to think I can paint a beautiful picture with no experience and probably no talent

[LadyMontdore]

...if I buy a book and copy a photograph.

I'm suddenly filled with the urge to paint a really big picture of my favourite seascape. (Also I have a very big space that needs a big picture in my hall!).

However I have never painted anything, in my mind the picture will be stunning! But is that totally ridiculous. Have been looking at the books on 'how to paint with acrylics' and they seem quite helpful. I have a good eye for layout and colour / design but no skill!

The urge came on when I saw a big pic in a pub which I'd have happily bought but MIL said 'why don't you paint one yourself' (she didn't like the pic!) and I thought 'Yes! Why not!'

DH has suggested a do a small (cheaper) one to start with but the big, bold pic I have in my mind can't really be scaled down.

Do it. Art is a very personal thing. IMO there is no right or wrong.

I agree - but there is shit! I've seen it!

Do it it'll be fun.

Buy the minimum stuff you need and if it is shit- so what, you don't HAVE to put in on the wall.

Nb- if it's a straight choice between food/electricity and paint then you are being obviously unreasonable...

DO IT!
I bought a huge easel and plan doing the same thing.
Watch some Bob Ross video's on youtube for some technical tips. Have fun!

YANBU. I was dragged kicking and screaming to an art class a few years ago, and being totally unartistic - the type who can only draw stick figures and pretty bad ones at that - expected the worst. Actually I was amazed by how much I could do after being given some pointers about dimension, depth etc so go for it. If you put the work in and have the right materials, I'm sure it'll be something you can be proud of - maybe your art will be worth loads when you pop your clogs!

maybe you can experiment around with your paints and some paper to start with. Do bits of your picture. IT would be a shame to do a big picture and make a mistake in the middle of it. Up to you I suppose.I would find it easier to paint my own thing than try and copy a photograph. I think I would useless at that. Have a go, if it doesn't work out, you don't need to hang it up, do you?

could you not paint and do someother kind of media, say collage. I think the skill is in getting the lighting right and with collage it seems to matter less

Just do it!

We have pictures in our house that I or DH have produced - we like them (and enjoyed making them) so doesn't really matter about anyone else...

I am an amateur artist, mainly using watercolours. If you are using acrylics you really need to try them out on a smaller canvas to get a 'feel' for the paints and brushes, how much water to use, etc.

Acrylics also dry very quickly and can then be painted over, so if you make a 'mistake' or don't like part of the picture you can correct it. Acrylics are also very bold and dense in colour, unlike watercolour (which is subtle).

Buy a cheap 'paint by numbers' and give it a try. Then go for it, I say!

I wonder if you could convert it to a paint-by-numbers chart. I think you can buy computer programs that do it for you and/or send photographs to businesses that do it for you.

Although, I'm inclined to think there might be copyright issues here. Why not buy another picture by the same artist and sod MIL's opinion?

Could you somehow project the picture onto a canvas and trace it? Someone I knew did that while doing an art degree. Everyone raved how wonderful it was, but I personally thought it was cheating! But if just for pleasure I think it's a good way to get a lovely picture!