Beginner's Guide: Making Acrylic Paint Step-by-Step

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 7 min read

Embracing the vibrant world of acrylic painting is an exciting journey. Knowing how to make acrylic paint can add a whole new depth to your artistry. This beginner's guide walks you step-by-step through the process, making it as simple and enjoyable as possible. Let's dive in!

1. Gather Your Materials

Before we learn how to make acrylic paint, we need to gather our materials. This process is more than just grabbing a few paintbrushes. We will explore different types of acrylic paints, the tools you need, and how to choose the right canvas for your project.

Types of Acrylic Paints

Not all acrylics are created equal. There are several types of acrylic paints to consider:

Student Acrylics: These are cost-effective and suitable for beginners.
Artist Acrylics: These are higher-quality paints used by professionals. They provide a wider range of colors and better pigmentation.
Fluid Acrylics: These are thinner and work well for detailed work or staining effects.

Knowing the types of acrylic paints helps you understand how to make acrylic paint that's best suited to your artistic style.

Painting Tools

Next, let's talk about the tools you'll need. Here's a basic list:

Brushes: You'll need a variety of sizes and shapes.
Palette: This is where you'll mix your paints.
Palette Knife: Useful for mixing paints and creating texture.
Container: For cleaning your brushes.
Cloth or Paper Towels: For wiping your brushes and cleaning up spills.

With the right tools in hand, making acrylic paint becomes a smooth and enjoyable process.

Choosing Canvases

Finally, let's choose the right canvas for your painting. Canvases come in various materials like cotton or linen and different textures from smooth to rough. Your choice depends on the effect you want to create.

Cotton Canvases: These are lightweight, economical, and suitable for beginners.

Linen Canvases: These are tougher and offer a smoother finish, often preferred by professionals.

Choosing the right canvas is a crucial part of learning how to make acrylic paint work for you. Now, with our materials gathered, we're ready to prep our workspace and start the exciting journey of making our own acrylic paint.

2. Prep Your Workspace

Now that we've gathered our materials, it's time to prepare our workspace. This is not just about cleanliness; it's also about creating an environment that fosters creativity and efficiency. Let's get started on how to make your acrylic paint workspace ready.

Organizing Your Space

Organization is key in any art-making process. Here's how to do it:

Allocate Spaces: Dedicate specific areas for painting, mixing colors, and cleaning brushes. This helps maintain order and efficiency.
Keep Essentials Within Reach: Your brushes, palette, water container, and towels should be easily accessible to avoid distractions while painting.
Store Paints Properly: Keep your paints in a cool, dry place to prolong their lifespan.

Now you know how to organize your workspace, let's move onto setting up your palette.

Setting Up Your Palette

Setting up your palette is like setting the stage for your painting. Follow these steps:

Choose Your Palette: Glass palettes are easy to clean, while wooden ones are light and portable.
Arrange Your Colors: Start with your primary colors—red, blue, and yellow. Add secondary and tertiary colors as needed.
Leave Space for Mixing: Leave ample room on your palette for mixing colors. This is where the magic happens when you make acrylic paint.

With your palette set, let's ensure our safety next.

Safety Measures

Art should be fun, but it should also be safe. Follow these safety measures:

Ventilation: Make sure your workspace is well-ventilated to avoid inhaling paint fumes.
Protective Gear: Use gloves and aprons to protect your skin and clothing from paint splatters.
Safe Storage: Keep paints and other materials out of reach of children and pets.

By now, you have your workspace prepped and ready. This is a major step in understanding how to make acrylic paint a joy to work with. Up next, we're going to dive into the exciting world of mixing paints.

3. Mix Your Paints

With our workspace set up, let's dive into the heart of the matter: mixing paints. This is where we truly learn how to make acrylic paint come to life on canvas. Let's explore this process step-by-step.

Understanding Color Theory

Before we start mixing, it's crucial to grasp color theory's basics:

Primary Colors: Red, blue, and yellow are the building blocks of all other colors.
Secondary Colors: Mix two primary colors, and you get secondary colors—orange, green, and purple.
Tertiary Colors: Mixing a primary with a secondary color gives you tertiary colors, like red-orange or blue-green.

Mastering color theory opens up a world of possibilities for creating unique hues. But how exactly do we create these custom colors? Let's find out.

Creating Custom Colors

To create custom colors, follow these steps:

Start Small: Begin with small amounts of paint. You can always add more, but you can't take away.
Mix Gradually: Add one color to another gradually, mixing as you go to avoid over-saturation.
Experiment: Feel free to experiment and create your unique shades. This is where you learn how to make acrylic paint truly yours.

