Get Started In Acrylic Painting

Acrylic Painting Bundle: Explore your artistic side with our Get Started in Acrylic Painting Bundle! It includes everything you need to start experimenting with acrylic techniques, so you’ll be making masterpieces in no time.

Acrylic Paints: Embrace every colour of the rainbow with our range of acrylic paints! You’ll find top brands including Daler-Rowney, Pebeo and Sennelier, as well as great value own-brand acrylic colours.

Canvases: Prepare for your next masterpiece with the perfect artist canvas for your project! Stretched, primed and ready for you to get straight to work, our range of canvases provide the ideal working surface for acrylics and more.

Paper for Acrylic Painting: Find pads full of paper that is perfect for use with acrylic paints, ensuring it’s easy to experiment with new techniques – whether you’re out and about, painting at home or in the studio. Choose from a range of paper sizes and weights.

Brushes: Explore our range of acrylic paintbrushes to find the perfect shapes and sizes for every application, whether you’re a beginner, a student or a professional artist. You’ll be able to get the most out of your acrylics with the right brush at the ready.

Get Started In Acrylics with Charlotte Baker

Discover fantastic techniques for acrylic painting with this tutorial from expert artist and Hobbycraft Artisan Charlotte Baker.

How to Experiment with Mixed Media and Acrylic Mediums

Sometimes branching out into new mediums and techniques can be daunting. Follow the step-by-step guide to see what products and techniques can create beautiful artwork.

How to Paint an Owl with Acrylics

Owls are fluffy, magnificent creatures and a perfect bird to paint because of their textured feathers! In this post, we show you how to paint your own owl in acrylic colour.

What is gesso?

Gesso is a paint mixture used to prepare/prime semi-absorbent surfaces (such as canvas and wood) so that acrylic and oil paints can adhere properly and won't soak through the fibre/grain.

How long does gesso take to dry?

This depends on many factors such as the temperature, what kind of surface has been painted and the thickness the gesso has been applied. Gesso dries quite quickly, it should be touch-dry within 15 minutes but if the surface is particularly absorbent, it can take over an hour.

How to use gesso?

Gesso can be used to seal semi-absorbent surfaces by applying a thin layer using a paint brush. It's recommended to have at least two layers of gesso to make sure your surface is properly primed (make sure to wait until the first layer is dry before adding the next). On the last layer you can smooth it out with sandpaper once dry (if required).

What is gesso used for?

As well as sealing semi-absorbent surfaces (such as canvas and wood) before painting with acrylics or oils, it helps to create a smoother surface to apply your paint onto and helps the colours to appear more vibrant.

How to gesso a canvas

First ensure your canvas is clean and free from any dust. Then, apply a thin layer of gesso all over using a soft brush (a hard brush will leave streaks) and allow it to dry completely. Then add a second coat to ensure it's properly sealed (you can add as many layers as you feel is needed). Once dry, you can use sandpaper to gently smooth the surface if there are any streaks/uneven areas.

How many layers of gesso on wood?

You should apply at least two layers of gesso onto wood before painting - there is no limit to how many layers you can apply, just make sure they're fully dry before applying the next!

What better way to get started in the use of black gesso then with this beginner project? Learn how to create a beautiful galaxy inspired acrylic painting in the below guide!

Discover the step-by-step guide here >