How to Paint with Acrylics

Published on January 14, 2008 by Ruby Hawk in Visual Arts
How to Paint with Acrylics

Acrylics are easy to use. With the bonus of less mess, and quick drying time, they are the perfect painting medium.

Acrylics are a clean, quick drying, easy to use, an easy to clean up medium that makes learning to paint fun and productive without the mess and smell of traditional oil paints.

Paintbox and Material:

  • Palette

Start with these basic colors:

  • black
  • titanium white
  • cadmium red
  • thalo crimson
  • cadmium orange
  • cadmium yellow
  • yellow ochre
  • permanent green light
  • thalo green
  • ultramarine blue
  • purple
  • burnt sienna
  • burnt umber

Buy large size tubes of black and white. Supplement your palette with other color variations in tone and intensity that strike a balance.

Brushes:

Choose shapes and sizes that feel comfortable to your hand. This basic selection works well for all-purpose use.

  • 1/4″ bright soft flat
  • 3/8″ soft flat
  • 3/16″bright soft flat
  • fine point liner
  • 1/4″bristle flat

Drawing and Painting Tools:

  • art gum eraser
  • painting knife
  • paper towel or sponge
  • no.2 pencil or drawing pencil
  • wax paper or palette paper
  • water bottles
  • hair dryer
  • acrylic gloss medium
  • Canvas
Read more in Visual Arts
« How to Paint a Picture
Anyone is an Artist »

Use prestretched canvas or canvas board. Or try stretching your own canvas with premade stretchers and unprimed sail cloth. You can make your own stretcher board with 2x 2’s, and any heavy cotton material will work for a canvas. Secure canvas to stretcher board with staples, and coat it with a thin application of primer.Don’t glob the primer on the canvas, allow the canvas to breath. Let the primed canvas dry completely before applying paint.

12
Liked it

Tags: , , , ,

10 Comments

Jupiter King, posted this comment on Jan 14th, 2008

Great Article Ruby!! unfortunately I am better with digital art than conventional art though, lol

Ruby Hawk, posted this comment on Jan 14th, 2008

Jupiter,I like your digital art. It is a delight. I see I made a mistake in the opening. I will change it but I dont know how long it will take triond to get to it.

Alexa Gates, posted this comment on Jan 14th, 2008

THis is great! Maybe i’ll try some acrylics :) I usually dabble with water color ;)

Dee Huff, posted this comment on Jan 14th, 2008

Very clear instructions. Thanks, I’ve tried to paint with acrylic once before but didn’t do very well. Maybe I’ll try again.

Judy Sheldon-Walker, posted this comment on Jan 14th, 2008

Can I go to class with you, Ruby? It sure sounds like fun.

Ruby Hawk, posted this comment on Jan 14th, 2008

Alexa, Watercolors are great too. Anything to get paint on the canvas is great.

Dee, Just keep at it, its fun trying.

Judy, you can go with me anytime. It is fun. Best wishes to you all and thanks for your comments.

Lucy Lockett, posted this comment on Jan 15th, 2008

Reading this makes me feel like painting!

Amos, posted this comment on Jan 17th, 2008

Does painting my barn count? I can do that.

Ruby Hawk, posted this comment on Feb 14th, 2008

Yes Amos painting is painting. You can paint a picture on wall board,wood, or anything handy. Just pick up your paint brush and start painting. best wishes, Ruby

Harold, posted this comment on Feb 18th, 2008

If Amos can do it, I think I can too. Good information here to get started.

Leave a Response