Acrylic Painting Checklist (& three tips)

Have you ever wanted to start painting with acrylics but don’t know where to start? Ever walked into an art store and been simultaneously in awe and completely lost on what supplies to get? Don’t worry, I 100% can relate and am here to tell you exactly what I use for acrylic painting so you can too.

I know how daunting it can be to start something completely new when you have no idea where to start (and the options are endless). I’ve been painting with acrylic paints for over 16 years and have tried a lot of different supplies. I’ve come to use the same supplies pretty consistently now and would love to share them with you so you can try them out and see if they’re right for you!

The truth is, you don’t really need a TON of art supplies to paint - unless that’s your style, then by all means bring on all the tools! But I’ve learned to be pretty minimal in what I use to keep my process simple during this season of my life (hello raising 3 children under 4 - read more about that here). So without going on and on, here is what I use on a day to day basis for acrylic painting…

Supply List:

• Golden heavy body acrylic paint

  This is the good stuff. It’s the perfectly creamy, highly-pigmented paint of artist dreams. There are other types of acrylic paint, including fluid, high-flow, slow-drying. I prefer to use heavy body because I love that creamy, thick texture. Side note: if you are wanting to create and sell your work then you will want to invest in some higher quality paints. Coming from someone who has tried the cheaper paints, it’s worth it. If you’re more of a hobbyist then you can definitely use the student grade paint, but the difference really is noticeable in the quality of the paints when you are mixing colours.

• Acrylic paint brushes

  Here is an area where I tend to buy a less expensive brush. I know I am fairly rough on my brushes so I prefer to buy a less expensive paint brush and know I will go through more as they wear out. Paint brushes made for painting with acrylics are usually made from synthetic fibers - don't use watercolour brushes as those are too soft, look for brushes made for acrylic or mixed media so they are strong enough to work with heavy body paint. My favourite style to use is the filbert brush, it has a rounded flat tip that is great for almost anything.

• Canvas, paper, or wood panel

  Whatever surface you choose to paint on, make sure to properly prepare it for acrylic paint. Most canvases will come already prepared to paint for acrylics, while wood panels you will need to apply a sealant (GAC 100 works great) and a few coats of gesso before painting. Paper is also a great option if you prefer to frame your work or for practicing on - a good mixed media paper should be sturdy enough for acrylic painting. I have used Strathmore Mixed Media paper and really enjoyed it.

• Paint Palette

  I love using my glass paint palette for acrylic paint because once the paint dries, all I have to do is squirt it with a little water and scrape it off! There are other types of palettes you can use as well including ones that help keep your paint wet longer, or even just a good old paper plate!

• Water jar

  This might seem obvious, but make sure to have a jar of water on hand to clean your brushes in between colours! There’s nothing worse than having your paint colours becoming all muddy and grey.

• Varnish

  After your masterpiece is complete, you will want to varnish your painting to protect it from UV rays and dust. My varnish of choice has been Krylon UV Archival Varnish in satin (it’s a spray form rather than liquid). Make sure to spray it outside where there is good ventilation and allow to dry overnight between coats.

A few basic tips to get started…

• Don’t go overboard on colours. With a shade of red, blue, and yellow (and white) you can mix up almost any colour you can think of. If I feel a painting is feeling a little overwhelming or chaotic, it’s usually because I’ve used way too many colours. Need help deciding where to start? My go-to colours are Prussian Blue, Sap Green, Burnt Sienna, Green Gold, Yellow Ochre.

• To make a shade darker… don’t add black, instead mix in the complimentary colour! (ie. mix a little red into green to make a darker green) Here is a really basic colour wheel for reference.

• Use tonal variation to keep your painting from looking flat - to put it simply, make sure your painting has a variety of dark and light areas. Sometimes this can be hard to tell, so an easy way to check is to take a quick black and white photo of your painting and you’ll easily be able to tell if your painting has good tonal variation or is feeling a little flat. Learn more about tonal variation here.

I hope this helps answer any questions you may have about painting with acrylic! If you have any further questions let me know in the comments and I’d be happy to answer what I can. Oh, and happy painting!