i would say for a first timer dont even try it.

I have been doing small work for a few years now on cars for a dealer I know.
I started out doing bumper covers, fenders and body panels ,faded roofs,then moved onto a little bit of body work.

I started doing red,white black and basic colored cars moving onto the metallics .

Triple flip, candy bases and colored clears need to be done with proper flash time, even coats and proper psi with a steady hand .the car needs to be primed correct
Then alot of work goings into painting the door jams under the hood and trunk .

prep work is alot man taping and paper the entire car,getting off all the dust and priming to paint etching primer to paint then blowing off the car.

Then mixing up the base with activator base maker 1/2 ratio base to activator, then getting the clear 4/1 ratio 1/4 activator to 4 parts clear.
the spray pattern a steady hand .man the list goes on

then the dry time between the coats of base then clear.
if it done under a tent youll spend the next 3 days wetsanding with 1500 grit and polishing the shit out of the car.

I really suggest you buy a book or go online and do alot of research before you spend the money .the paint supplies are not cheap if you fuck it up kiss 500$ good bye in materials then paying ot have a pro strip the car and fix the bad paint job.

if you just mess up on step you could really mess up the entire paint job...



get a gun start with small jobs then work up maybe in a few years youll be doing candycoats and making big money but not right now man.
find a pro pay him what he desreves
Pay the extra money to do not settle for a guy " that is good" or one that does alot of candy..

What you need to do is find cars with awsome paint work and find out who did it .just ask the guys most people are happy to share who did the work .then call that body shop and say " so and so " sent me and said you do the best work what kinda deal can of deal can you work for me.
Body shop guys like the word of mouth thing becuase they know you might send someone else to them later after your paint is done.