Acrylic Painting Supplies – My 12 Go-To Materials
This isn’t a shopping list of trendy art gear. It’s my no-nonsense set of 12 acrylic painting supplies—brushes, paints, canvases, paper, and tools—that actually live in my garage studio and get used every day.
Let’s cut through the noise. You don’t need 50 brushes, 10 mediums, and a shopping cart full of “must-have” gimmicks. After 20+ years of slinging acrylics in the garage, these are the 12 supplies I actually use. Nothing fancy. Nothing sponsored. Just the real tools that get the job done.
1. Brushes That Don’t Quit
Forget $200 “luxury” brushes. Acrylics chew through gear. These are tough, affordable, and last long enough to be worth it:
- Princeton Catalyst – my go-to workhorses for flats, rounds, and detail.
- Silver Ruby Set – great variety at a solid price. Perfect for beginners and backups.
2. Paints That Don’t Lie
I’ve tried plenty, but Liquitex always makes the cut. Strong pigments, smooth consistency, and you can find them anywhere. Start small—primary colors, a red, a yellow, a blue, burnt sienna, and white. Build from there.
3. Canvases That Hold Up
Don’t overthink it. I use Blick Super Value Canvas Packs and Winsor & Newton cotton canvases—prepped, ready to go, and consistent. These hold paint and stand up to my heavy handed painting style.
Blick Super Value Canvas Packs - this is garage approved, must have acrylic canvas. I have shelves of them!
Winsor & Newton Cotton Canvas - when I get that BIG sale I may splurge for these.
4. Paper That Works
Sometimes I skip canvas and use Fabriano Artistico cold press watercolor paper, or Strathmore 400 Series acrylic paper. Both are durable, hold up to heavy paint, and perfect for practice or studies. Buy full sheets o Fabriano, or a pad of Strathmore, burn through it, learn fast.
Fabriano Artistico cold press watercolor paper - top choice
Strathmore 400 Series acrylic paper - solid pick, less expensive
5. Not Your Average Palette
I stopped using them and now prefer bland white canvas as my mixing surface. It's resourceful, exciting, and having a canvas that was used as a platter becomes a great way to start a painting.
6. Palette Knives
Keep a set of cheap metal knives around. I use them mostly for scooping paint out of jars, and occasionally for mixing and scraping.
7. Boards for Backing
Gator-foam board is light and tough. Tape down paper or lean a small canvas on it. Beats dragging around masonite.
8. Easel
I paint on a Blick Studio Convertible Easel when I need it. Most days, I slap the canvas on a board and paint standing at the bench. Don’t over-romanticize the easel.
9. 1 Pint Plastic Cups
I have at least two at all times, and may use four if I know it will be a long session. I get them in the paint section at Home Depot.
10. Water
Not gel, not magic fluid, not overpriced medium. Just water. Been using it for 20+ years with heavy body paint. Works.
11. Pencils or Markers
For sketching out compositions, ideas and layout drawings. Any will do but I prefer 4B.
12. Junk Drawer Extras
Masking tape, paper towels, a spray bottle. Nothing fancy, but I use them every single session.
Final Thoughts
That’s it. No overkill, no hype—just the 12 acrylic supplies that actually live in my garage studio.
