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Highlights Est. 2001
info@hlstore.com
Deliveries everyday Shipping from 9 EUR 19 years experience
Do you want to start painting with acrylics but maybe don't know where to start? Or maybe you already paint with acrylic paint but want to take your creativity to the next level. Either way, this guide will help you figure out what you need, whether you have some experience or if you are beginner. We will go through the basics of acrylic paints and their different qualities, surfaces and canvas, brushes and palette.
Acrylic paints are usually divided into three different categories based on quality. Depending on what skill level you are at, different qualities may suit you differently. The better the quality of the acrylic paint, the more pigment they contain. These are the different categories:
Budget quality - This is usually cheap acrylic paint. This suits those who have never painted with acrylic paint before and just want to "play" with the paint. We have this budget option:
Daler Rowney Acrylic set 25 pcs
Studio Quality - This is good quality and is often used by hobby artists. This option is suitable for those who want to paint paintings and want to improve their painting skills. This is one of our studio quality acrylic paints:
W&N Galeria Acrylic 500ml & W&N Galeria Acrylic 60ml, 6-Set
Artist Quality - These are high quality acrylic paints used by experienced painters. Among other products, we have this acrylic paint with artist quality (premium quality):
Schmincke PRIMAcryl, 60ml & Schmincke PRIMAcryl Set, 8 x 60ml
Color theory is a good thing to learn when painting. It helps one understand how different colors go together. By acquiring a standard set of colors, you can mix them to create new colors. The most common colors that most people usually have at home are these:
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You can paint with acrylic paint directly from the tube or mix it with medium or water. You can also change the properties of the color by mixing it with medium first. We have a category called "Acrylic & Mediums", where you will find a wide range of different mediums for different purposes. The paint can be thinned to make it more fluid or transparent. You can also make the paint more viscous if you want higher coverage or create structure with the paint.
Simply put, acrylic paint is water soluble and dries faster than oil paint.
Before you start painting, it can be good to know how to prepare your canvas in different ways. You can use a canvas panel, a stretched canvas or another material, but before you start painting it is important that you prime the surface. We recommend that you prime the surface with one or more layers of gesso, base coat or primer (available in the category "Acrylic & Mediums"). Priming helps the paint adhere better to the surface, but also makes the surface absorbe less paint.
Different primers can give the canvas or surface different characters, which can cause the paint to settle in different ways. You can either make the surface smoother, then the paint will settle more evenly. Or you can make the surface rougher and give it structure, then the color will settle accordingly.
Acrylic paint adheres to most dry, clean and grease free surfaces such as wood, fabric, paper and plastic. We have acrylic paint that is specially adapted for fabric and leather. See our guide on painting shoes.
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In addition to acrylic paint and a prepared canvas, you will need brushes, a palette and water.
When choosing brushes, you can check whether the brushes are made for acrylic paint or oil paint. Both of these options work well with acrylic paint. Since acrylic paint dries quickly, it can be good for beginners to buy slightly cheaper brushes, as it is very common to accidentally destroy brushes as a beginner. When you get into the routine of washing your brushes and storing them in a good way, it's time to invest in better brushes.
You need a palette on which you can mix colors. This can either be a plastic palette, a wooden board, or a piece of cardboard. It doesn't really matter, but keep in mind that substrates such as wood and cardboard absorb paint. And finally, water! Having a can of water available when you paint is a really good idea. You can use water to clean your brush but also to mix the acrylic paint.
If you've followed the guide so far, it's now time to start painting. When painting, wear clothes you are prepared to use as "painting clothes", as acrylic paint can be difficult to remove from clothing. Feel free to take a photo of your artwork, post it and tag us on our social media. You will find our entire range of acrylic paints and acrylic-based paints such as acrylic ink, spray paint, markers and associated medium in the category "Acrylic & Mediums".
Tjärhovsgatan 1. Stockholm
Tel: 08–6436900
Open Hours
Monday - Friday: 11.00 - 18.00
Saturday: 11.00 - 16.00
Sunday: Closed
© 2001–2024 Highlights/KR Distribution AB.
Highlights Est. 2001
info@hlstore.com
Deliveries everyday Shipping from 9 EUR 19 years experience
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