Acrylic Painting - Shopping List

🎨 The Ultimate Beginner’s Acrylic Shopping List

Think of this as your "Essentials Only" kit. You can always add more later, but these will get you through your first ten paintings.

1. The Paint (Student Grade Heavy Body)

Don't buy the 24-pack of tiny tubes. Buy these 9 specific colours in larger tubes to mix almost anything:

The Basic: White
You will use this in a lot of mixes. Buy a large tube!

The Shadow: Black
Great for deep shadows and making "tints."

Cool Blue: Phthalo
A powerful, transparent blue. Perfect for bright greens and skies.

Warm Blue: Ultramarin
A deep, rich blue. Perfect for mixing purples.

Cool Red: Alizarin Crimson
A pinkish-red. Essential for mixing clean violets and magentas.

Warm Red: Cadmium
An orange-leaning red. Perfect for fiery sunsets and bright oranges.

Earth Colour: Burnt Sienna
A rich, reddish-brown. Essential for skin tones, wood, and "killing" the brightness of other colours to make them look real.

Cool Yellow: Lemon
A bright, pale yellow. Great for "acid" greens and highlights.

Warm Yellow: Cadmium Yellow
A golden, deep yellow. Best for mixing natural oranges and earth tones.

✨ Tip for Beginners:

• f you're on a super tight budget, just get Titanium White, Mars Black, Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Red, and Cadmium Yellow. You can mix almost any "earthy" tone (like browns and olives) with just those five!

2. The Brushes (Synthetic)

Skip the massive sets. Look for a few individual brushes:

• 1/2-inch Flat Brush (For backgrounds and edges)

• Medium Round Brush (Size 8 or 12) (For general painting)

• Small Detail Brush (Size 2 or 4) (For the tiny finishing touches)

3. Surfaces

A Pack of Canvas Panels (9x12 or 11x14 inch) — They are cheaper and easier to store than stretched canvases while you’re learning.

4. Varnish

1 Small Jar of "Polymer Varnish" (Satin or Gloss) — This is the most beginner-friendly and versatile option.

5. The "Hidden" Essentials

You likely have some of these at home, but check your stash!

• A Palette (A plastic tray, a ceramic dinner plate, or even a roll of wax paper)

• Two Glass Jars (One for brush cleaning, other to thin your paint)

• A Small Spray Bottle (To keep paints moist)

• Cloth or a roll of Paper Towels

• A Pencil and Eraser (For sketching your design first)

✨ Tip for Beginners:

• Don’t overbuy gadgets — most “must-haves” aren’t necessary.

🎨 Final Note

Once you’ve got your supplies, the fun begins — experimenting, mixing, layering, and watching colours dance on the page. Start simple, learn how your tools behave, and let your creativity grow.

Enjoy the process and happy painting!

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