If you've decided to take up painting as your next hobby, you've made a wonderful decision. Painting can be a very relaxing activity that has many physical and mental benefits. But to get started, you'll need some basic supplies. Some essentials that will help you develop your skills and talent.
Acrylic Paint
Buying the paint is the first thing you should do because there’s no painting without it. There are many choices on the market in terms of brands, quality and colour. As a beginner, it may be confusing picking your first set of easy-to-use acrylic paint supplies.
The first thing to consider is the quality. There are two main grades, artists’ and students’ quality. The artists’ ones have more colours, higher pigment concentration, and are smoother and more permanent. The students’ ones are not so permanent, are cheaper and not as bright and pigmented.
As a beginner, it’s better to start with the students’ type. It'll give you a nice sense of how colours work and mix together. Once you decide you’re at a higher level, and you want to preserve your art, you can buy artists’ grade acrylic paint. This will save you some money if you decide that art isn’t for you.
In terms of colour, you can start with 10-15 basic ones (white, yellow, red, orange, crimson, brown, black, purple, blue and green) and build from there. Learn how to blend them to get new colours and different shades. Nowadays, you can also find special pains with specific colours such as iridescent and fluorescent which can add another dimension to your creations.
Another thing to consider is the viscosity. This refers to the thickness or consistency of the paint. There are 3 main types of viscosities. Heavy body acrylics are very thick, almost like butter. If you want something thinner go for fluid acrylics. They're great for detailed work and dry brushwork. There are also acrylic mediums which are somewhere between the first two and they get mixed in the paint to get the consistency you need.
You can buy the paints in a tube or a jar. Tubes are smaller, easier to store and portable. However, by buying jars, you can save some money because you’re buying more paint at once. Their consistencies may differ. Tube ones are paste-like, and jar ones are smoother and will flatten out on the palette.
Set of Brushes
Brushes are an important part of your acrylic paint supplies. They transfer the paint to the canvas and help you create textures, shades, shapes and borders. There are several shapes of brushes created for different purposes. Flat brushes are the base. They're good for covering large areas, blending colours and creating fine lines.
Round brushes are good for colouring smaller areas and detailed work. Depending on how much pressure you apply, the tip can create lines of different thicknesses (more pressure = thicker line). Filbert brushes are rectangular-shaped but have a rounded tip. They can help you add the base coat and create flowery details.
And last but not least, fan brushes. They're great for adding texture and creating natural elements such as clouds, trees, shrubbery etc. The bristles can be made of natural or synthetic materials. Many artists prefer synthetic ones because they’re more durable. They won’t get damaged from the paint or water. However, natural bristles give you a more realistic texture on the canvas.
Canvases
The canvas is basically a durable piece of woven cloth stretched over a frame. The cloth can be made of linen, cotton or hemp. The final product is made by stretching the cloth over the wooden frame, secured and coated with some primer. The primer is a must because the pain can damage the cloth if it’s not coated.
They can handle both artist-grade acrylic paint and student-grade acrylics. The main things to consider when buying a canvas are priming, the fabric, texture and weight. All these factors can influence the picture’s quality. Detailed paintings require a woven canvas and broad-brush paintings can handle a rough canvas.
A cotton canvas's ideal weight ranges from 340 to 425 grammes, depending on the thread density. You have two options: either buy a ready-made canvas or stretch it yourself. As a beginner, you might still not have the skills to do it, but you can always give it a try. Buy a plain cloth and practice. This can save you some money in the future.
Tools & Accessories
Every artist needs their accessories. They can be of great help in developing skills and taking artwork to a new level. Plus, they make the painting process much simpler and easier. A colour wheel will be of great help to a beginner. It'll help you understand how colours work and how can you make harmonious shades.
Paintbrush holders are practical because you can store your brushes away and not leave them all over the desk. This keeps you organised and clutter-free. A palette can be your base where you can mix and blend paint together. You hold it in your hand and have easy access to the paint.
An apron is a good accessory that will keep your clothes clean. If you’re a messy painter, an apron is a must. Plus, you can use the pockets as extra storage for brushes while you paint. A palette knife might not be very comfortable to work with in the beginning, but after you gain some experience, you can use it to create lines, textures and edges.
An easel is another practical accessory. It serves to hold your canvas upright while you do your magic. It comes in many sizes and some models are adjustable so you can change the height as you need. Some of them even have extra storage for brushes, paint or knives.
If you prefer painting during the night, it’ll be a good idea to invest in a daylight lamp. These lamps mimic the natural light. They're bright, create clear light and can show you the right contrast between the colours. And last but not least, an arm support. Many painters use a mahl stick. It gives you arm support during a long painting session and prevents shoulder and arm pain.
