If you’ve always wanted to learn how to paint with acrylics on canvas, you’ve come to the right place. Acrylic painting is a fun and creative way to express yourself — and the best part is, it’s relatively easy to learn. With just a few basic supplies and some practice, you can create beautiful works of art to be proud of.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through mastering the art of painting with acrylics on canvas — from preparing and setting up your canvas to choosing the suitable acrylic paints and finally to creating your masterpiece.
Preparing and Setting Up
The first step to mastering acrylic painting on canvas is preparing and setting up your canvas. Before you start painting, you’ll need to have the right supplies. That includes:
- Paintbrushes
- Acrylic paints
- Gloss or matte varnish, such as polymer, resin or another sealant
- Acrylic gesso
- Palette
- Palette knife
- A canvas in your desired size/finish
- A smock and protective gloves
It can also be helpful to keep a damp cloth handy for wiping paint spills or drying brushes, as well as rubbing alcohol, which can be used to correct minor errors or remove acrylic paint that lands outside the canvas.
Set up your workspace by finding a comfortable, well-lit area. You’ll want plenty of room to spread out your supplies — and make sure to keep your surfaces clean.
Choosing Your Acrylic Paints
Make sure you have a variety of colors and shades, as well as a bigger paintbrush and several small to mid-sized brushes in various shapes. Acrylic paints come in various brands and types, so it can be helpful to research to find the best ones for your project.
Consider the finish you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a glossy finish, you’ll want to choose high-gloss acrylic paint. If you prefer a matte finish, you’ll want to use matte acrylic paint. It’s also important to consider the color of the paint — make sure you have a range of colors and shades from which to choose.
Selecting Your Brushes
Acrylic paint works best with a soft-bristled paintbrush. As mentioned earlier, you should prepare a large brush, which is particularly good for painting backgrounds and filling large spaces with a solid color. You’ll also want several small brushes for fine details and a fan brush for different textures, such as painting trees or grass.
Be sure to rinse your brushes with clean water right away after use. Acrylic paint dries quickly and can ruin your brushes if it’s left to dry.
Understanding and Practicing the Basics of Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Now that you’ve got all the necessary supplies and tools, it’s time to learn the basics. Start by practicing basic techniques such as blending, layering and building texture. You can do this by experimenting with different colors and shades, and by using various types of brushes.
Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can start experimenting with more advanced techniques such as stippling, dry brushing and glazing. These techniques will help you create unique and interesting textures and effects in your painting.
Creating an Acrylic Painting on Canvas
Now that you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to start creating. The first step is to decide on a subject for your painting. This could be a landscape, a still life, a portrait or even an abstract work. Once you’ve decided on a subject, apply acrylic gesso to the entire canvas to prep it, and, if you prefer, sketch an outline onto your canvas with a pencil.
Then you can start mixing your colors and layering them on your canvas. Make sure to use different colors and shades to create depth and texture. Once you’ve finished layering your colors, start adding details and texture before blending and smoothing out edges. Blending helps to create a more professional, finished look. You can also add highlights and shadows to create more depth.
How to Remove Acrylic Paint from Canvas
Acrylic paint can be removed from a canvas using a few different methods. One method is to use a solvent, such as rubbing alcohol or acetone to dissolve the paint. Another method is to use a paint thinner, such as mineral spirits, or a mixture of water and dish soap to scrub the paint off the canvas gently.
It’s important to test any solvent or cleaning solution on a small, inconspicuous area of the canvas before using it on a larger area to ensure that it doesn’t damage the canvas or any underlying layers of paint.
Finishing and Protecting Paintings
The last step is to finish and protect your work. This involves applying a few layers of varnish or sealer to your painting to protect it from dust and moisture. You can also apply a protective coating to your canvas to help prevent fading and discoloration from UV rays.
Before you seal acrylic paint, it’s crucial to wait until your painting is completely dry. You can apply varnishes with a flat, wide brush with soft, tightly packed bristles. Keep this brush clean and only use it for varnishing to ensure it doesn’t tarnish your artwork. Also, be sure to wear gloves to protect your skin.
Make sure to determine the right type of varnish you need to achieve your desired finish:
- Acrylic resin varnish is a glossy varnish that gives your painting a high level of shine.
- Acrylic polymer varnishes contain UV light stabilizers to protect your painting from dust, dirt and harmful UV rays. It comes in a glossy satin finish, a high-gloss finish or a matte finish.
- Spray-on varnish can be applied to your painting without a brush. As with polymer varnishes, it can be purchased in glossy, matte or satin finish.
- Mod Podge is a craft glue that can be used as a brush-on varnish to seal acrylic paintings and other artwork. It dries to a glossy or matte finish, depending on the variety you use, but isn’t as long-lasting or reliable as acrylic polymer varnish.
Once your painting is finished and protected, you can hang it up and admire your work. It’s important to remember that acrylic paintings require regular maintenance — make sure to clean them regularly to keep them looking their best.
Newport Brushstrokes: Acrylic & Oil Paintings and Much More!
At Newport Brushstrokes, our vast selection of fine art includes paintings from both renowned and up-and-coming artists. Our gallery features paintings of all styles for art collectors to admire and connoisseurs to appreciate.
We strive to honor the past with paintings from acclaimed painters while offering art enthusiasts a window into the developing artistic landscapes of our time. Every artwork we select to feature, such as this Harley Quinn acrylic painting, has been carefully examined to ensure that each piece meets our high standards in expressiveness, craftsmanship and aesthetics. No matter what type of painting you’re looking for, Newport Brushstrokes is sure to have something just right for you!
