Q&A for How to Paint With Acrylics

Be sure to pick high-quality paints so they have the most dye and saturation. When you start, be sure to prime your worksurface with a layer of gesso first so the paint doesn't absorb into it.

It’s a good idea to start with simple subjects that will help you get a feel for the paints and what they can do. A still life, or a painting of a small collection of objects, is a good exercise for beginning painters. Choose some interesting objects, such as some pieces of pottery or an assortment of fruits and vegetables with different colors and textures, and arrange them in a visually pleasing way. Experiment with painting the objects and capturing things like shape, depth, light, shadow, and texture.

Keep practicing and experimenting with different techniques until you figure out what works for you. You may also find it helpful to take a painting class, read books on acrylic painting technique, or watch video tutorials.

You can, and it’s definitely a good idea to keep your brushes wet during the painting process. This will help prevent the paint from drying out and hardening in the brush as you work. Keep a shallow dish or saucer of water next to you and lay the brush down in that when you’re not using it. Keep a separate, larger container of water for cleaning the brushes when you want to switch between colors.

You don't really need to prepare paper at all for when painting with acrylics. If you'd like a nice boarder around your painting, however, you can put making tape or painters tape around the edges of your paper. Once you are done painting, you can carefully pull the tape away to reveal clean, sharp edges.

Yes you can. Gesso will just make it easier for the paint to stick. You can also use gesso to cover up old paint left on the canvas. If your canvas is new and unused, it is not necessary to use gesso.

This is fairly common with any form of painting, especially when using thinners or water with the paint. Adding another layer or two of paint will remedy the problem. You can also try putting more paint and/or less water on the brush when you're painting.

Choose a picture or live model to paint (such as placing the flowers in a vase or resting them somewhere pretty). Choose the light source you favor. It can either be natural light or an artificial light setting. If you prefer a natural light setting and do not wish to paint alla prima, then take a picture of the set-up and work from that. Choose the surface that you wish to paint on (canvas, wood, panels, etc.) It is important that your surface is primed accordingly. If you wish sketch your image on to your surface, watercolor pencils are the most efficient for this, given the fact that they will completely go away when the paint makes contact with it. Once your sketch is on, you can start painting!

Google 'Painting with Jane'. It's a great resource for newbies.

Wait until it is no longer glossy, which is about 10 minutes. If you are in a hurry, you can get a fast drying medium to add to your paint or you can just use a hair blow dryer to speed up the process.

If you wait for it to dry, you could always paint white over it. This might take a few layers, but it'll work just fine. I'm just assuming that you're painting on a white canvas, but if you're painting on a different colored canvas, use that color to paint over your mistake.

No, you do not have to. What you can do, however, is paint it with gesso first. It acts as a primer by smoothing out the texture and making it easier for the paint to stick. It typically comes in white, but you can also buy it in black or clear. You can find it at any art supply shop.

Yes. That's a common surface to use for acrylic paint. You can also use it on wood and other surfaces that have been primed accordingly.

No. It may be easier to get out of a tube, especially in smaller amounts, but the paint should be the same (unless it specifically says otherwise) and the packaging shouldn't affect the paint. Get whichever one fits your needs best.

They both work perfectly fine. Use canvas, though, if you want a more professional look.

Yes, as long as you use the 300 gsm or thicker watercolor paper. However, always test on a small piece of your watercolor paper first to see how it reacts with acrylic paints mixed with varying degrees of water.

Yes, it will work the same on cardboard as it does on paper or canvas.

It would be helpful if you stated what kind of medium you are using. If it is a "slow dryer," that might account for it. If you are also an oil painter (like me), you could have picked up and used the wrong medium (like I've done!) or purchased the wrong medium for acrylics. Anyway, in my use of acrylics, which is not extensive, I've not run across a problem like yours except when I used the wrong product.

Yes, you can. No need to seal, but it wouldn't hurt. Acrylic is basically liquid plastic, so it is a sealant in itself.

You can use a gloss spray. You should let the paint dry for 5-10 minutes, and then spray a glosser over the entire painting.

No. You do not need to use water. You can use just the paint from the tube or bottle.

You could use neat PVA or acrylic varnish, both will give you a transparent finish over the paint.

I used acrylics to paint murals over fresh latex paint in our bedroom, entryway and on an outdoor bar. They held up fine with no other prep.

If you are doing a seascape, make the waves get bigger as they get closer. Even if they are not that big, it makes a difference.

Go slow. Focus on one small area at a time. It's okay if it takes you longer than a day or two. Just remember, there are no mistakes in art. If something doesn't look right, don't give up, just tweak it a little.

Use a generous amount of paint.

Nope! Painting papers/canvas are typically sold pre-treated and ready for you to paint them. Even if you are using paper/canvas that isn't pre-treated, you don't need to sand it. The texture is perfectly normal. Happy painting!

Mess around! Sketchbooks are great for this, because you can turn a plain book into a brain-dump of your ideas. The best thing about art is that you can build skills using materials as cheap as crayola or as expensive as oil paints. It doesn't matter if it's not technically correct, go crazy! Art is about learning and expression, and all of us started out exactly where you are.

You should paint on dry paper, and use either a canvas or painting paper. Printer paper or marker paper will tear and bleed through.

Make sure there is no dirt or dust in the paint brush, and pencil over the design first, as lead is smooth and shiny so you will be able to see it.