Art Materials Guide for Beginners

• Use thick paper above 280 GSM, canvas panel, stretched canvas, or canvas pad. A high-GSM watercolor paper or mixed media paper also works well for acrylics. Choose a small to moderate size like 9×11, 10×12, or 12×12 inches — easier for beginners to handle.

• Gesso is needed for canvas panels or stretched canvas, not for thick paper sheets. Apply 1–2 extra coats, even on pre-primed canvas, for better paint grip and brush control. Use a 1–2 inch flat brush to apply gesso evenly.

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 mixing. Look for paints with a creamy, semi-thick consistency, good opacity, and smooth application. A few good and available brands are Liquitex Basics, Pébéo Studio Acrylics, and Winsor & Newton Galeria.

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 as it provides enough space for easy colour mixing. Plastic, wooden, or paper palettes are all suitable. For beginners, a tear-off paper palette (minimum 50 gsm) is recommended as it is lightweight, easy to manage, and requires no cleanup after use.

• 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