Beginner’s Painting Guide: Best Paint to Start With, Supplies You Need
June 27, 2025
🎯 Introduction
So, you’ve decided to pick up a paintbrush—awesome choice! Painting is a relaxing, expressive, and rewarding hobby, perfect for both creativity and mindfulness. But where do you begin? This guide will walk you through everything: which paint to choose, what supplies you’ll actually need, and answers to all the big beginner questions.
Let’s start with the basics.
🖌️ What Type of Painting Should a Beginner Start With?
For most beginners, acrylic paints are highly recommended. Why? Because they’re easy to use, affordable, and very forgiving—perfect for learning.
You don’t need expensive courses. Here are free and low-cost resources:
Platform
What You’ll Get
Cost
YouTube
Free beginner tutorials (search: “acrylic for beginners”)
Free
Skillshare
Guided classes – often with free trials
Free Trial
Pinterest
Inspiration and visual how-tos
Free
Art Blogs
Step-by-step lessons and supply reviews
Free
Libraries
Beginner art books and workbooks
Free
✅ FAQs for Beginner Painters
1. How much should I spend on beginner painting supplies?
Budget: $25–$60 USD is enough for a complete acrylic starter kit. Focus spending on decent paints and a few versatile brushes. You can repurpose household items like plastic containers, paper towels, or old shirts.
2. Do I need to be naturally talented to start painting?
Not at all! Painting is a learned skill. Everyone can improve with consistent practice. Even pros started with stick figures and smudges. Talent may speed things up, but effort and patience matter more.
A color mixing exercise using red, blue, and yellow
An abstract art piece—just explore shapes and texture
4. How often should I practice painting?
Practice tip:
Aim for 15–30 minutes, 3–4 times per week
Consistency > long hours
Build brush control and color intuition over time
5. What if my painting turns out bad?
Good! That means you’re learning. Your first painting shouldn’t be perfect. Think of each mistake as a data point. Save those paintings to track your progress—you’ll be amazed in 6 months!
6. Should I use canvas or paper?
Both work! For beginners:
Use acrylic paper or mixed media pads (9×12) for practice
Use canvas boards or stretched canvas for final artwork
This builds muscle memory, paint confidence, and creative momentum.
🎯 Final Thoughts
Don’t wait to be perfect to start painting. Start messy, start excited. Acrylic paints are your best first step, and your supplies don’t need to be fancy. Focus on learning, enjoying the process, and painting consistently. Trust the journey—you’ll improve faster than you think.
📌 Quick Summary Table
Topic
Key Point
Best Paint for Beginners
Acrylic Paints
Budget for Supplies
$25–$60 USD
First Projects
Still life, landscapes, abstract
Practice Frequency
3–4 times/week, 15–30 mins each
Where to Learn
YouTube, Skillshare, blogs, libraries
Must-Remember Advice
Talent isn’t required—consistency is key
🧑🎨 About Me
Hi, I’m Sujith, a content creator and self-taught painting enthusiast. I began my art journey as a hobby to relax and ended up falling in love with the creative process. I write beginner-friendly guides and honest product reviews to help others start their journey without wasting time or money. My goal? Make painting fun, simple, and stress-free for everyone.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting beginner-friendly art content!
