The first step in creating a painting is to draw the image directly on the canvas in pencil.
Nearly everyone has created a design with pencil and paper at one time or another. Most have also seen a painting hanging in a museum. However the transition between a simple sketch to an actual painting on canvas can seem like a huge leap. Creating a painting on canvas, however, can be less mysterious if you acquire the concept and skill of creating a pencil design on the canvas before actually starting to paint. Several methods are discussed here.
Instructions
Freehand Drawing
1. Draw a design on a pre-primed white canvas of any size using a sharp number 2 pencil. You can draw a flower from your backyard, a human face, a simple animal such as a butterfly, or a scene from a book or from the internet. Any subject will do. If you have skills in drawing, then you can create the design freehand. Use light pencil markings, as you will later paint over the design.
2. Use a white eraser to erase any stray marks or to make corrections. Clean the canvas thoroughly with a lint free rag, and/or by hand, to remove any pieces of eraser waste left behind.
3. Use colored pencils to add color to your design before painting.
Color in your design on the canvas using colored pencils. If the color it too light, you can apply a little pressure, but not so much pressure so as to create in indentation in the canvas. The idea is to provide a color guide so when you begin painting you have the colors in front of you. Then, painting is almost as simple as "painting by numbers."
Grid Method
4. Print or photocopy a subject you would like to paint on white paper.
5. Mark the paper in either 1-inch or 1/2-inch intervals using a 12-inch ruler or yardstick on all four sides. Make sure your first marking lines up on the parallel edges of the paper.
6. Draw light straight lines across the paper with a pencil, connecting your parallel markings. Do this vertically and horizontally. Each section of your design will then be squared off. If you started with an 8-inch by 10-inch copy, your paper will have 80 small squares (using a 1-inch grid schema).
7. Number the boxes horizontally left to right with light pencil marks on both edges of the paper. Do the same for the vertical sides.
8. Mark your canvas similarly. If your canvas is the same size as the original copy on paper, your grid on canvas can be created at exactly the same ratio. However, if your canvas is larger, you can use a ratio of 1:2, 1:4, or a fractional ration. In this way, you will create an image which is the near exact replica of your original, but larger.
9. Draw your image square by square. Pick a square in your gridded photocopy to transpose onto your canvas. Don't worry about drawing the entire picture, but rather concentrate on only the one square. Try to make an exact replica of that square. Choose points on the edges of the square to begin your drawing.
10. You will find satisfaction and moments of peace creating works of art.
Color your design using colored pencils once you complete your design on canvas, as instructed in Step 3, Section 1 of this article. Now you are ready to paint.
