In this painting lesson (part 1 of 4), Douglas Matthews, Professional Artist and Tutor shows you the basics of Painting in Acrylics and how to get started and choose the best paints and materials to use as a beginner.
Watch Part 1 on YouTube – it’ll be well worth 17-minutes of your time!
Key Materials and Supplies
1. Acrylic Paints:
Available in tubes and other containers. Douglas uses ‘Daler Rowney System 3’, a student-grade but high-quality brand. He suggests focusing on primary colours grouped into two main categories:
- Warm colours: lemon ochre, cadmium ochre, cadmium red, crimson.
- Cool colours: cerulean blue, Prussian blue, cobalt blue, ultramarine.
2. Palettes:
Two types recommended:
- Stay-wet plastic palettes (around £15), which keep paint moist longer.
- DIY wet palette made with a tray and water to maintain moisture, a budget-friendly alternative.
- A standard plate can be used but acrylic paint dries fast, which can be a challenge.
3. Brushes:
- Douglas suggests a variety of flat, filbert (rounded edge), and large brushes for different areas.
- Palette knives are useful for applying paint and creating sgraffito effect (scratching effects).
4. Additional Supplies:
- Water containers for cleaning brushes.
- Kitchen roll (or paper towels) for managing paint and moisture.
- Primer such as Gesso is essential for preparing surfaces like paper, canvas, or board to prevent paint from soaking in and to improve adhesion.
- Inexpensive packs of three canvases can be found at bargain shops.
Painting Techniques and Tips
1. Paint Handling:
- Acrylic paints dry faster than oils or watercolors, so work efficiently.
- Use of acrylic extender can slow drying time but often not necessary if painting fast.
- Secure caps on paint tubes tightly to prevent drying out.
2. Colour Mixing:
- Use primary colours thoughtfully rather than selecting many hues randomly.
- Mix warm and cool colours in pairs or triplets to create a controlled palette.
- Keep paints organized by colour groups for easy access and efficient mixing.
3. Painting Approach:
- Start with simple subjects like skies, which have less symmetry and are easier to paint than complex shapes (e.g. bottles).
- Enjoy the creative process without stress – there are no “wrong” shadows or colors as painting is subjective.
- Using photographs as references is helpful, but online images can also be a resource.
4. Surface Preparation:
- Primer (Gesso) can be applied to any surface to improve paint adherence.
- This is especially important when painting on paper, board, or reused surfaces.
Key Takeaways
- Beginners benefit from starting with simple, non-symmetrical subjects to build confidence.
- Enjoyment and experimentation are vital parts of learning to paint with acrylics.
Conclusion
This video by Douglas Matthews provides a clear, practical introduction to acrylic painting, covering essential materials, preparation, and techniques. The emphasis is on enjoying the process and helps beginners and intermediate painters build a reliable foundation for their skills.
Watch the full video lesson on choosing materials here on our youtube channel.
The next lesson in the series will focus on painting skies, clouds and horizon lines, continuing to build your foundational acrylic painting skills.
… and please do let us know how you get on, perhaps even by leaving a comment below!
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