“If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” This powerful quote by Vincent van Gogh encourages us to pursue our passion and keep upgrading our skills by exploring our unlimited artistic potential. The truth is, we all hear voices that can make us doubt ourselves and our abilities.

While it’s easier to get defeated and accept this as truth, it’s much braver to confront the fear of failure and start our painting journey despite everything. If you want to find out how to unlock your artistic potential and elevate your painting skills you are in the right place.

Invest in the Right Paint Brushes

Painting requires a unique blend of skills, passion and the right tools. When it comes to tools, beyond choosing the right art easel and canvas investing in quality brushes is essential. Choosing the right set of brushes will allow you to master various techniques and express your unique artistic style by achieving a wide range of effects. But how do you choose the ideal set of brushes for your needs?

To choose the right brushes, explore different shapes and sizes such as flat, round and filbert. You should also pay attention to the medium you’ll be working with as different types of paints may require specific types of brushes. For example, if you use acrylic paint you can opt for synthetic paintbrushes in different shapes and sizes that will allow you to create fine details, and bold strokes to achieve the desired effect.

Nowadays, comprehensive sets of acrylic paint brushes are made of durable synthetic fibre, which makes them perfect for handling the thick consistency of this kind of medium. These brushes are much easier to clean compared to other types which can be especially beneficial when working with acrylic paint. When using acrylic, the paint can dry up faster which may cause certain challenges for artists who want to spend more time to refine their artwork.

However, with the right choice of brushes and regular practice, you can learn how to achieve various effects and perfect your artwork before it dries. For example, you can use round brushes to explore techniques such as detailing, outlining, and applying intricate textures. These types of acrylic paint brushes feature pointed tips which make them perfect for creating fine lines, smooth curves and delicate features.

Compared to them, the flat ones feature a squared-off shape which allows artists to apply smooth, even layers of paint with a high level of precision. This feature is especially useful when applying broad layers of paint across larger areas such as backgrounds and vast landscapes. For example, if you are painting a landscape, you can use flat brushes to paint the sky or other large background areas, such as fields, mountains or oceans.

If, on the other hand, you want to emphasise particular details in your artwork such as Iintricate tree branches, or the texture of the grass, you can switch to using round brushes. By learning about the different types of paintbrushes and their unique features, you can learn how to choose the ideal one when experimenting with specific techniques. This will allow you to become more confident as an artist and create artwork that reflects your deepest emotions and passions.

Study the Masters

Beyond supplying yourself with various types of art brushes, you should explore other effective methods that can help you refine your painting skills. One useful way is to study the famous paintings of great artists like Van Gogh, Michelangelo, or Monet, and try to emulate their painting style. You can start by analysing the masterpieces they’ve created, the nuances of their techniques, brush strokes and colour palettes.

For example, you can try to copy some of their paintings by using the same methods and painting style. Let’s say you want to recreate the famous painting “Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh. To achieve this, consider using the same colour palette that Vang Gogh used and choose suitable types of brushes that will allow you to mimic his painting style.

As you study his art, take time to analyse how deep blues interact with bright yellow and try to create the same effect. This will allow you to gain valuable insights into the artist’s deepest emotions and achieve the same swirling effect that defines this unique painting.

Practice Regularly and Seek Constructive Criticism

While studying the famous artworks of masters is useful, there is no better way to improve your painting skills than with regular practice.

You may have a great talent but if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. Therefore, set aside time for painting regularly and experiment with different techniques and tools. You may as well consider asking for help from fellow artists by joining a local art group or workshop.

To further elevate your skills, you can take painting classes online or enrol yourself in a local art school. These unique opportunities can help you push beyond your boundaries and receive constructive criticism from instructors and fellow artists. This will allow you to make painting a regular part of your daily routine and seize every opportunity to enhance your skills and broaden your artistic horizons.