An introduction to acrylic painting

Contents:

• Winsor and Newton acrylic paint ranges
• The best surfaces for acrylic painting
• Acrylic mediums, varnishes, solvents and primers explained
• Mixing acrylic with oil paint
• Acrylic paint drying times
• Tips

Winsor and Newton acrylic paint ranges

Professional Acrylic: Our brightest and most intense colours, made with the highest quality pigments for rich, vibrant results.

Galeria Acrylic: The same quality pigments as the Professional range, just in a lower concentration, making it perfect for beginners. Offers excellent coverage and a smooth, satin finish. Watch this guide for a comparison of our acrylic paint ranges.

What Surfaces can you use for acrylic painting?

One of the biggest advantages of acrylic paint is that it works on almost any surface — as long as it’s not greasy or too glossy. Popular acrylic painting surfaces include:

Canvas (cotton or linen) - Cotton canvas is affordable and flexible, making it great for beginners. Linen canvas is smoother and more durable, preferred by more experienced artists.

• Acrylic paper or sketch pads – Perfect for watercolour-style painting, outdoor painting, or quick art.
• Wood panels
• Degreased leather
• Brickwork or stone

Best brushes for acrylic painting

The best acrylic painting brushes depend on your style and technique:

• For thick, textured applications, choose stiff brushes.
• For thin washes or glazing, use softer brushes.

Winsor & Newton acrylic brush ranges:

Galeria Brushes:

• Strong, resilient synthetic filaments for both thick and fluid paint.
• Flat brushes keep their shape, even with heavy use.
• Round brushes have a fine point for detail.
• Short handles are great for glazing and watercolour techniques.
• Long handles are stiffer for bold applications on textured surfaces.

University Brushes

• Suitable for acrylics, oils, and watercolours.
• Stiff enough to keep brush marks minimal with fluid acrylics.
• Affordable and durable — perfect for students and hobbyists.

Foundation Brushes

• A good variety of shapes and sizes for experimenting with different techniques.

Acrylic mediums, varnishes, solvents and primers.

Used to prepare your surface, achieve a variety of effects and textures, protecting your work or cleaning up. All Winsor & Newton acrylic mediums, including Galeria Mediums, work perfectly with our Professional Acrylic paints.

• Mediums – Will help you to achieve a variety of effects and textures. They should be used sparingly with the paint.

• Varnishes - used to protect your artwork and are uniquely formulated to be removable and UV-resistant. The satin varnish gives a mid-sheen finish, in between the matt and gloss varnish finishes. Read our ultimate guide to acrylic varnishing to find out more.

• Solvents Used to clean up your tools and surfaces after painting.
• Primers – Used to prepare your surface before applying the paint. Read more about priming.

Can You Mix Acrylics and Oils?

Acrylic paint and oil paint don’t mix directly, but they can be layered:

• You can paint oils over acrylics (great for underpaintings).
• Don’t paint acrylics over oils — they won’t adhere properly.

How fast does acrylic paint dry?

Galeria Acrylic paint, if applied in thin coats, can dry within 20minutes but could take an hour or more for thicker coats.

Professional Acrylic paint takes slightly longer – approximately 30minutes for thin coats and an hour or two for thicker coats.

Find out more about acrylic drying times in this guide

Beginner acrylic painting tips

• Start with a small selection of colours and a few different brushes.
• Experiment with surfaces — try canvas, paper, and wood to see what you like best.
• Don’t be afraid to mix mediums and textures.
• Work quickly because acrylics dry fast

Acrylic is a flexible, forgiving paint — perfect for beginners who want to explore their creativity without the pressure of long drying times or complicated preparation. With the right tools and techniques, you’ll be creating vibrant, textured artwork in no time.