Q: I would really like to start painting. I thoroughly enjoyed art at school and wish i continued. Its been years since i even so much attempted a drawing (i doodle all day at work) I just miss sitting down and spending hours on painting and drawing...I just don't know where to start. What kind of paint is best to start of with...i don't have a lot of money to spend....
A: Desire is the first essential quality you need and that you have. Good for you! I will have to disagree with most of the other answers is some way or other. First, watercolors are a bad way to start. Acrylics are the easiest for a newcomer, oils are messy and smelly, watercolors are more difficult to handle and not very forgiving. I would suggest continue with drawing taking it a step farther than doodling. Try drawing the corner of your desk or something you see around your office or outside. Drawing is fundamental to painting. Don't use cardboard to paint on. There are canvas pads, like paper but have a canvas texture to paint on. You can get a sketch book and canvas pad, a couple of brushes and some acrylic paints and palette which are decent student quality for less than $50. You don't have to get everything at once. If you try to get by on the cheap as others have suggested by using materials not designed for the purpose,(cardboard) you will be disappointed and discouraged like I did.