The Beginner’s Guide to Acrylic Painting

Everything You Need to Know to Start Painting With Confidence

Welcome! 💛

If you’re brand new to acrylic painting and feel overwhelmed by where to begin, this guide was created for you.

The truth is, painting does not have to be intimidating, expensive, or complicated to become a relaxing and rewarding hobby. You do not need years of experience, expensive supplies, or even drawing skills to create beautiful artwork.

You simply need to begin.

My goal is to help make acrylic painting feel approachable, fun, and achievable so that you can enjoy the process and create artwork you feel proud of.

Why Acrylic Paint Is Perfect for Beginners

Acrylic paint is one of the easiest painting mediums to learn.

Unlike watercolor, mistakes are easy to fix because acrylic paint can simply be painted over once dry.

Unlike oil paint, acrylics:
• Dry quickly
• Are beginner-friendly
• Require less setup
• Are easier to clean
• Allow you to finish a painting in one sitting

This makes acrylic painting perfect for hobby painters, busy adults, and anyone looking for a relaxing creative outlet.

Basic Supplies You Need to Start

Click here for my entire supply list in amazon. You do not need a giant collection of art supplies to begin painting.

A simple beginner setup is more than enough.

Supplies I Recommend:

• Acrylic paints
• A few paint brushes
• Water cup
• Paper towels
• Disposable paper plate or palette
• Spray bottle
• Acrylic paper or watercolor paper

That’s it.

You can absolutely create beautiful artwork with simple beginner supplies.

Start With Paper Instead of Canvas

One of the biggest beginner mistakes is starting with giant stretched canvases.

I know because that’s exactly what I did.

Large canvases can feel overwhelming and often slow down your learning because you complete fewer paintings.

Instead, I strongly recommend starting with paper.

Why Paper Is Better for Beginners:

• More affordable
• Less intimidating
• Easier to practice on
• Faster to complete paintings
• Easier to create details
• Great for learning layering and brush control

You can use:
• Acrylic paper
• Watercolor paper
• Heavy cardstock

And the best part?

Small paintings on paper look absolutely beautiful framed with a mat.

I recommend starting with easy-to-frame sizes like:
• 5x7
• 8x10

Do You Need to Prime the Surface?

If you paint on paper, no priming is necessary.

That’s one reason paper is so beginner-friendly.

If you choose to paint on stretched canvas, most canvases already come pre-gessoed, but the surface is still often rough and absorbent.

Many artists apply additional layers of gesso and sand between layers to create a smoother painting surface.

This is another reason why paper is such a great option for beginners.

How to Keep Acrylic Paint From Drying Too Fast

Acrylic paint dries quickly, which is both helpful and frustrating.

To keep your paints workable longer:

Use a Spray Bottle

Lightly mist your palette while painting to keep paints from drying out.

Use a Slow Drying Medium

Acrylic retarder or slow drying medium can extend blending time and help beginners create smoother transitions.

You CAN Use Water With Acrylic Paint

You may hear artists say:
“Never use too much water with acrylic paint.”

That advice is often misunderstood.

If you are painting on paper, you can absolutely use water to thin your paints and create softer layers, similar to watercolor techniques.

Painting on paper is much more forgiving than canvas and allows beginners to experiment more freely.

Do You Need to Varnish Acrylic Paintings?

No.

You do not have to varnish acrylic paintings.

Acrylic paint naturally dries into a durable plastic-like surface.

While varnish can add shine, it can also introduce:
• Dust
• Bubbles
• Hair or debris trapped in the finish

For beginners and hobby painters, varnishing is completely optional.

Avoid Using Black to Shade Colors

One of the most important beginner painting tips:

Do not automatically use black to darken colors.

Using black can flatten colors and make paintings appear muddy.

Instead:

Use the Opposite Color on the Color Wheel

Adding a tiny amount of the opposite color creates richer, more natural shadows.

Examples:
• Green deepens red
• Purple deepens yellow
• Blue deepens orange

Use Raw Umber

Raw umber is one of the best beginner-friendly colors for deepening shadows softly and naturally.

It creates warmth and depth without harshness.

How to Create Creamy Whites

Pure white straight from the tube can feel too bright and harsh.

To create softer, more elegant whites:

Add the tiniest amount of:
• Yellow ochre
OR
• Yellow oxide

This creates a creamy white that feels warmer and more professional.

This works beautifully for:
• Flowers
• Vintage-inspired paintings
• Cottage-style artwork
• Chinoiserie paintings
• Clouds and soft highlights

Paint in Layers

Acrylic painting works best in layers.

A common beginner mistake is trying to finish every detail immediately.

Instead:

Start With Darker Values

Block in your shadows and deepest colors first.

Slowly Build Lighter Colors

As layers dry, continue adding lighter details and highlights.

Acrylic painting often looks messy in the middle stages.

That is completely normal.

Every painting goes through what I call:
“The messy middle.”

Do not quit there.

The magic happens in the later layers.

Do You Need to Know How to Draw?

Absolutely not.

Painting and drawing are completely different skills.

You do not need advanced drawing abilities to become a painter.

Many artists use:
• Printable sketches
• Tracing methods
• Transfer techniques
• Projectors
• Grid systems

These tools help beginners focus on learning painting techniques without the pressure of drawing everything freehand.

Easy Ways to Create Sketches for Paintings

Here are beginner-friendly ways to create sketches:

Use a Projector

Project your reference photo onto paper and lightly trace the outline.

Use Phone Tracing Apps

Some apps allow you to trace directly from your phone screen.

Use Tracing Paper

Trace your image, scan it, and print it onto art paper.

Use the Grid Method

Break an image into smaller sections to simplify proportions.

Paint Along Kits & Printable Sketches

Many tutorials on my YouTube channel include:

✨ Free downloadable sketches
✨ Printable templates
✨ Step-by-step instruction
✨ Beginner-friendly Paint Along Kits

What If You Add Too Many Layers?

If your painting becomes too textured or overworked:

Use a little rubbing alcohol on the surface and gently smooth it back down before repainting.

This can help restore a smoother surface for details.

Painting Is More Than Just Art

Painting can become:
• A relaxing hobby
• Stress relief
• Creative therapy
• A confidence-building skill
• A meaningful part of your routine

You are not supposed to create a perfect masterpiece immediately.

Every artist learns through practice.

The important thing is continuing past the messy middle and allowing yourself to grow.

Ready to Start Painting?

Visit my YouTube channel for:
🎨 Beginner acrylic painting tutorials
🎨 Paint along videos
🎨 Free printable sketches
🎨 Beginner Paint Along Kits
🎨 Step-by-step guidance

Search: @ashley.fineart

I can’t wait to paint with you. 💛