Loose Acrylic Still Life Painting Tutorial

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to paint a loose acrylic still life step by step. No polish, no three-camera setup—just the way I paint in the garage studio.

I’ve got plenty of excuses for why I don’t paint more interior-inspired artwork. It’s right in my wheelhouse, too. The possibilities are endless—anything from a seafood dinner setup to a patterned tablecloth with HoHo’s and Twinkies (oh, and let’s not forget the tall glass of cold milk).

Anyhow, enjoy the video, and scroll down to see the step-by-step breakdown, the finished image, and my go-to acrylic toolbox.

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Recommended Acrylic Painting Materials

• Princeton Catalyst Brushes – Flats (#6, #12), Rounds (#4, #8), Fan (#4), Liner Brush
  Durable synthetic bristles for versatile acrylic techniques
• Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint – Essential Colors
  Cadmium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red Light, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White
• Winsor & Newton Cotton Canvas
  Reliable stretched canvas for studio and plein air work
• Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Paper
  Heavyweight, acid-free paper for acrylic and mixed media
• Fabriano Artistico 140lb Cold Press Paper
  Excellent for acrylic, mixed media, and textured effects
• Blick Multi-Colored Painting Knife Set
  Variety of shapes for texture, scraping, and bold strokes
• Miscellaneous: Two pint-sized water containers, paper towels (from Home Depot or Walmart)
• Note: I use canvas or sturdy cardboard as my palette — no store-bought palettes needed.