As I look back to when I started to paint, I see how hard it was since I had little knowledge of brushes, canvases, and paints.  I purchased cheap items to get started.  I might add that oil paints are not cheap no matter what you get when you compare the prices to water color and acrylic paints. 

My trips to the local arts and craft stores taught me to snag a coupon from the paper and purchase the high priced items with a 50% off coupon and check for all sales related to painting.  Once at the store I saw novice and professional brushes and paints for each type of paint sold.  I started with oil paints.  With this I purchased all I could find for cleaning brushes and everything else I thought I needed to get started.  I also found my first books and Bob Ross DVD’s.  The price for everything quickly became expensive for a hobby I was not sure I would continue.

I purchased a lot of things I did not need and was constantly spending money.  It took me almost a year to decide what paints I really liked to use and to learn what I needed to use them to paint a picture.

I have since learned to shop online at art stores for items getting the best deals.  Researching online for videos that teach paintings online is easy and helps beginning painters.  I still use Bob Ross DVD’s but I purchase them in a collection, (sometimes used) for a much better price.