Is painting a God given talent or a skill? Talent is always good, but it will only get you so far.
Although many people think otherwise, painting is more skill than talent.
If you want to take it to the professional level, you need to work at it.
Like any skill, it can be mastered through training and practice.
In this article we'll take a look at different ways to learn and improve your painting skills.
The single most important thing is training.
There is a lot to learn, there is a lot to understand.
Every beginner painter needs some sort of training or guidance.
No one is born with the ability to paint like a pro.
Michelangelo took lessons, Picasso took lessons, all painters have to study in order to develop their skills.
Today, there are a lot of possibilities.
There are art classes, one-on-one private tutors, books, the internet, and, last but not least, DVDs.
All of the above have their advantages and disadvantages.
Let's take a closer look at what they are.
The best option would certainly be one-on-one private lessons.
However, they don't come cheap.
Art classes are also a good option, especially if you can find one near you.
The bad news is that they can be quite limited in what they offer and require a fixed-schedule.
Next, we have books and internet.
They are available practically everywhere, very cheap, but there is an issue of quality.
Learning from books and internet is usually very unstructured.
To be a good painter you need to develop a well rounded set of skills.
Plus, learning visual art from books is quite difficult.
Very impractical to say the least.
Next, we have DVDs.
DVDs are, in my opinion the second best way, just after one-on-one private lessons.
They are not too expensive and you can learn at your own pace in the privacy of your own home.
There are some good quality DVDs out there that offer excellent value for money.
The bottom line: to improve your painting skills you need lessons.
Which option and format you choose is up to you.