How To: Paint with acrylics

Aspiring artists? Try your hand at painting with acrylic paints with this instructional video. Follow these tips & be on your way to creating a personal masterpiece.

You Will Need:
• A painting surface
• Acrylic paint
• Brushes
• Gesso
• Fine sandpaper
• A medium
• A pallet knife
• A fan brush
• Miscellaneous tools

Step 1: Choose a surface
Choose a surface for your painting. Canvas is the most common, but wood, masonite, and many others are also used.

Step 2: Pick your colors
Choose only a few colors, mixing them for countless shades.

Step 3: Buy basic brushes
Buy a few basic brushes: a large gesso brush to prepare canvas, a fine round brush for detailed work, and a flat inch-wide brush.

Step 4: Prepare the canvas
Prepare your surface with gesso to make it smooth. Apply an even layer and let it dry. Lightly sand and repeat until your desired smoothness is achieved.

Step 5: Use a medium to dilute acrylic
Use a medium, such as a gel retarder or gesso primer, and water to dilute acrylic paint. It will help prevent cracking, and your painting will last longer.

Step 6: Add to your collection
Add a palette knife, fan brush, and other tools to your collection to create your personal style.

Trivia: Medieval gesso was a mixture of plaster of paris, white lead, and red clay for color.