It is true that absolutely anyone can learn how to paint. Learning to paint is as hard as anything else. Talent is needed for writing, cooking, talking etc. So what makes people with “god given” talent for painting different from anyone else?
Absolutely anyone can be learning to paint and there is no need for god given talent to do so. It is all about the inner desire and dedication, just as it is in learning to do just about anything else.
The manuals and art books that are available were not written for people who naturally know how to paint; they were written for people who have a desire to learn how to paint. It means the authors actually believe people are capable of it.
The painting method that you select, is a highly individualized choice. You can choose with oils, acrylics, water colors and pastels. These are the basics, and you can always move into other ones at a later time.
Of course people painted with everything they had, being it chalk, charcoal, coffee or anything else. However, learning to paint implies you will try more than one technique, prior to deciding which one suits you best. You should not continue to practice with a method if you are unhappy with the results. Instead, move on to another technique so that you can figure out which one will suit you.
You can liven up the learning process by experimenting with color mixing. Although this may seem intimidating, you should not avoid giving it a try. There are no guidelines or hard and fast rules that must be followed in order to experiment with color.
Whether your painting is naive or abstract, you should always be proud of your work and do not let yourself think that someone else’s painting is better. You should never try to conform your painting to specific guideline, as art is a creative process without limitations. And since it is a creative process, labeling it could cause it to cease to be art.