My Beginner Painting Journey: Creating My First Official Painting for Sale

Starting My Beginner Painting Journey

I decided to just go for it. This wasn’t the first time I’d ever painted, but it was the first piece I created with the intention of selling it as official artwork. The project stretched over two months, and honestly… at first, I had no idea what I was doing.

This was an acrylic painting on paper, roughly the size of my drawing book—about 29.7 cm × 42 cm (A3 size). When I went to frame it, the paper didn’t fit quite right, so I carefully trimmed it to make it work.

Being my first sale-ready piece, I didn’t realize how particular people can be about presentation. There are a few light creases and some thinned-out parts of the paper, along with a few paint marks on the back—little signs of a beginner finding their way.

Somewhere in the middle of this beginner painting journey, something amazing happened. I started to like what was emerging. The colors, the shapes, the feel of the piece—they started to make sense. And then it hit me: Wait… I made this.

Discovering Contour and Light

What I love most about this painting is the skin. The way light and dark areas create contour on the face—cheekbones, jawlines, subtle folds. Contour in art is all about using highlights and shadows to define a form, giving it shape, depth, and emotion.

Seeing the face come alive under my brush was incredible. The contours added mood and realism, turning a flat image into something that felt real, almost breathing.

Lessons Learned From Keep Going

I didn’t always know what I was doing. Sometimes, I still don’t. But I kept going.

And the result? Not bad at all.

Maybe that’s the point—if you keep going, if you push through the uncertainty, something beautiful can happen.

Reflections and Thoughts

Every beginner painting journey is full of doubts and small victories. For me, it was discovering contour and light—and creating this acrylic paper painting, creases and thinned edges and all.

About the Artwork

Title: Woman with a Candle

Medium: Acrylic on Paper

Size: A3 (29.7 × 42 cm)

Type: Paper painting

Frame: Wooden frame with glass, optional

Availability: For sale

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