Five Tips for Painting with Acrylics on Canvas for New Artists

I can teach you how I painted these white abstract flowers on canvas with acrylic paint! I’m teaching step by step flower painting tutorials on Skillshare! If you don’t have a Skillshare account but would like a free 2-week trial membership, join with my link and start learning how to paint today! https://www.skillshare.com/r/user/ellebyers


Here are five tips for artists who are learning how to paint with acrylics on canvas.

 1. Colors - Take your time to choose a color palette that you know will work.  Get some paint card samples from your local hardware store, or even better, make your own with the paints you have.  Choose several colors that you think will work well for your painting and start with those. Referencing the color wheel when you get stuck will be helpful, as well.

2. Brushes - Test a few different brushes to see which ones you like. I typically use filbert, round, and flat brushes in a variety of sizes.  You need to figure out which ones work best for you.  

3. Underpainting - Paint your canvas one or more colors BEFORE you start your painting.  Adding this first layer will help to add depth to your painting. I like to let small pops of my underpainting peek through.  A lot of artists start with a red or pink underpainting.  

4. Layers - Paint in layers and wait for each layer to dry before adding more paint.  It can be annoying to have to wait but you will have a better end result. If you try to layer your paint while it’s still wet you won’t be able to achieve the colors you desire.

5. Practice - If you’re new to painting you might get frustrated. Don’t worry, it takes practice. If you really enjoy painting then just enjoy the process and eventually the results will follow.  There are lots of free painting tutorials online that you can watch to pick up new tips and tricks along the way.

The One Thing That Will Improve Your Acrylic Painting Skills

The one thing that will improve your acrylic painting skills is daily practice. It doesn’t have to be an hour or more. If you can only paint for 15 minutes, do it. Your skills will improve dramatically if you are consistent with your practice. I truly believe that painting 15 - 30 minutes per day is better than painting 2 hours on one day during the week.

I’ve been painting for years and I have seen the results myself. When I take too much time off from painting, it takes several days for my skills to come back to me.