Top 10 Decorative Painting Tips

Decorative painting is a unique art form that requires unique skills and techniques not found in other disciplines. I have compiled my ten favorite tips into this list to help you bring out your creativity and find your inspiration.

A clean and organized painting space allows more time to be creative.
In order to be ready to paint, brushes need to be clean and in good condition. Keep the worn brushes for scruffy work.
It is easier to find the brush you need if they are organized by size and type. Separate the brushes into containers based on good condition, well used and scruffy.
Organization is key to knowing where your supplies are located. Palettes, rulers, pencils, palette knives, sponges, etc need to have a place they can be easily retrieved.
Organize the paints by company and by color. Paint racks will keep the paint organized and easy to find.
When beginning a painting project first work out in your head. or List the order of the layers you will be doing. Start from the back ground forward, then the mid-ground and finally the for-ground.
Visit museums, aquariums, and parks for inspiration.
Build a library of photographs. Take pictures of trees, clouds, buildings, mountains and much more. Your photographs are great sources.
Look through magazines as they have wonderful ideas and pictures of natures’ beauty. Build a reference library that can be referred to quickly.
Enjoy painting, enjoy the process…let the creative ideas blossom.

I hope you will find these tips to help you with your decorative painting projects. Look around for inspiration from the colors of the trees to the beauty of a child’s face to the simplest piece of fruit in a bowl.

Barbara Robins