How to paint with acrylic paints

Using acrylic paint on fabric without mediums is doable but it will not produce a soft or natural effect. The acrylics by themselves often turn fabrics stiff and they may even run or bleed through your material. The best way to paint on fabric without a medium is to lightly wet your fabric before starting.

How to paint with acrylic paints

When beginning to paint, it can be overwhelming to figure out exactly what kind of paint you should use. There are so many brands and you might notice that acrylic paint comes in two different styles including student paint and professional paint. Let us talk about each of these.

STUDENT PAINT

Student paint is exactly what it sounds like. Paint for students.

• In the early learning stages of using acrylics, student quality paints are a great place to start. They are good for learning, practicing, and experimenting.

• Student paints are synthetic and full of fillers. Therefore, they do not offer the best texture and are not shiny. Colors can shine through when layering your colors.

• Student paints have a longer drying time.

• When acrylics dry, they tend to become darker. The lower the quality of paints, the more of a color shift occurs.

• There are fewer colors to choose from when using student paints.

• Hobbyists use student quality paint which is a good choice.

• Probably the biggest reason that student paints are popular is that they are far less costly than professional paints. You can find quality student acrylic paints at several kinds of stores besides specific craft stores.

• Even for experienced artists, student paint can be used for under washes and very large areas of paper or canvas that need a large wash of color.

PROFESSIONAL PAINT

Artists who are more serious about their painting, although there is nothing wrong with a beginner using these paints, can use professional paint. The first thing that you will notice is that the cost of professional paint is much higher. Why is that?

• Professional paints have the highest pigment levels in the paint.

• There are significantly more colors to choose from.

• The color shift is dramatically reduced.

• Colors painted over other colors are more effective.

• There is a wider range of paint consistencies to choose from such as superheavy body, soft body, fluid, and airbrush.

• Colors will blend more easily and give a nice sheen to the finish.

• Tinting strengths are easier. Tinting is taking white paint and adding color to it to make a variety of different values of the same color.

• There are more brands of paint available when using professional paint, particularly if buying paints online.

Now that we have discussed types of paint, let us move on to talk about the consistencies of paint. If you have ever painted the walls of your house with latex or emulsion paint, then you will understand that paints have different densities or viscosities. That is what we mean when we say consistency of paint. Acrylic paint is water based and has a consistency similar to oils. However, acrylics allow for a wider range of those consistencies. There are five categories of paint that allow you to paint as thin as watercolors or as thick, like an impasto.

SOFT BODY PAINTS

Soft body paints were one of the original acrylic paints developed. This versatile paint is also known as flow formula , or medium viscosity paint , and is creamy and smooth with pure, intense color. It is heavier than ink but has a runny consistency and is more suitable for someone trying to make their composition look like a watercolor. The paint can be thickened with an impasto gel that produces exciting, vivid colors. These paints are available in tubes, bottles, and jars.

HEAVY BODY PAINTS

Another name for this paint is called high viscosity paint . These paints are more full bodied. One advantage of using heavy body paint is that an artist can use so many tools with this paint such as palette knives, and other kinds of brushes. You will see bright, bold colors that create a satiny finish when using heavy body paints. When the paint dries, the paint will still be flexible and free of any cracks or chips. This paint can be thinned down with water to give a watercolor-type look or they can be used directly from the tube to produce a thick, impasto style for a look like oils. Heavy body paint comes in tubes and jars.

SUPER HEAVY BODY PAINTS

Super body paints are considered the highest quality of paints. They are flexible, durable, and never sticky or slippery. These paints have a wonderful, buttery consistency and can create heavy texture on your canvas or paper. The heaviness of these paints allows the artist to retain their brushstroke as well. Like the other paints, this paint can also be thinned with water if you want to put a glaze on the painting. This paint comes in tubes and jars.

INKS

Acrylic inks are the most fluid form of all the acrylic colors. Notice the painting above how the paint seems to be so fluid. Because they are a compete liquid, they are perfect for creating a watercolor look. However, inks have the advantage of drying to a waterproof film that cannot be disturbed once dry. There is also less chance of the colors becoming muddy. Inks are so vibrant and they are definitely permanent. They are quick drying, non-clogging and water resistant. They will stain and can be used alone, or they can be mixed with thick paint. Inks come in small bottles with droppers in brilliant and subtle colors.

