10 Acrylic Painting Tips for Beginners

If you enjoy painting, you might try experimenting with these acrylic painting tips. Acrylic painting is the new kid on the block. While watercolor and oil paints have been used for centuries, acrylic paints weren't sold as commercial art supplies until the 1950s. Acrylic paints are versatile, drying much more quickly than oil paints and can be thinned to resemble watercolors. In addition, acrylics resist water after drying and also resist cracking. 

Ten Tips for Acrylic Painting

• Remember that acrylic paint dries really quickly. This means that if you don't keep your brushes wet, you will end up with a very colorful, unusable slab instead of a brush.
• Your paint will also dry quickly on your palette. You can either buy a palette that is designed to stay wet or spray water on your palette from a bottle from time to time to keep your paints from drying.
• Use brushes made with synthetic bristles instead of natural bristles. Acrylic paint is alkaline and will wreak havoc on natural brushes.
• Use inexpensive acrylic paints for experimenting until you get the hang of this type of painting. When you get some experience under your belt, graduate yourself to more expensive paints. While the cheaper paints will fade over time, you will also waste paint as a beginner as you experiment and learn.
• You can also save money by practicing on glass. When you are finished, you can simply wash the paint off of glass rather than wasting paper or canvas.
• Only wash your brushes with water. Don't use turpentine or mineral water.
• If you need to thin your paint, use water, not turpentine or mineral water.
• You can paint all kinds of surfaces using acrylics, including candles, wood, metals, glass and china.
• If you are painting glass or china, remember that this paint is used for decorative purposes only. The paint should not be placed in an area where it will come in contact with food or drink.
• Try different acrylic paint manufacturers until you find a brand that suits you the best.