Acrylic Paint Types

Paint Type Consistency Opacity Best Use Notes
Heavy Body Thick, buttery High Canvas, impasto techniques Holds brushstrokes well
Soft Body Smooth, fluid Medium Detail, glazing, fluid work Good flow, mixes easily
High Flow Ink-like Transparent Airbrush, calligraphy Great for fine lines
Student Grade Varies Medium Practice, beginners Less pigment, lower price
Professional Grade Consistent High Gallery-level work Rich pigment, better coverage

Surface Options

Surface Prep Needed Texture Best For Notes
Stretched Canvas Pre-gessoed or DIY Medium Most acrylic paintings Ready-to-use or prep with gesso
Canvas Board Minimal prep Medium Studies, practice Budget-friendly
Acrylic Paper None Smooth Sketching, quick practice Disposable, easy to transport
Wood Panels Gesso recommended Smooth-Hard Mixed media, heavy texture Durable and professional finish
Watercolour Paper Gesso required Textured Mixed media Use thicker (300gsm+) paper
Glass/Plastic Sealer/Primer Smooth Reversible or decorative use Needs adhesion prep

Essential Acrylic Tools

Tool Use Notes
Brushes Applying paint Synthetic bristles preferred
Palette Mixing colours Stay-wet palettes extend paint time
Palette Knife Mixing and applying texture Great for impasto, scraping
Water Jar Cleaning brushes Use separate for clean/dirty
Rag or Paper Towels Blotting and cleanup Keep close at all times
Gesso Prepping surface Increases tooth and durability
Varnish Protecting finished work Matte, satin, or gloss finish
Spray Bottle Moisturizing palette Prevents drying out too quickly

Brush Types & Uses

Brush Type Shape Best For Notes
Flat Square edge Backgrounds, blocking in colour Makes sharp edges
Round Tapered point Lines, detail, sketching Very versatile
Filbert Rounded edge Soft blending, petals Combines round & flat
Fan Spread bristles Texture (grass, fur, blending) Natural effects
Angular Slanted tip Precision lines, corners Great for shapes & edges
Detail Small tip Fine work, highlights Keep a few in small sizes

Basic Acrylic Techniques

Technique Description Skill Level Best Use
Layering Painting over dry layers Beginner Depth and complexity
Blending (Wet) Smooth transition between wet colours Intermediate Skies, gradients
Dry Brushing Using minimal paint for texture Intermediate Hair, grass, textures
Glazing Transparent paint over dried layer Advanced Colour shifts, shadows
Impasto Thick texture, visible strokes Advanced Bold, expressive work
Sgraffito Scratching into paint Intermediate Reveals underlayers
Stippling Dots for shading or texture Beginner Patterns, rough surfaces
Pouring Pour fluid paint for marbling Intermediate Abstract backgrounds

Acrylic Colour Mixing & Theory

Colour Scheme Mood/Effect Example Combination Tip
Complementary High contrast Blue + Orange Use for vibrant focal points
Analogous Harmonious Red + Orange + Yellow Good for cohesive palettes
Triadic Balanced Red + Blue + Yellow Equal spacing on colour wheel
Split Complementary Bold but balanced Blue + Red-Orange + Yellow-Orange Slightly less tension
Monochromatic Calm and elegant Blue + White + Black Vary brightness/saturation

Beginner-Friendly Acrylic Projects

Project Idea Surface Key Techniques Time Estimate
Sunset Sky Canvas board Blending, layering 1–2 hours
Abstract Pour Canvas Pouring, colour mixing 1 hour
Floral Close-Up Canvas or paper Layering, dry brush 2–3 hours
Mountain Landscape Canvas Blending, stippling 2–4 hours
Animal Silhouette Canvas board Glazing, background work 1–2 hours
Palette Knife Seascape Canvas Impasto, palette knife 2–3 hours

Common Mistakes & Fixes

Problem Cause Solution
Paint Drying Too Fast Acrylic dries quickly Mist surface, use slow-dry medium
Muddy Colours Over-mixing/complementary clash Limit palette, let layers dry fully
Visible Brush Marks Using wrong brush/direction Use soft brush or blending technique
Canvas Warping Too much water, no gesso Use thick canvas, gesso both sides
Cracking Texture Thick layers dry too fast Add in thinner layers or use medium

Varnishing & Finishing

Varnish Type Finish Application Notes
Gloss Shiny Brush or spray Intensifies colours
Satin Semi-gloss Brush or spray Balanced option
Matte Flat Brush or spray Softens bold colours
Removable Gloss/satin Spray or brush Useful for conservation
UV Protective Any Spray preferred For longevity and display

Selling Acrylic Art

Product Type Market Price Range Notes
Canvas Paintings Galleries, Etsy $40–$500+ Frame or edge-wrap for polish
Acrylic Pours Art shows, online $30–$300 Unique patterns, good beginner seller
Mini Art Pieces Craft fairs, bundles $10–$50 Use leftover paint/mini canvases
Functional Art Coasters, planters Local markets Seal properly for durability
Commissioned Pieces Direct clients $100–$1000+ Portraits, pets, custom scenes

Workspace Tips

Item Recommendation Why It Matters
Ventilation Keep space aired out Especially with varnish or pouring
Brush Care Rinse immediately, store bristle-up Prevents damage
Organized Palette Arrange by colour family Faster mixing and cleaner work
Lighting Natural light or daylight bulbs Accurate colour perception
Surface Protection Drop cloth or plastic sheet Acrylic dries hard—difficult to clean

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