SELECTING YOUR COLORS

To get started when painting with acrylics, it is not necessary to go out and purchase numerous tubes of paint. In fact, many artists buy only 4-5 tubes of paint and use no other colors. For example, L.S. Lowery uses only red, black, white, yellow, and blue. Here is an acrylic painting done by Lowery.

Three tubes of paint – red, yellow, and blue are all that will be needed to get started. It does not matter what kind of acrylic paint you use, although, it would be best not to use inks for now.

RED * YELLOW * BLUE

Interested in learning more? Why not take an online Acrylic Painting course?

These are the three primary colors in art and from these three tubes, you can make three new colors called secondary colors.

Red and Yellow = Orange

Yellow and Blue = Green

Red and Blue = Purple

Having a tube of titanium white and Mars black can offer more color options. I highly recommend getting a tube of white and black.

Now you have six colors to work with and by using water as a medium, you can make different values (darkness or lightness) of each color, which really expands a palette, just from three tubes of paint! Again, I recommend getting white and black to expand your palette.

If you are feeing inclined to buy more paints, you have some options. Many places sell beginner kits of acrylic paints for a very reasonable price. Many under $10 a kit. The paints are usually student quality but work quite well. In a typical kit, there will be either 6 tubes of paint or 10-12 tubes. If you want to buy individual tubes of paints, here is a list that will get you started and offer a wide diversity of color.

CADMIUM RED This paint comes in light, medium, or dark.

PHTHALO BLUE Other blues you could use are: Cerulean blue which is a nice sky blue, and Ultramarine blue is a darker blue, like a royal blue. Any of these are fine.

CADMIUM YELLOW Choose the medium.

YELLOW OCHRE A nice earthy yellow.

TITANIUM WHITE Another nice white is Unbleached Titanium although not as pure white-color.

BLACK Three different hues of black are Mars, Ivory, or Carbon. I think Mars is the best to start with.

BROWN There is Burnt Umber (dark brown) or Raw Umber (light brown).

GREEN Some nice choices are Grass Green, Hookers green, Sap, or Alpine.

CADMIUM ORANGE Red and yellow can make orange but not as vibrant as buying orange already made.

PURPLE You can make purple mixing red and blue but can often waste a lot of paint trying to get that lovely shade of purple or violet you want. I just buy purple.

PAYNE’S GRAY This gray is made of two-three colors and should not be mixed with more than one color. Gray mixed with light yellow makes a pretty green.

BURNT SIENNA A lovely brown with a hint of copper.

Just a reminder that the three primary colors, red, blue, and yellow, are all the tubes of paint that are needed to get started. Next, we will talk about the rest of the supplies needed and then we are ready to paint!

Soft body acrylic paints, a watercolor effect.

SELECTING OTHER SUPPLIES

Now that you have your paint, you need to obtain the rest of the supplies so that you can begin painting. With the exception of brushes, many of these supplies can just be consumables from around the house and there is no need to purchase anything.

BRUSHES

When creating a painting, your brushes are the tools to get the job done. It is important to use quality brushes and ones that meet the needs of the task. The array of brushes to choose from can be quite intimidating. The range of quality goes from what a kindergarten class would use to a $50.00 brush. A nice compromise falls in between and will not kill your budget. If you will remember, acrylics are liquid plastic and they are hard on brushes so you want to obtain durable brushes. You need stiff brushes and they need to be made of synthetic material. Water color brushes may be used but they will take a beating. So what do you need?

Brushes come in many sizes and styles. The lower the number on the brush, the smaller the bristles. Many companies sell packages of brushes that will include a range of sizes and styles. These are a great starting point and you can paint a composition easily with the kinds of brushes in the package. They are not expensive either. If you want to buy the brushes individually, this is what you need to get started.

