Acrylic Painting for Beginners – Free Courses & Tutorials
Discover what acrylic painting for beginners and Stonington, Maine have in common. Oh, and the best free courses and tutorials on the Internet!
Welcome to Your Harbor Pass
Discovering this holy grail of acrylic painting tutorials and courses reminds me of an encounter I had with a complete stranger. Two and a half decades ago, a chance chat in Florida sent me to Stonington, Maine—a blue‑collar lobster village off the beaten path. I went on a whim, fell in love with the rugged coast, and I’ve been painting that grit and glow ever since.
My hope is that landing here is your Stonington moment—one small detour that changes your art for good.
Jump in: Free Acrylic Course →
My Teaching Philosophy
Here's my approach: construct to deconstruct. Together we build rock-solid fundamentals first—color mixing, brush control, basic techniques—then we tear it all apart to find your true voice. Whether that's loose, and expressive or photorealistic. Skip the foundation and you'll fight your brush forever.
Fair warning: This isn't about shortcuts or posting pretty art on Instagram. It's about building skills that actually work when you're staring at a blank canvas wondering what to do next.
The Essentials — Best Acrylic Supplies 2025
Every beginner journey begins with having the right gear. Step inside my personal favs and highly recommended brands I use every day!
- Best Acrylic Paint - learn what cheese whiz and acrylic paint have in common
- Best Acrylic Paint Brushes - finding your go-to brush is kinda like to-go food
- Best Paper to Use or Acrylic Painting = discover my top paper picks and why fancy restaurants aren't the best choice
- Best Canvases for Acrylic Painting - The no nonsense guide without blowing 1K
Beginner’s Path — Free Acrylic Courses & Tutorials
This is like stepping onto the docks for the first time—simple tools, clear steps, real wins.
- Acrylic Painting Course for Beginners — Your complete starting point with video lessons and step‑by‑step projects.
- 12 Essential Techniques — Blending, layering, dry brush, glazing, scumbling—foundations that unlock flow.
- Acrylic Color Mixing Made Easy — Clean, vibrant color without mud.
- Acrylic Glossary = Essential terms and techniques explained
Intermediate Skills
- Acrylic Landscape Painting Fundamentals Course — Skies, trees, atmosphere, composition, and finish—structured and deep. HUGE course!
- 16 Simple but Challenging Acrylic Painting Projects — start with easy ideas and expand into for expressive projects.
Still Life & Flowers with Acrylics
Learn how to paint florals and everyday objects in a fresh, expressive way.
- Learn How to Paint Still Life with Flowers Using Acrylics - A beginner-friendly floral demo.
- Tips for Painting Still Life Floral Paintings - Perfect video or developing easy to paint lower art.
- Beginner Sunflower Acrylic Painting Video Tutorial – Start with this bright, cheerful project.
Master Acrylic Landscapes
Landscapes are the heart of acrylic painting. This free 9-hour course is designed to help you truly master them — from skies and trees to composition and atmosphere.
- Mastering Acrylic Landscapes (Free 9-Hour Course) - Push your landscape painting skills further with structured lessons.
- Acrylic Landscape Painting Tutorial - Step by Step – Shorter lesson and with practical exercises.
- Loose Acrylic Landscape Video Tutorial – Go expressive with landscapes.