Need Affordable Supplies for Your Next Painting?
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Need Affordable Supplies for Your Next Painting?
Have you ever been excited to start a project, only to feel totally overwhelmed at the art store by the gazillion paint brands, price tags, and endless mediums? If you want to dive into acrylic painting without blowing your budget, you’re in good company—I’ve been there too!
You do NOT need to buy the fanciest paints or every single medium to make beautiful art. In fact, some of my favorite paintings were created with beginner-friendly brands and a very limited set of supplies. Let me share what truly works (and what you can skip for now).
My Picks: Best Budget Acrylic Paints for Beginners
I’ve tested so many brands over the years—here are a few that offer great color, smooth application, and wallet-friendly prices:
- Liquitex Basics: Super reliable, vibrant colors, and widely available. Get a set of primaries plus white & black, and you can mix almost anything. I love this acrylic paint set for starting artists.
- Arteza Acrylics: A favorite for their creamy texture—not too thick, not too thin. Their starter sets are perfect for experimenting. These are some of my favorite paints to work with.
- Creative Inspirations: Surprisingly good coverage for the price. If you love painting big and practicing often, this is a fantastic choice.
And don’t ignore your local craft store brand—sometimes house brands are nearly identical to the big names!
Mediums That Stretch Your Paint (and Your Dollar)
The simplest way to “upgrade” affordable paints is by using just one or two basic mediums:
- Matte or Gloss Medium: Great for thinning paints for layering or glazing without losing vibrancy. Once you start using mediums, you’ll never go back. They really take your art to the next level, even as a beginner! I like a satin medium – not too much gloss, but not too matte.
- Glazing Liquid: If you want that see-through, luminescent look, this is the trick. I use it constantly for glowing layers—the same technique I teach in my step-by-step art tutorials!
- Water: Yes, water! For practice pieces and loose washes, just a splash or two goes a long way. Save those specialty mediums for when you’re building up details or working on a final piece.
Tips for Shopping Smart (and Not Getting Overwhelmed)
- Start with 5–7 tubes, max. Focus on primary colors, white, black, and maybe a few favorite accent colors. Get a big tube or set of Titanium White – you’ll use it! I’ve purchased this white acrylic one multiple times.
- My top option is to choose a set of good-quality student-grade acrylics, like this Liquitex paint set. A set like this will give you many, many options to not only work with many colors, but blend colors to create a unique experience. This is the mot fun!
- Buy student-grade canvases in multipacks—they’re perfect for practice and exploring new techniques.
- Make a small list before you shop (paint, medium, canvas, brushes) and stick to it! Avoid the impulse aisle if you can. 😄
If you’re eager to see these materials in action—or want step-by-step guidance for your first project—my art tutorials show exactly how I use affordable supplies to create textured, vibrant pieces.
And yes, you can save 15% on every tutorial with code
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Keep Exploring & Stay Inspired
- Find more paint tips and budget-friendly tricks on the art tips blog
- Feeling stuck? Our Facebook group is all about support, sharing, and advice (beginners totally welcome)
- See every beginner-friendly painting course and bundle right on this page
You really can make beautiful, expressive art—without spending a fortune. Let me know your favorite budget supply, or share a photo of what you create!
Thanks for being a subscriber!
KR
🖥️ In case you missed it… Read my post on How to create textured art – my best tips!
KR
Artist, Instructor
www.abstractart.live
www.101artists.com