How to Paint with Acrylics Paint

Are you wondering how to paint with acrylics? It is true that some people think only about watercolors or oils when it comes to painting. They may not even consider acrylics. If you’re interested in this medium but don’t know how to get started on acrylic painting, read on for more information.

In a lot of ways, acrylics are similar to watercolors. Acrylics are a form of water-based paints. You can thin the paint down using only water and clean up is a breeze, because water is all you need. A fast-drying paint, acrylics can be used straight, thinned down or in watery glazes.

A basic acrylic painting palette would include the following paints:

Cadmium red medium is a good choice but you can also use cadmium red light and dark.
Phthalo blue which can also be called monestial blue or thalo blue is a basic choice.
Cadmium yellow medium which can be modified based on the amount of white you add to it is a good paint to choose.
Titanium white will be used to mix with other colors to create various tints of those colors.
Mars black is also added to create various shades so you’ll want a good quality black.
Burnt umber is a variation of brown; you may also want to get raw umber which is a lighter variation of brown.
Phthalo green is a great choice when trying to create a multitude of shades of green.
Cadmium orange is a basic orange. If you use quite a bit of orange it may be easier to purchase ready-made orange rather than mixing it.
Dark purple is another color it’s easier to purchase ready-made instead of trying to create it by mixing the primary colors.
Titanium buff or raw titanium is good when you’re trying to create skin tones when mixing it with burnt umber.

Actual palettes for painting can be made of glass, wood, or plastic, although you may get tired of cleaning the palette. You can now find paper palette pads which can be used and then torn off and thrown away.

After creating the basic acrylic palette, you’ll need a variety of paint brushes. Use stiffer-bristled brushes if you’re using the acrylics straight. If you’re going for a watercolor effect, it’s better to use soft-bristled brushes. Choose a good quality set of brushes which will include round, flat, pointed brushes of various lengths.

You’ll also need someplace to paint. People often purchase supports which include wood panels, paper, canvas boards, and stretched canvas. If you stretch your own canvas, you’ll also need a primer called gesso.

These are the basic items you’ll need when you learn how to get started on acrylic painting. You may want to choose each item individually but you may be able to find a complete set of acrylic paints with brushes as well. Take a look around; you may be surprised at what you can find.

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