10 Tips to Get Started on a Painting

1) Buy good quality paper (it makes a difference)

2) Use clean brushes and water

3) Prepare you paper by stretching it.

4) Do a sketch of you painting in your art journal, it will help you to warm up to your subject and portray the feeling you want more clearly.

5) Plan your colour

palette, I like to use three colours and see where they take me

6) plan but paint freely without fear...it is more fun!

7) Do a practice painting and then do it again for your original

8) Have your sketch or photo close by for a reference

9) Paint with feeling...what does the image say to you. You are the painter

10) Most of all have fun!

Giraffe watercolour by Melanie Spencer ( this is my third painting that I did of this subject)