• FLAT BRUSH. They have long bristles and a flat end. These brushes are great for washes and painting large areas. These brushes hold a lot of paint and work well for bold sweeping strokes or on the edge for fine lines. You could buy a few different sizes and effectively paint an entire painting with just flat brushes. It would be good to have a small, medium, and a large size brush.

• SLANTED. These flat edge brushes have a slant, which is useful for painting while working on an easel. There is a bit better control with making edges or fine lines using this brush. The flat brush can do the same thing, but not quite as easily as a slant brush.

• ROUND. Round brushes have a round or pointed tip. These are useful for details, lines, or edges. A small and medium size would be good to have on hand.

• FAN. The bristles on this brush splay out like a fan. They are great for painting grass, tree limbs, bushes, or clouds. These brushes make the job easier but a flat or slant brush could do the same thing. These brushes come in a variety of sizes.

• RIGGER OR LINER. This brush is long and thin and is effective for painting lines. Nothing makes thin lines better than a rigger.

• FILBERT. This brush is much fuller in shape than a flat brush and has a rounded end that make soft strokes. Filberts are good for blending. For example, after you block the paint in with a flat brush, you can blend with a filbert. A small, medium, or large size would be helpful.

Here is a photo of the brushes. From top to bottom we have, flat, slanted, round, fan, rigger and filbert.

Here are other tips about buying brushes.

• Brushes come with a short handle or long handle. Short handles are good if you are painting on a table. Long handles are good if you are painting on an easel. It is a matter of preference.

• Brush handles can be either wooden or plastic. Because acrylics are so fast to dry, brushes must sit in a bucket of water when covered with paint when not using them. The plastic seems to hold up better than wood.

Here is a photo of brushes with long and short handles and wood and plastic handles.

CARE OF YOUR BRUSHES

As I said earlier, acrylic paint is tough on the brushes. When painting, you may have several brushes going at once. Be sure to keep the ones you are not using in your water container as the paint dries quickly and it can be harder to clean them if they do not stay wet.

When you are finished painting for the day, be sure to clean your brushes. You can swish your brush in your water container to get most of the paint off the bristles. Then rinse them under running water and massage the bristles gently. Put a dab of dishwashing liquid in your hand (I use Dawn or Palmolive) and swirl your brush in circles on your hand to remove all traces of paint. Rinse again under warm running water. Lay them flat to dry and then store in a container upright.

WATER CONTAINERS

A water container is necessary to keep your brushes from drying out. Water is also used to add to your paint for blending or trying to achieve a watercolor look. Unlike watercolors, you do not need to dip your brush into the water before you begin painting. When you paint, a simple plastic container works well. They do sell specific acrylic water containers, which are made of plastic and have ribs on the bottom to help clean your brush. They have 2-3 compartments, one for cleaning your brush, and another for clean water to use while painting.

PENCILS AND ERASERS

Many artists like to draw (or what we call blocking in) what they will be painting. We are talking about the basic outline, not detail work of all the shapes in your composition. A simple #2 pencil will get the job done but pencils range from light to dark. A #2 pencil is on the lighter side. The higher the number, the darker the pencil. Pencils range in hardness as well. If the pencil says “H,” that means hard. If the pencil says “B,” then it is soft. Softer pencils also tend to be darker. The nice thing about acrylics is that you can paint over your pencil marks. The pencil you use is a matter of preference.

Never use the eraser on the end of your pencil for erasing. Use the Pink Pearls erasers or any rubber eraser designed for drawing.

PALETTES

There are several options for palettes and they are listed below. When painting, do not put out too much paint at once as the paint dries quickly. Some people like to keep a moist paper towel over their paints while painting but if you move along, that is not always necessary.

• Paper or plastic plates.

• Styrofoam plates. (meat trays work great)

• Wax paper.

• Freezer paper.

• Palette paper. (Sold where art paper is sold.)

• Anything plastic or ceramic. You can peel off the paint from these when they are dry.

PAPER AND CANVAS

Buying paper or canvases can also be daunting. For paper, watercolor paper works just fine. Acrylics are heavier so be sure to buy paper that is at least 140 lbs in weight. In addition, cold pressed paper is best as it readily absorbs the paint. They do sell “acrylic” paper, which works just as well. A standard size of paper for a beginner is 9″ x 12″ or 11″ x 14″. There are several brands of paper on the market and if you follow the criteria above, any brand will do.

