Acrylic Painting Supplies for Beginners

Want to start painting with acrylic paint, but have no idea what supplies to get or even where to start? I understand!

I remember the first time I decided to take up painting with acrylics, I walked into the art store and was instantly overwhelmed. The shelves were lined with all different types of paints, paintbrushes, canvases and misc. tools. I didn't know where to start and I ended up buying a lot of stuff I didn't need! Fast forward to now, I've been painting for quite a few years now and I have put together a basic list if you want to start your acrylic painting journey!

When you are starting out, you don't have to buy the fanciest paint! Look for the bottles labeled "Student" or "Basics" and start with those.

I recommend buying these basic colors: red, yellow, blue, black, white, and burnt umber. The primary colors can create all the colors you need, and the black, white, and burnt umber help make the color lighter or darker. (In depth article on paint mixing coming soon!)

This is the bulk of my palette to this day! There are tons other colors available, but sticking to those basic colors assures you won't have to buy tons of different paint colors. Plus, you will quickly become a paint mixing pro!

Below is an example of a good starter acrylic paint :

I am a huge fan of paintbrush packs! You get a variation of brush sizes at a better cost than if you bought each brush individually. Again, it doesn't have to be fancy, expensive brushes. Some of my favorite brushes are extremely economical! What I do recommend, is synthetic hair brushes in at least 5 different sizes. A large flat brush, a medium round pointed brush, a small flat brush, a fan brush and a very small detail brush are good ones to start with.

Here is a great starter pack:

Shopping for canvases is my favorite art shopping to do! Always get canvases that are already primed (most canvases are). When starting out, its always good to start small; 8"x10" or 9"x12" are good sizes to begin with.

The most popular type of canvas is a stretched canvas, that is a piece of canvas stretched around a wood frame which results in a painting surface with a bit of give. There are other options such as canvas panel, wood panel, etc. but a stretched canvas is a great starting place.

Almost finished! The last couple things are probably things you already have lying around the house!

First off, a paint water container so you can clean your brush during and after painting. Use any sort of jar, or container that you don't mind parting with. I've seen anything from mason jars to empty plastic containers being used for this purpose.

Lastly, a paint rag to wipe off your paint brush while you are painting. Again, you can use anything you don't mind parting with (acrylic paint doesn't wash off!). An old rag or t shirt works great for this purpose. You can use paper towels in a pinch, but I always encourage saving on the paper towels and using an old cloth item.

Just as a note, this is a basic list to get you started! As you paint and get familiar with your tools, you will build the confidence to branch out and add to your painting kit!

The examples I listed above were all from Michael's as this is a store that is widely accessible, but check to see if you have a locally owned art store in your area! On top of supporting a local business, they will be more than happy to help you pick out supplies if you get stuck!

Next week we will talk about paint color mixing! If you are a bit lost on how to mix those primary colors to get the paint color you wanted; keep your eyes peeled for that post!

Happy Painting!

Kaitlynn Galligher

Katecameo Art