobs of paint of different colours on a white page, and then use a lollipop stick to drag the colour across the page. Try not to mix the colours too much.
Image caption,
Try pouring paint
Have lots of different colours made up and ready to go. Then mix paint and water in a cup until the paint is runny, but not too runny or it will just run off the page! Pour the paint onto cardboard, adding the different colours on top of each other to make colourful circles. Once you have used four or five colours, start tilting the cardboard in different directions. This will make the paint move to create patterns.
Image caption,
Use a toothbrush
Using a toothbrush to splatter and flick paint onto a page can be messy but a lot of fun.
Image caption,
Start with a wet page
You can also try painting onto a wet page. Mixing colours on wet paper makes a good background, and once it's dry you can use it to start your painting or drawing.

Painting techniques

Watercolour paint

Choosing a brush

Painting tips

Find out about landscape painting

More on Painting