Canvases come in all kinds of sizes. There are stretch canvases, and matt boards which are harder than canvas. Again, what you want to paint on is a matter of preference. If you choose anything other than paper, you need to prime the surface with a liquid called Gesso. It goes on like paint and dries very quickly. Gesso allows the paint to stick to the surface much better. Gesso comes in white or black.

OTHER SUPPLIES

These supplies are great to have but are not necessary to get started.

• Masking fluid. This thin watery substance can be painted on an area where you do not want the paint. It dries and you can paint over it. Then later, you peel off the mask. It is great for small, detail work.

• Painters tape. Good for covering up areas, making straight lines, or putting on the edge of your paper to make a border.

• Cardboard. If you’re not painting on a canvas, you can tape down your paper to a piece of cardboard to provide a nice flat surface. Use painters tape, not masking tape.

• Paper towels. For those messy moments(!) and for blotting and wiping brushes.

• Palette knives. A nice option for brushes. We will talk about these later.

• Hair Dryer. You can blow dry your painting as you go along so you can complete a painting in a short amount of time.

This is a good way to set up your paper on a piece of cardboard using painter’s tape. When you are done painting and it is dry, take off the tape and your painting will pop. The border is perfect for putting a mat around it before framing. Putting tape on the paper is not required, just a suggestion.

Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Fabric?

Acrylics are a wonderfully versatile medium that can be used on most surfaces, but a common question is: can you use acrylic paint on fabric? As we know, canvas is a common option when painting with acrylics and these are made from material. This implies that acrylics would work well on other fabrics too.

Some items you could include in your painting projects would be shoes or pillowcases. You may then be brave enough to try acrylic painting on clothes. When using your acrylics for fabric there are a few things you will need to remember, it is not as simple as just applying paint.

Using An Acrylic Fabric Medium

When working with acrylic on fabric, one will ideally need a fabric medium to work with, this essentially turns your acrylics into fabric paint. Using this medium ensures that your paints will hold well to the fabrics and will not wash out or fade after use. A fabric medium also adds a softer feel to the acrylics, so that your materials will not stiffen when dry.

Another benefit to using these mediums is that they can alter the consistency of your acrylics without the worry of running or bleeding through your materials. A fabric medium also allows one to explore different blending techniques or even watercolor effects. This opens up a whole array of exciting creative projects one can use acrylic paint on fabric for.

Using an acrylic fabric medium also allows for more creative use of techniques and tools. You could add stencils or use household objects to gain different textures on your fabrics. The best thing about painting on fabrics with acrylics is that they come in a wider range of color options to choose from than most fabric-specific paints.

Tips For Using Acrylic On Fabric With A Medium

If you would like to use a fabric medium with your acrylics, then here are some great tips to check out.

• Before starting you may want to place a protective layer over the surface you will be working on. This could be some newspaper, a thick board, or even an old sheet. This will prevent your fabrics from sticking to the surface while you are painting.
• Always pre-wash the item you plan on painting. This not only removes dirt and dust but will also prevent shrinkage when washed in the future. Leave your item to dry fully before starting with any paint.
• Once your item is dry, you may want to stretch it out using some board or other household item. This step would be useful when using acrylic paint on clothing and will make it easier to paint the area. keep it stretched until you are done with your painting.
• Make sure the fabric you have chosen can handle acrylic paints. These fabrics would include cotton, silk, cotton blends, wool, terry cloth, felt, velvet, flannel, suede, corduroy, leather, and most other synthetic material and blends.
• Now you can add your fabric medium to the acrylics and mix them until you are happy with the consistency.
• Always test your paint on a small area or separate piece of fabric to see how it reacts.
• Once you are done, leave the artwork for a day or so to dry completely.

