Acrylic Painting Techniques for Beginners: 10 Essentials for Cleaner, More Confident Paintings

Why acrylics are a great beginner medium (and why they feel tricky)

Acrylic paint is loved for good reason: it’s versatile, affordable, and works on many surfaces. The main challenge is drying time. Acrylics can dry quickly, which makes smooth blends harder and can lead to muddy layers if you keep scrubbing at the paint.

The good news: a few foundational techniques will immediately improve your results. Think of these as building blocks you can combine for portraits, landscapes, abstracts, and everything in between.

1) Start with an underpainting to plan values

An underpainting is a simple first layer that establishes the lights and darks before you commit to full color. It’s one of the fastest ways to make a painting feel solid.

Try a monochrome underpainting using burnt umber, ultramarine, or a neutral gray. Keep it thin and simple. Once it’s dry, you can paint color on top without losing your structure.

2) Control paint consistency with a “three thickness” approach

Many beginners either paint too thick too early or use watery paint that streaks.

Aim for three consistencies:

Thin (like milk) for early block-ins and transparent layers.

Medium (like cream) for most painting.

Thick (like butter) for final highlights and textured accents.

Use water sparingly; too much can weaken the binder and make paint look chalky. If you want fluid paint, consider acrylic medium rather than only water.

3) Block in big shapes before details

Acrylic rewards decisive, layered thinking. Begin by blocking in large shapes—background, major shadows, major light areas—before small details.

This prevents you from “rendering” a tiny area beautifully only to discover the overall composition is off. Big shapes first also helps you keep edges clean and values organized.

4) Learn soft edges vs. hard edges

Edges shape realism and focus. Hard edges attract attention. Soft edges feel atmospheric and recede.

Use hard edges where you want the viewer to look: the focal point, sharp light transitions, or important silhouettes.

Use soft edges in backgrounds, shadows, or areas meant to feel out of focus.

A simple way to soften an edge in acrylic: paint the adjacent color while the edge is still slightly wet, then lightly feather the transition with a clean, damp brush.

5) Dry brushing for texture

Dry brushing means using a relatively dry brush with a small amount of thicker paint. Drag it lightly across the surface so it catches the texture of the canvas.

This is excellent for:

Hair and fur suggestions

Grass and foliage highlights

Weathered wood or stone

Textured abstract marks

Dry brushing works best late in the painting, when underlying layers are fully dry.

6) Glazing to enrich color without mud

A glaze is a transparent layer of color applied over a dry layer. It shifts hue and deepens color while keeping the underlying structure visible.

To glaze:

Let the layer beneath dry completely.

Mix paint with glazing medium (or a mix of medium and a little water).

Apply a thin, even layer with a soft brush.

Glazing is perfect for warming sunlit areas, cooling shadows, and making colors look more luminous.

7) Scumbling for soft, hazy effects

Scumbling is the opposite of glazing: it’s a thin, semi-opaque layer dragged lightly over a dry layer so some of the underlayer shows through.

For more in-depth guides and related topics, be sure to check out our homepage where we cover a wide range of subjects.

Use scumbling for:

Mist and atmosphere

Soft light on clouds

Skin transitions

Muted highlights

Keep the paint relatively dry and use a gentle touch. Scumbling creates a painterly, natural texture without heavy blending.

8) Prevent muddy color with smart mixing

“Mud” usually happens when too many pigments get mixed together or when you overwork wet layers.

To stay clean:

Limit your palette. Fewer pigments = fewer accidental neutrals.

Mix on the palette more than on the canvas.

Let layers dry before painting over them.

Rinse brushes thoroughly when switching color families.

A helpful habit is to premix a few piles: a shadow version, midtone version, and highlight version of your main colors. This reduces frantic mixing mid-painting.

9) Use a stay-wet setup for longer blending time

If acrylics dry too fast for your pace, you have options.

Use a stay-wet palette (a sealed tray with a damp sponge and palette paper).

Mist your palette lightly (don’t soak it).

Work in sections and keep edges wet where you need blending.

You can also use slow-drying medium or retarder in small amounts. Too much retarder can make paint tacky, so test first.

10) Finish with confident highlights and color accents

Highlights are where acrylic shines. Save your brightest lights and sharpest accents for the end.

Make highlights feel intentional by:

Placing them only where the light hits strongest.

Using slightly thicker paint for crisp application.

Adding tiny color accents (a warm highlight in a cool area, or vice versa) to create vibrancy.

When you reach the finishing stage, step back often. Acrylic detail can snowball quickly; stopping at the right moment is part of the skill.

A simple practice plan for fast improvement

If you want to improve quickly, repeat small studies rather than attempting one massive canvas.

Try three 30–45 minute studies:

A value-only still life in one color.

A limited-palette landscape using glazing for atmosphere.

A texture study combining dry brush and scumbling.

You’ll build control over paint handling, edges, and layering—exactly what beginners need to feel confident.

Acrylics are forgiving, adaptable, and full of possibility. With these techniques in your toolkit, you’ll spend less time fighting the medium and more time enjoying the act of painting.