Painting with Acrylics: Acrylic Painting for Beginners

Are you interested in painting but not quite sure how to get started? Then our painting classes are just the thing for you. With their expressive and easy-to-use qualities, acrylic paints allow you to create unique, eye-catching artworks.

In my acrylic painting classes, you can let your creativity run free, learn how to paint on canvas as a beginner, and discover what to keep in mind when working with acrylic paints. To give you a clearer sense of what acrylic painting involves, I have put together the most important information for you – so that you too can soon be creating beautiful acrylic motifs on canvas.

Acrylic Painting Made Easy: How Do I Start My Acrylic Painting?

Painting with acrylics is very well suited to beginners. The paints are highly pigmented and an incredibly versatile medium for creating wonderful artworks.

Tip for beginners painting on canvas: When starting my acrylic painting, I always begin at the top of the canvas and work from top to bottom, and from background to foreground. Start with the large areas first and save the smaller details for last.

Also make sure your canvas is lying on a flat surface. If you find you enjoy painting with acrylics, you can pick up an easel at an art supply shop and place your canvas on it.

Is Acrylic Painting Difficult?

Acrylic painting is not difficult and is perfectly suited to beginners. The paints dry relatively quickly. You can also correct and paint over mistakes easily – even in multiple layers – which works best when you do not apply the paint too thickly. With acrylics, you work from light to dark: the lighter colour is applied first, and then the darker colour is worked in to add accents.

Acrylic Ideas: What Can I Paint with Acrylics?

You can paint absolutely anything with acrylic paints.

I love motifs inspired by the sea the most. But I also love trying out new subjects. - Maren about her art

Acrylic painting template – Here is an example of what your motif from my painting class could look like on canvas. Of course, you are welcome to let your creativity run free and bring your own ideas to life. I am always happy to offer guidance along the way.

What Should Beginners Paint with Acrylics?

Here are some acrylic painting ideas I have gathered for beginners:

• A sunset using vibrant acrylic colours: red, orange, and yellow
• An abstract acrylic painting: various shapes and lines
• Colourful flowers: a flower meadow or bouquet as an acrylic idea
• Beautiful colour gradients using the wet-on-wet technique
• Acrylic pouring: creating stunning pieces with the fluid art technique
• Creating beautiful textures with acrylics using the palette knife technique

Tip for beginners painting on canvas: As a beginner, I would start with simple motifs that leave a lot of room for creativity. For example, a painting with sky, water, and beach – like the subjects in my painting classes. Or a flower meadow without too many details.

Painting a flower meadow with acrylics – a template for you:

What Do You Need to Paint with Acrylics?

To get started with acrylic painting, a basic set of materials is all you need. In general, the following supplies are enough:

• A selection of acrylic paints: In principle, you can mix all other colours from the three primary colours red, yellow, and blue. White and black acrylic paint are also needed
• A slightly thicker paper or a canvas as a painting surface
• Various brushes: depending on the motif, different sizes will be needed
• For other acrylic painting techniques, you will also need a palette knife or painting knife
• Water in a cup
• A cloth or rag
• A colour palette for mixing paints: an old plate works just fine to start with, or you can get glass, wooden, or plastic mixing palettes
• Optionally: a pencil or charcoal stick for sketching

Good to know: Want to learn acrylic painting but still a complete beginner when it comes to painting on canvas? Come to one of my acrylic painting classes and find out! All the materials you need for acrylic painting are provided in my studio.

What Surfaces Can You Paint on with Acrylics?

The key thing when painting with acrylics is that the surface is flat and not oily, so that the paints adhere properly. Typically, acrylics are used on paper, painting board, or canvas. However, you can also paint with acrylics on wood, stone, or even metal.

Surfaces you can paint on with acrylics include:

• Canvas: Durable and robust – the finished artwork can even be hung without a frame
• Hardboard: Should be primed beforehand; available at DIY or art supply shops
• Paper: To prevent the acrylic paints from bleeding through, the paper should weigh at least 360g/m²; great for detailed work
• Painting board, wood, stone, or metal

How Do You Paint with Acrylics on Canvas?

1. Choose a canvas in the size you want your acrylic painting to be.
2. Set up your painting space: lay out all the materials you need and place newspaper under the canvas. You can also paint on an easel.
3. Lightly sketch your artwork on the canvas using a charcoal stick or soft pencil.
4. Mix your colours, choose your brush, and begin with the background.
5. Work from light colours through to darker ones.
6. Use smaller brushes at the end to add details and accents.

Tips for Beginners: What Should You Keep in Mind When Painting with Acrylics?

• The right motif: As a beginner, I would choose simple, smaller motifs. Think landscapes or abstract subjects. I would not start with portraits or animals.
• Colour brightness: Acrylic paint dries darker. Keep this in mind when mixing colours for your painting. Use dark colours sparingly when mixing. Acrylic paint can be darkened quickly, but lightening it again is not as easy.
• Acrylic painting template: If you like, you can use a template to get started. You can lightly trace the template onto your canvas using a charcoal stick.
• Clothes that can get painted: Wear old clothes or an apron when painting with acrylics, as the paint is not easy to wash out of fabrics.
• Wash your brushes: Wash your brushes as soon as you are finished. If the paint dries on the brush, it will harden and become unusable.

Note: Want to learn more about acrylic painting? Visit our painting classes and discover everything you need to know in my painting classes.

Should You Thin Acrylic Paints?

Acrylic paints can be thinned with water and applied in thin, translucent layers, or worked with more thickly. Once the paint has dried on the canvas or brush, it can no longer be removed or washed out. At that point, the brush goes in the bin and the canvas can be hung. Personally, I do not thin the acrylics too much with water.

Painting with Acrylics – FAQs

What should I keep in mind as a beginner when painting on canvas?

You should lightly dampen the canvas first. This allows the paint to bond with the moisture and prevents cracking. As a beginner in acrylic painting, always start with light tones and gradually build up to darker shades. Make sure to work cleanly and wash your brushes immediately after use so the paint does not dry and harden on them.

What should I wear when painting with acrylics?

Acrylic paints are generally very difficult to remove once dry. We therefore recommend wearing old clothes or a smock to protect your clothing while painting.

How do I start acrylic painting?

Start with light tones and then gradually move towards the darker shades. Begin with the large background areas of your motif and save the smaller details for last. A simple motif with plenty of creative freedom – such as a landscape or abstract subject – is ideal for getting started with acrylic painting for beginners.

How long do acrylic paints take to dry?

Acrylic paints take approximately 30 to 60 minutes to dry in open air. However, drying time can vary depending on the thickness of the paint layer and the ambient temperature.