Using Acrylic Paint On Fabric Without Medium

There is the option to use your acrylic paints on fabric without the use of a medium. This will however not produce the same results. The benefit of using a fabric medium is that they allow your fabrics to retain their soft feel and flexibility. If you apply acrylics directly onto fabrics, they often produce a stiff feel, and they will be washed off when you do laundry. The other risk you take on when just using the acrylics alone is that even if you do not wash the fabrics, the paint may crack or peel off easily as there is nothing to bind it to your fabric fibers.

Whether you are painting a pair of shoes or a decorative cushion, a fabric medium will certainly extend the durability and longevity of your fabric projects. If you are planning on doing more of a wall hanging or even a tapestry, then you may be more inclined to not use a medium as there is no wear and tear. Just keep in mind that sunlight, dust, and other elements could have a damaging effect on these too.

Tips For Using Acrylic Paint On Fabric Without Medium

If you have opted not to use a fabric medium with your acrylics, then here are some handy tips to ensure you still get the most out of your fabric projects.

• Instead of washing the fabric first, you are going to sand it. Using a small piece of sandpaper lightly go over your fabric to remove any loose bits or dust pieces.
• Now using a spray bottle you are going to lightly wet the fabric. Make sure to not saturate any areas and to make an even application over the entire piece you are painting. the moisture in the fabric will allow your acrylics to better adhere and be absorbed once dry.
• Now you can start painting. it is easier if you add some water to the acrylics and thin them before applying. This will make them more workable and hopefully, your final product will not be so stiff when it dries.

After Care Tips When Using Acrylic Paints On Fabric

No matter if you have used a fabric medium or not, there are still some great after-care tips you can use to extend the longevity of your fabric art.

• If you have used a fabric medium, then you should be able to wash your painted clothing and fabrics as normal.
• If you have not used one, then you should not get your fabrics very wet. Ideally, spot cleaning is best for these fabrics so as not to ruin or wash away your paints.
• Try not to wash your items too often as with every cycle you may run the risk of fading. That being said, a cold wash cycle is best when washing painted fabric items.
• After painting your fabrics you should ideally wait around four days before attempting another wash.
• If you are hesitant to use the washing machine even on a cold cycle, then handwashing is a great option just be sure to only use cold water.
• Ironing on your fabrics is also doable, as long as you are using a low heat.

How To Use Acrylic On Fabric

Now for the fun part! Here we will discuss how to use your acrylic paint on fabrics as well as some fun ideas to try.

• Always lightly and evenly wet the fabric you are using to ensure the best possible coverage and absorbency.
• An acrylic fabric medium or flow additive will increase the flexibility and workability of your paints.
• Using tight woven fabrics like silk or cotton will produce the richest colors and durability.
• A hot wax can be used for any hard edges on your fabrics. This can later be removed by dry cleaning.
• Try using different cake nozzles on your acrylic paints for fun and interesting designs. These can be used to create thinner or thicker lines and textures.
• If you are drawn to watercolor effects then try using more water or fabric medium with your paints to thin them out.
• Using lighter fabrics will aid your paint in spreading and you can then move them around or create various effects.
• Applying thin layers can create different textures without changing your colors. This will only work if you allow each layer to fully dry in between.

Using Heat or Heat Setting Acrylic Paint on Fabrics

Using acrylic on fabric can be prone to wash off or fade over time. This is why some people like to set their items using heat. Some prefer this method while others do not find it necessary. Whether or not you decide to heat set your items will depend on the project you are doing and the fabrics you are using. When acrylic painting on clothes for example this may be useful.

The benefit of setting your fabric with heat is that it retains the designs better and will then last much longer, especially when items are going to be washed in the future. The heat actually seals your paint into the fabric. The typical way to do this is to use an iron at home. Below we will walk you through this process.

• When you have done your fabric painting leave it to dry for at least a full day before attempting any further work. If you apply heat too soon your paint will be affected and your project ruined.
• The first tip to remember when using your iron is to turn off your steam setting. Adding any moisture to the fabric at this stage will be highly unproductive.
• Make sure your heat is on low, if it is too hot this will burn your paint or material.
• The key when doing this step is to keep moving. Do not leave the iron on any one area too long as it may burn your fabric.
• Keep moving slow and steady allowing the heat to seal in all elements that are painted. Try doing smaller sections at a time. You want to do this for up to five minutes.