Now that you know how to mix custom colors, let's look at some tips to enhance your mixing skills.

Tips for Mixing Paints

Here are some handy tips for mixing paints:

Use a Mixing Tool: Use a palette knife or a brush to blend your colors thoroughly.
Keep it Clean: Clean your tools between mixing different colors to avoid unintentional color changes.
Take Notes: Jot down your color recipes. It can be hard to remember how you created that perfect shade of teal!

Armed with these tips, you're now ready to start painting with your custom acrylic colors. Let’s take this knowledge and apply it to our canvas in the next section.

4. Start Painting

Now that you've learned how to mix acrylic paint, it's time to put that paint to work. Let's dive into some basic techniques, how to apply your first layer, and the exciting world of textures. Ready? Let's paint!

Basic Painting Techniques

Here are a few basic painting techniques to get you started:

Stippling: This involves creating a pattern with small dots of paint. It's great for adding detail and texture.
Scumbling: This is a method of applying a thin layer of lighter color over a dried darker one. It's a lovely way to add depth and interest to your painting.
Glazing: This is a technique where you apply a thin, transparent layer of paint over a dried layer. It alters the color and tone of the underlying layer without obscuring its details.

Now that you're familiar with some techniques, let's move on to applying your first layer of paint.

Applying Your First Layer

Applying your first layer is a defining moment in any painting. Here's how to do it:

Start Light: Begin with your lightest colors, laying a foundation for the rest of the painting.
Brush Strokes: Pay attention to your brush strokes. They can create texture and depth, even in this initial stage.
Patience: Let this layer dry completely before moving on. Patience is key when learning how to make acrylic paint work for you!

With the first layer complete, let's explore how to add texture to your artwork.

Working with Textures

Texture can add a whole new dimension to your painting. Here's how you can introduce texture:

Impasto: This technique involves applying thick layers of paint to create a textured surface.
Mixed Media: You can also incorporate other materials like sand, fabric, or even pieces of paper into your painting for added texture.
Palette Knife: Using a palette knife can create interesting textures—it's not just for mixing paint!

Now you're armed with some techniques to create dynamic, textured paintings. Let's finish the process in the next section, where we'll add details, seal our masterpiece, and talk about displaying your work.

5. Finalize Your Artwork

You're almost there! As you learn how to make acrylic paint work for you, you'll find that the final stage—adding those final details, sealing your painting, and deciding how to display your creation—is where the magic truly happens. Let's get to it!

Adding Details and Highlights

Details can make a good painting great. Here's how to add those final touches:

Attention to Detail: Use a fine brush to add small details like patterns, textures or intricate shapes. Imagine you're a detective, looking for every opportunity to add something special.
Highlights: Use lighter colors to highlight areas where light would naturally hit. This can bring your painting to life in a way that's truly remarkable.
Shadows: Similarly, use darker colors to add shadows where necessary. This can add depth and realism to your painting.

Now that we've got the details covered, let's talk about how to protect your painting.

Sealing the Painting

A good sealant can protect your painting for years to come. Here's how to do it:

Choose the Right Sealant: Acrylic sealants are widely available and come in various finishes such as matte, satin, and gloss. Choose one that suits your style.
Apply Evenly: Using a clean brush, apply the sealant in even strokes to avoid build-up.
Let it Dry: Allow the sealant to dry completely. This can take up to 24 hours, so be patient!

With your painting now protected, it's time to think about how you're going to display your masterpiece.

Framing and Displaying

Displaying your artwork is the final step in the process of learning how to make acrylic paint work for you. Let's look at some tips:

Framing: Choose a frame that complements your painting. It should enhance, not distract from, your work.
Location: Think about where your painting will hang. A well-lit area where your painting can truly shine is ideal.
Enjoy: Finally, take a step back and enjoy your work. You've learned how to make acrylic paint and created something beautiful with it. That's worth celebrating!

And there you have it—a step-by-step guide to making and using acrylic paint. Now, it's time for you to take these tips and put them into practice. Happy painting!

If you've enjoyed our Beginner's Guide to Making Acrylic Paint and want to further improve your skills, we highly recommend checking out the workshop 'Improve Your Acrylic Painting Skills' by Rachel Christopoulos. This workshop will provide you with valuable tips and techniques to enhance your acrylic painting abilities and take your artwork to the next level.