How to Make Acrylic Paint

Co-authored by Jeanine Hattas Wilson

Last Updated: October 31, 2022 References

Artists like to use acrylic paint because of its ability to mimic both the transparency of watercolor paint and the opacity of oil paint. Artists also like to use acrylic paints because compared to oil paints, acrylic paints are safer to handle and more resistant to heat. Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Mark Rothko and David Hockney are some notable 20th-century artists who use acrylic paint extensively in their work. ^{[1]
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Research source} Making your own acrylic paint allows you to control what’s in your paint as well as provide you with a way to save money. Purchasing a gallon of acrylic medium and several pigment dispersions or powdered pigments from an art store will produce more paint at a lower cost than purchasing the same quantity of paint in tubes or jars without sacrificing quality. ^{[2]
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Expert Source

Jeanine Hattas Wilson
Professional Painter

Expert Interview. 5 May 2021.} ^{[3]
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Research source} If you don’t have access to an art store or the right materials, try using the faux acrylic paint method.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Your Own Acrylic Paint

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1
Gather all of your supplies. Place the items together in one area.
- A plastic mixing container
- Wooden chopstick
- Dry pigment
- Painting spatula
- An acrylic base
- Solution (water or an alcohol like rubbing alcohol)
- Acrylic retarder
2
Grind the dry pigment. You can use the flat side of a painting spatula to apply pressure until you do not feel any “grittiness." Paint pigments sold in arts supply stores usually come in powdered form. Many artists also choose to find alternative pigments based on crushed dried plants or other substances.
- Grind the pigment until you do not feel any "grittiness" as you apply pressure. Most pigments will break down fairly easily, so just make sure that there are no irregular lumps remaining. ^{[4]
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- If the pigment has come in powdered form, you may not need to grind it unless it is lumpy.
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3
Measure and record the amounts of pigment and acrylic base. Before you begin mixing the components together, you should measure and record the quantity of pigment and base used. You may need to make more of a color before you finish a painting or to retouch a painting. You can only do so with consistency if you know how much pigment and acrylic base you used. ^{[5]
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- Acrylic base is essentially paint without pigment. It will usually come in a squeezable tube and the substance itself will appear white. There are several different sorts, such as glossy or matte, and you must determine which type you need for your painting. ^{[6]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Jeanine Hattas Wilson
  Professional Painter
  
  Expert Interview. 5 May 2021.}
^{[7]
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Expert Source

Jeanine Hattas Wilson
Professional Painter

Expert Interview. 5 May 2021.} Use the wooden chopstick to mix them thoroughly together, until the pigment is evenly dispersed throughout the acrylic base.
5
Combine the solution with the pigmented acrylic base thoroughly. Read the instructions that came with your acrylic binder because the preferred ratio of base to solution varies from brand to brand.
- Some pigments (especially organic ones) have a tendency to float on water. In this case you would substitute alcohol. Make sure you are using a solution appropriate for the pigment. ^{[8]
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- It’s not ideal to mix alcohol into acrylic paints because alcohol dries quickly, causing the paint to also dry quickly. If you are using a pigment that mixes best with alcohol but want the paint to dry more slowly, you can add water after you have mixed the pigment with alcohol.
- Too much water or alcohol will dilute the acrylic binder, so be careful.
6
Blend in acrylic retarder. Acrylic retarder helps to slow how quickly acrylic paint dries. It’s important to follow the instructions that came with your acrylic retarder. However, a general rule of thumb is that more retarder used, the slower the acrylic paint will dry. You can figure out ratios of your own liking as you become accustomed to its use.
- Acrylic retarders are especially necessary if you are attempting to create photorealistic paintings or portraits of a human subject. Colors must be blended together on the canvas to create the contours of complex shapes, but fast-drying acrylics will set before a second color can be added. ^{[9]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Making Faux Acrylic Paint with White Glue

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1
Set up all of your supplies in one area. Though not true acrylic paint, this mix is more adaptable than many of the other paints intended for younger users. You’ll need:
- A plastic mixing container
- Wooden chopstick
- Liquid paint
- Common white glue
2
Pour equal portions of the liquid paint and the glue into your plastic mixing container. You can alter the ratio slightly to modify the clarity of the color, but too much water-based paint will break down the glue altogether.
- Some versions of the white glue dry clearer than others. For more vibrant colors (rather than pastels), you may want to find a variety with that dries more clear. ^{[10]
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The faux acrylic paint will be ready for use in a matter of minutes.
Unlike the water-based paint you had started with, your new faux acrylic paint can stick to most any surface. ^{[11]
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Question

What do I do if my acrylic paint is too thin?

Jeanine Hattas Wilson
Professional Painter
Jeanine Hattas Wilson is a Professional Painter and the President of Hattas Public Murals, Inc. With nearly 20 years of experience, Jeanine specializes in creating, overseeing, designing, and painting murals. Jeanine holds a BA in Advertising from Marquette University and a Studio Painting Minor from The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. She has studied at The Atelier Artien in Paris, France, Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, and under renowned artists such as Robert Liberace, Michael Siegel, and William Cochran. To date, Hattas Public Murals has painted nearly 5,000 commissioned works of art in homes and commercial and public spaces.

Jeanine Hattas Wilson

Professional Painter

Expert Answer

Add in some acrylic gel to make your paint thicker! It comes in its own jar.

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Do you need to prime canvas for acrylic paint?

Jeanine Hattas Wilson
Professional Painter
Jeanine Hattas Wilson is a Professional Painter and the President of Hattas Public Murals, Inc. With nearly 20 years of experience, Jeanine specializes in creating, overseeing, designing, and painting murals. Jeanine holds a BA in Advertising from Marquette University and a Studio Painting Minor from The Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. She has studied at The Atelier Artien in Paris, France, Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art, and under renowned artists such as Robert Liberace, Michael Siegel, and William Cochran. To date, Hattas Public Murals has painted nearly 5,000 commissioned works of art in homes and commercial and public spaces.

Jeanine Hattas Wilson

Professional Painter

Expert Answer

Priming your canvas is definitely a good idea! Use a bit of water to brush or roll a coat of gesso onto your canvas. Let the canvas dry, and sand the surface down so it's nice and smooth. Then, apply a second coat of gesso with even more water. Wait for the canvas to dry, sand it down again, and then you're ready to get painting!

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How do I make acrylic paint without dry pigment?

Community Answer

Try food coloring. It will give you a nice, opaque color. Food coloring also comes in many colors, which will give you a variety to choose from!

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Warnings

Avoid getting paint in your eyes. If you do get paint in your eyes, rinse your eyes with water and contact a physician immediately.

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Things You'll Need

Making Your Own Acrylic Paint

A plastic mixing container
Wooden chopstick
Dry pigment
Painting spatula
An acrylic base
Solution (water or an alcohol like clear vodka)
Acrylic retarder

Making Faux Acrylics with PVA Glue

A plastic mixing container
Wooden chopstick
Liquid paint
PVA glue

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Professional Painter

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How to Make Acrylic Paint

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Making Your Own Acrylic Paint

Making Faux Acrylic Paint with White Glue

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Making Your Own Acrylic Paint

Making Faux Acrylics with PVA Glue

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