Step By Step Process

A blank white canvas might seem like a great place to start, but in many cases it’s a good idea to start with a bit of color. Adding a bit of color to the surface creates a nice starting point for judging values due to contrast. This practice is often referred to “as creating a ground”.

The “ground” can be any color that you like, but it is advisable to choose a color that may accentuate the finished painting. In many cases, the ground will still be visible through the subsequent brush strokes that are applied.

The Acrylic Painting Academy
“The Acrylic Painting Academy” is a comprehensive painting course designed to guide absolute beginners to a level of producing professional quality acrylic paintings.

VIEW COURSE

In this example, a neutral ground is created and evenly applied to the canvas. A mixture of Raw Umber and Titanium White is used to mix the neutral ground.

After the ground has dried, a pencil sketch is applied. A softer graphite pencil is used to draw the contour lines of the shape of the apple and to “map out” the areas of value and color changes.

Some artists prefer to start painting the local colors (observed colors) at this point. This approach is perfectly acceptable as long as the values of the colors are addressed at a later stage. However in this example, we’ll start by addressing the values by painting an underpainting. The underpainting allows us to begin to establish the values of the painting early in the process.

A mixture of Payne’s Gray and Burnt Umber are used to apply the darker values. The color is thinned a bit with water to address mid tones. White is mixed with the ground mixture to address the lighter values. In this case, the underpainting is “loose” and does not address all of the observed values.

At this point, we’re ready to start addressing the local colors that are observed. You may start with any section of the painting that seems natural to you because acrylics layer easily and dry very quickly. In this example, the areas of yellow-green are addressed first. A mixture of Cadmium Yellow Light, Prussian Blue, Indian Yellow Hue, and White is used.

As colors are added with the brush, the form of the object is considered. Strokes are pulled along the cross contours of the apple. These subtle, directional lines help to inform the viewer of the form.

The layering of color continues with the sections of red on the apple. A mixture of Alizarin Crimson and Cadmium Red Light is used. For areas of darker value, Burnt Umber and Payne’s Gray are added. For lighter values, Titanium White is mixed.

With each layer that is added, the colors become more complex. Adjustments to the value and concentration of the mixtures are made with each application. As larger areas of color are added, details can be developed.

The area of cast shadow behind the apple is strengthened with a mixture of Payne’s Gray and Burnt Umber before being layered over with a mixture of White and Raw Umber.

With a few final touches, the painting is completed.

A Bit More On Acrylic Painting

Like all paints, acrylic paint is made up of three general ingredients (more exist but generally fall into one of these categories) -pigment, solvent, and binder. The pigment is the color and is generally universal in all different types of paints.

Solvent is what thins the paint. Water is typically used as the solvent for acrylic painting.

Binder is the material that holds the pigment together and allows the paint to be spread over a surface. Acrylic paint has a binder of acrylic polymer emulsion and dries quickly to create a waterproof surface. It can also can be used as a glue or as an image transfer medium. Acrylics can be matte finish or gloss. Matte acrylics dry to a dull sheen while gloss acrylics are shiny.

Acrylics can be applied with brushes, palette knives, or really anything at all. In my experience, nylon brushes work best with acrylic paint-although any type of brush will work. It is especially important to keep your brushes clean, as acrylic paints will dry quickly and ruin a brush.

Surfaces For Acrylic Painting

Acrylics can be applied to almost any surface. Artists mostly use canvas, watercolor paper, illustration board, gessoed masonite, or other papers to paint on-although any surface is fair game.

Acrylic paints are resistant to UV light making them a suitable choice for outdoor applications. Acrylic paint also dries to create a waterproof surface that is impervious to many types of liquids.

Acrylic paints can be used with a variety of different acrylic mediums that can change the characteristics of the paint. Some mediums make the paint thicker for impasto effects, while some make the paint more transparent for glazing techniques. Others change the texture of the paint. Experiment with different mediums to find out which ones suit you best.

Like This Lesson?
If so, join over 36,000 others that receive our newsletter with new drawing and painting lessons. Plus, check out three of our course videos and ebooks for free.
YES! I’M IN!