Art Materials Guide for Beginners

• You may use thick paper (above 280 GSM), a canvas panel, stretched canvas, or a canvas pad. Look for a medium-grain texture on canvas panels—it is neither too smooth nor too rough, making it ideal for better paint control and brushwork.
• A 300 GSM watercolor sheet works well even for acrylic painting. High-GSM mixed media paper is also a good option.
• If you're just starting, keep the size small to moderate — 9×11, 10×12, or 12×12 inches are ideal to begin with. Smaller surfaces are easier to handle, help you focus on basic techniques, and are less overwhelming while learning.

• Canvas surfaces can be smooth and slippery, causing paint to slide.
• Even if the canvas is pre-primed, applying 2–3 additional coats of gesso improves paint adhesion and brush control.
• Without gesso coats, beginners often find it very difficult to apply paint efficiently.
• You will also need a flat brush, 1–2 inches wide, to apply gesso evenly across the canvas surface.

It's good to have a limited set of paints to avoid confusion and encourage better colour mixing. Working with fewer colours helps you understand colour relationships, maintain harmony, and build confidence while mixing your own shades.

Recommended Starter Set:

• Cobalt Blue Alt: Deep Ultramarine / French Ultramarine
• Primary Red Alt: Permanent Rose
• Lemon Yellow Alt: Primary Yellow
• Sap Green Alt: Hooker's Green Permanent Hue
• Burnt Umber
• Burnt Sienna
• Ivory Black Alt: Mars Black
• Titanium White

• 2–3 Flat or Filbert brushes (Medium to Large · Sizes 8–14) For backgrounds, blocking shapes, and broad strokes.
• 2–3 Round brushes (Small to Medium · Sizes 2–6) For general painting, soft edges, and controlled work.
• 1–2 Liner / Detail brushes (Sizes 1, 0, 00 — also called 0/2 by some brands) For fine lines, outlines, and delicate details.

• A flat palette works best — it gives enough space to mix colours easily and see values clearly.
• Plastic, wooden, or paper palettes are all suitable.
• A paper palette is recommended for beginners as it is lightweight and easy to manage — making colour mixing more convenient and mess-free.
• Look for a tear-off paper palette with paper thickness of at least 50 gsm so paint does not bleed through.
• Since the sheets are disposable, there is no cleanup needed — just tear off and discard after each session.

• A small palette knife is used for mixing colours on the palette.

• A water container is needed to wash brushes while painting.

• Tissue paper or a cloth can be used to wipe off excess paint and water from brushes.
• A cloth is recommended as it is reusable, absorbs more water, is more durable, and helps keep brushes cleaner while working.

• Spray Bottle: To keep acrylics moist
• Masking Tape: For clean edges and borders
• Pencil & Eraser: For initial sketching
• Varnish/Sealer: To protect finished paintings