If you’re just starting to dip your brush into the artistic world, acrylic paint is a great medium to start with! Not only is it relatively inexpensive (but still great quality), but it’s also very versatile.
One of the best ways to become familiar with acrylic painting techniques for beginners is by picking up your brush and start to create. Here are a handful of our favorite beginner acrylic painting ideas that are a great place to start.
Best Acrylic Painting Ideas for Beginners
While there’s nothing wrong with letting your creativity flow on a canvas, these acrylic painting ideas for beginners are a great way to start learning more about acrylic painting techniques.
1. Color Block Design
When it comes to beginner acrylic painting ideas, you can’t go wrong with a geometric design (also called color blocking). The best part of this acrylic painting idea is that it’s easy to execute and can fit with a lot of decor due to its modern yet minimalistic look.
An acrylic painting for beginners step by step guide for this project is below:
- Collect your materials: Masking tape, a canvas, and a few (three to four) colors of acrylic paint
- Use the masking tape to outline geometric shapes on your canvas
- Begin painting
- Once dry, carefully peel off the masking tape
This color-blocking technique is great for getting a feel of how acrylic paint is applied and how your colors appear once dried on canvas.
2. Abstract Scenery
Acrylic painting for beginners and scenery are typically not the first pairing you think of. However, many acrylic painting ideas for beginners do encourage novices to try their hand at creating abstract scenery with this medium. So, get inspired by nature, especially water and leaves!
Once you gather your colors and canvas, you can get to work capturing the scenery in a unique way. Painting things like an ocean is a great way to learn how to layer colors and utilize your palette knife to create a natural-looking texture.
3. Bright Florals
If you really want to go crazy with color, you’ll love these beginner acrylic painting ideas that are all about florals. There are an endless number of ways to paint flowers with acrylic paint so you can learn more about color matching or unique painting techniques.
While you can begin freehanding your florals, you may also want to try your hand at some more “fun” techniques, especially if you’re painting with kids. Take this “5 Minute Bubble Painting Hydrangea Flowers” tutorial. All you need is one part (by volume) non-toxic acrylic paint, one part non-toxic dish soap, and 2-3 parts water depending on how thick the paint is. Mix the paint, soap, and water in a dish and then take a straw and blow some air into the mixture.
You will see bubbles start to form and that’s when you take a piece of paper and gently press it onto the bubbles, but not the mixed paint below. Now you get a lovely print that looks like hydrangeas and you can go in with your acrylic paint to add more details.
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4. Dreamy Clouds
For some more abstract beginner acrylic painting ideas, try this dreamy cloudscape. Painting clouds with acrylic paint can seem like a challenge for beginners, but this technique using a cotton swab is a great place to start. Creating these dreamy clouds can help you learn more about blending colors on canvas and mastering more textures.
5. Unconventional Materials
Beginner acrylic painting ideas don’t need to be boring! One of the best things about acrylic paint is that you can also use it on other mediums besides a typical canvas and wood. For instance, if you have cloth shoes lying around or even a pillowcase, you can also get creative with them. Just make sure you’re using canvas material. It’s a great way to practice your freehand work or create original prints and patterns that showcase your style and match your existing decor.
More Tips on Acrylic Painting for Beginners
Acrylic painting for beginners doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or overly dull. These beginner acrylic painting ideas can help you get a feel for how acrylic paint is applied, blending, and a few other techniques that you will begin to master as time goes on.
Remember, the only thing it takes to be “good” at art is the drive to create! When it comes time to stock up on your acrylic paint, look no further than Nova Color. We take pride in creating artist-grade acrylic paint that beginners and experienced artists love. Shop our collection of acrylic paint today! Join the Nova Color Paint affiliate program which helps artists monetize their love of art and top-quality acrylic paint. Browse our FAQ page to find answers to all the questions related to our complete product range.