13 Common Beginner Mistakes in Painting (and How to Fix Them)

Chrysanthemums by Claude Monet

13 Common Beginner Mistakes in Painting (and How to Fix Them)

Starting out in painting is a bit like learning to drive—you’ve got to focus on technique, avoid bad habits, and gradually build confidence. There are a few common mistakes that many beginners make, but once you’re aware of them, they’re easy enough to fix. Here’s a rundown of the usual pitfalls and how to avoid them.

1. Placing the Main Focal Point in the Very Centre

It’s tempting to put the most important part of your painting smack in the middle, but this often results in a static, uninteresting composition. Try shifting it slightly off-centre—look into the rule of thirds to create a more dynamic arrangement.

2. Painting with Small Brushes and Too Many Details from the Start

This one’s a classic. Small brushes encourage fiddling, and too much detail too soon can make a painting feel overworked. Start with big shapes and broad strokes. Save the fine details for the final touches.

3. Painting Similar or Equidistant Objects

Trees in a row, identical gaps between buildings, perfectly spaced waves—it all screams ‘stiff and unnatural.’ Nature (and life) is full of variety. Break up patterns, shift angles, and introduce asymmetry to keep things lively.

4. Equal Levels of Detail in Foreground and Background

Not everything in your painting deserves the same level of attention. If the foreground and background are equally detailed, the painting can feel flat. Think about atmospheric perspective—less detail, softer edges, and muted colours as things recede into the distance.

5. Using Landscape Greens Straight from the Tube

Tube greens (especially sap green) can be harsh and unnatural. Mix your own greens using blues, yellows, and even a touch of red to mute them. Observe how greens shift with light and shadow—nature is more subtle than you think.

6. Not Knowing How to Dull, Brighten, Lighten, or Darken Colours

Understanding colour relationships is key. Instead of just adding black to darken or white to lighten, learn how to mix complementary colours to adjust tones more naturally. A bit of red can warm up a dull yellow; blue and orange can create deep, rich shadows.

7. Being Stingy with Paint

If you’re hesitant with your paint, your brushwork will show it. A miserly amount of paint makes for weak, unconvincing marks. Be generous—lay it on with confidence, especially in alla prima painting.

8. Including Everything You See

Just because it’s there doesn’t mean it needs to be in your painting. Select the elements that contribute to your composition and leave out the unnecessary clutter. A strong painting often comes down to what you don’t include.

9. Painting Things Just as They Are, Even If They Create Visual Conflict

That awkward telephone pole splitting your landscape? A strangely placed shadow cutting across a face? Sometimes real life doesn’t translate well to a painting. Feel free to move things around, simplify, or tweak elements to create a stronger composition.

10. Painting What You Know, Not What You See

We all have mental shortcuts—clouds are fluffy, trees are green, faces are oval—but reality is often more complex. Train yourself to really observe rather than relying on assumptions. Squint, compare shapes, and check your values.

11. Using the Wrong Colour Because You Don’t Want to Waste It

We've all been there—grabbing a leftover colour from the palette rather than mixing the right one. But forcing the wrong hue into a painting can throw everything off. If it’s not working, don’t force it. Mix fresh.

12. Having Only Hard Edges

If every edge is sharp and defined, your painting can feel harsh and unnatural. Pay attention to edges—some should be crisp, others should blur or soften. Losing edges where necessary can make a painting feel more fluid and lifelike.

13. Worrying About the Results and Pleasing the Viewer

This is probably the biggest creativity killer. If you’re too focused on making a ‘good’ painting, you’ll tighten up and hesitate. Instead, focus on the process—explore, make mistakes, experiment. A confident, loose painting is often far more compelling than a ‘perfect’ but lifeless one.

Final Thought

Painting is about learning, experimenting, and developing your own style. Making mistakes is part of that process, so don’t stress too much—just keep going. The more you paint, the more these things will become second nature.