Beginner painters should use acrylic paints because they are easy to work with, versatile, durable, and affordable. Acrylic paints are water-soluble, making cleanup much easier using soap and water. Using acrylic paints provides a safer and less toxic environment. You will need a few basic supplies from an art store.
Paint
Acrylic paints apply to paper, canvas, wood, and fabric and are great for mixed media projects. Acrylic paints come in tubes and pots, offer many colors, and are available from thick to fluid consistencies.
Heavy Body Paint
The paints are thick and creamy and are the best type to build up layers of color. They are ideal for painters who want to add a lot of texture to their work since acrylic paints retain the texture of the brush strokes. You can apply these paints with a brush, palette knife, or fingers.
Medium Body paints
Acrylic paints are thinner and blend colors better. They are great for painting details and fine lines, and they work well with brushes and palette knives.
Soft Body Acrylics
Soft body acrylics are the thinnest of all acrylic paints and are perfect for painting transparent layers. The brush strokes are less visible, and this type of acrylic paint can be applied with a brush or palette knife. The thinner consistency of soft body acrylic paints quickly moves the color around and is popular for free-flowing, fluid art and abstracts.
Acrylic Gouache
Acrylic Gouache is an opaque paint that is similar to watercolor paint. It comes in various colors and is used for painting details and adding highlights. It dries quickly, is water-resistant when dry, and blends with other acrylic paints to create a unique effect.
Flashe paints
Flashe paints are very similar to gouache but are even more transparent and are great for painting details and adding highlights. When dry, the colors have a matte finish. They can be mixed with other acrylic paints.
Acrylic inks are very similar to artists’ inks and come in various colors. They are transparent and are great for highlights and details. They are available in bottles and mix well with other acrylic paints.
Brushes
Brushes come in various shapes and sizes, but the four most popular brush shapes are round, flat, angular, and a mix between a round and a flat called filbert. High-quality brushes hold more paint, apply evenly, and are easy to clean.
Round brushes are perfect for details, patterns, and varying strokes. Flat brushes are used to create broad strokes and can be used to paint backgrounds or cover large areas quickly. The angular brush is suitable for painting sharp lines and details. A filbert brush is excellent for blending and creating a gradual transition from one color to another.
Paint Brushes are made from nylon, natural hair, or synthetic bristles. Local art supply stores will carry a variety of styles and sizes and can help you get started with the right supplies.
Soft Brushes
Soft brushes are used for painting delicate details and for blending colors. They come in various shapes, such as round, fan, and filbert. Long-haired, soft brushes are great for blending large areas of color and painting long strokes as they hold more paint and release it slowly.
Medium Brushes
Medium brushes are used to paint details and add textures. They distribute color evenly and smoothly. They are slightly stiffer and allow more control for detail work. A medium brush is used for the majority of acrylic paintings.
Stiff Brushes
Stiff brushes can add textures and apply paint thickly to give a painting a 3d effect. They are suitable for vigorous strokes.
Paint palette
A paint palette is a rigid surface to hold, arrange, and mix paints. A palette consists of plastic, ceramic, or other hard nonporous material and comes in various shapes and sizes. A paint palette is a must-have for any acrylic painter.
Stay-wet palettes keep paints from drying out. The paints are placed on the palette and come with a lid and a sponge to keep the paints moist. Paints are kept wet and fresh for later applications. Stay-wet palettes avoid paint waste.
Disposable palettes allow you to mix and blend paint. After a painting session, you dispose of the palette.
Choosing Your Painting Surface
You can use a variety of surfaces, such as canvas, paper, metal, glass, and objects to paint on. The type of surface you use for acrylic painting will affect the final appearance of your artwork.
Canvas
Canvas is the traditional surface for painting and is ideal for beginners. It is made from cotton or linen and can be tightly wrapped around a frame.
It is ready to use, and your nearest art store will have a variety of sizes.
Paper
Paper is an excellent choice of surface for beginner painters who want to experiment with different techniques and styles. You can use various types of paper for acrylic painting, such as watercolor paper, drawing paper, or mixed media paper.
Watercolor paper for acrylic painting is the best type of paper to use. It is made from 100% cotton and is designed explicitly for water-based media. It is absorbent and will help to keep your paints from running. Drawing paper and mixed media paper are other options available for acrylic painting.
Varnishing Your Finished Painting
A protective coat of varnish can be applied to protect your finished painting. Varnish is a clear coating that helps keep the colors from fading and makes your artwork more resistant to scratches and moisture. Most varnish takes 24 hours to completely dry.
You can create landscapes, portraits, or abstract paintings or experiment with different techniques and styles. You can be artistic and expressive. Stop at an art supply store for the supplies you need and get started. Have fun and let your creativity flow.
