For years I've told myself that if I ever had the time I'd like to take up painting. Well, I recently retired and now find myself with the opportunity to indulge my artistic side. How should I start?

A:

Congratulations on your retirement. This is a great time to discover life anew, and painting may be the ticket. A few basic items are needed to start.

PAINT: Theoretically, all colors can be mixed from three primary colors: yellow, red and blue (Yellow + red = orange, red + blue = purple, and yellow + blue = green). Experimentation with mixing colors is one of the wonders of painting. Black and white will add highlights and definition to the painting. I would recommend acrylics because of their non-toxic nature and ease of clean-up.
PAPER: A heavy weight drawing paper is good to start. Later, you can purchase pre-stretched canvas or build rigid supports and stretch yur own canvas.
BRUSHES: Bristle brushes are available in varying sizes depending on the detail of your painting. think of the broad strokes of Van Gogh's Starry Night. Purchase a couple of "flats" and "rounds," and augment them as your style evolves. Art stores are filled with helpful art student clerks who will direct you.

Painting can be a very intuitive process; there is no "correct" way to paint. Initiating the blank page is the biggest step. Start with painting familiar objects and settings. We call this "painting from observation"; artists also paint from memory and from imagination. Use a watered-down neutral tone to sketch the outlines with a round brush; then allow the paint to interpret the subject matter.You can pre-mix paint on a palette or mix it directly on your painting.

Once you have started painting, your vision of the world will change. Color, shape, line, perspective—even the sensation of sound and movement—will inspire new challenges at the easel.

The Pomona Arts Colony is a vital art scene that offers gallery openings on the second Saturday of each month for 6 to 9 p.m. You can view art, meet the artists, and ask questions about techniques and material resources. You can even visit the Cal Poly Pomona Downtown Center, which has its own gallery in the heart of the Pomona Arts Colony. From Garvey Ave., it is a few blocks west on 2nd Street. See you there!

	— Eileen Fears
	Professor of fine arts For more additional information, e-mail Professor Fears at emfears@csupomona.edu.