Acrylic Tools & Materials

Acrylic paints can produce a wide range of painterly effects—from thin but vibrant layers to thick, buttery strokes. Acrylics dry quickly, allowing you to apply new layers of paint or rework underlying layers without muddying the colors. They also clean up easily with soap and water. Acrylic paints are relatively inexpensive compared with oil paints, and only a few basic supplies are needed: paints, brushes, supports, and water. For these reasons and more, acrylic is a great medium for beginners.

ACRYLIC PAINTS

Acrylic paints are thinned with water and come in jars, cans, and tubes. Most artists prefer tubes, as they make it easy to squeeze out the appropriate amount of paint onto your palette. Acrylic paints also come ...

Get Special Subjects: Get Started Painting now with the O’Reilly learning platform.

O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.