To start your acrylic painting journey, you’ll need some basic supplies. Here’s a list to get you started.

Whether you're taking your first steps into the world of painting or returning to a childhood passion, acrylics are the perfect place to begin. They're vibrant, quick-drying, and forgiving, ideal for beginners! But before you unleash your inner artist, you’ll need the right materials.

Starting with acrylics is all about experimenting and enjoying the process. Don’t worry about having the ‘perfect’ kit, just gather the basics and start playing with colour. Whether you're painting landscapes or abstract blobs, it all begins with making that first brushstroke.

This guide outlines everything you need to build your acrylic painting starter kit, without breaking the bank.

Acrylic paints

Look for a student-grade set to start with. These are affordable and good quality for beginners. Start with a basic set of primary colours: red, blue, yellow, white, and black. You can mix almost any shade from these.

Explore our in depth guide on acrylic paints

Painting surfaces

Daler-Rowney optima mixed media artboard

You’ll need something to paint on. Acrylics are versatile and can be used on canvas boards, stretched canvases and acrylic paper pads. Look for pre-primed surfaces, usually marked 'triple-primed with gesso'.

Check out each surface type in more detail in our review

Brushes

The good news is that you don’t need dozens of brushes! Start with a small selection of synthetic brushes, which are ideal for acrylics. Suggested types are flat (for bold strokes and filling in), round (for details) and filbert (a mix of flat and round, great all-rounder. Brushes are sold in sets or individually.

Discover the different shapes and techniques for each brush with our brush essentials

Palette

Acrylics dry fast—so you’ll need a non-absorbent surface to mix your paint. Options include plastic or acrylic palettes, tear-off palette pads (disposable sheets), a clean ceramic plate (yes, really!). Some artists also use stay-wet palettes to keep paints moist longer.

We look at palettes in a little more detail for you in our report

Water pot & cloth

Simple but essential - a jam jar or old mug for rinsing brushes and an old cloth or paper towels for wiping and drying. Avoid pouring paint water down the sink, use a strainer or let solids settle first!

If you're new to acrylics, don't stop here! Explore our other beginner-friendly guides to learn all you need to progress and develop your acrylic skills.

Palette knife

Optional but fun! Used for mixing or applying paint in bold textures. Affordable plastic ones work just fine for beginners.

Soap brush and cleaner

Acrylic paint can ruin brushes if left to dry. Use mild soap and lukewarm water straight after painting.

We share the vital dos and dont's of brush cleaning in our beginners guide

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