Super Simple Light Painting How-to:

Need:

• Camera that lets you control shutter speed
• Tripod (or flat surface to place the camera on)
• a moveable light source - small LED keychain light, cheap electroluminescent wires, laser pointer
• Bonus - Remote trigger release(Canon | Nikon) or use the 2 second timer to avoid shaking the camera when you press the shutter button

Steps:

1. focus camera on the area where you will be painting. If this is in a room just turn on the lights, focus on your subject or where your subject will be then turn off the light. Outside? Have someone stand with a flashlight or shine the flashlight on a spot to get focus.
2. Put camera on manual (M) and set your shutter speed for as long as you think it will take you to complete the painting.  5-10 seconds is a good starting point. Aperture should be as large as possible.  ISO around 400-800.    Take a test photo with painting any light - how much ambient light is captured?   Too much?  Lower your ISO.  Too little? raise your ISO.  Repeat until you have background exposed as desired.
3. Attempt your first painting.  Review and try again.  Experiment! Have fun!