The 5 Most Common Acrylic Painting Mistakes (And How to Fix Them)
Are you an aspiring artist diving into the vibrant world of acrylic painting?
Whether you’re a beginner artist experimenting with your first canvas or someone looking to refine your technique, avoiding common mistakes is crucial to improving your skills and creating artwork you’re proud of.
In this blog, we’ll explore five of the most common acrylic painting mistakes and give you actionable tips to fix them. Get ready to transform your painting process!
Mistake #1: Using Too Little Paint
One of the biggest challenges beginner artists face is not using enough paint. It’s easy to feel cautious about wasting supplies, but skimping on paint often results in streaky, flat, or dull layers that lack vibrancy and depth.
The Fix: Be bold and generous with your paint application! Especially when working with student-grade acrylics—which tend to have less pigment concentration than professional-grade paints—you’ll need to use more paint to achieve rich, vibrant colors. Remember, your paint is there to be enjoyed, so don’t hold back.
Mistake #2: Adding Too Much Water
While acrylic paints can be thinned with water for various techniques, overdoing it can dilute the pigments and weaken the paint’s ability to adhere to your surface. This leads to streaky, uneven layers and colors that lack impact.
The Fix: Use water sparingly to keep your brush damp without oversaturating your paint. This ensures the pigments remain strong and vibrant. For your initial composition or base layers, a slightly thinner paint consistency can work well, but for the rest of your layers, prioritize using undiluted paint for the best results.
Mistake #3: Trying to Finish in One Layer
If you’ve ever felt frustrated that your painting looks “unfinished” after just one pass, it’s because acrylic paintings thrive on layers! Many beginner artists mistakenly try to complete their artwork in a single layer, which often leads to flat and uninspired results.
The Fix: Treat your painting process like building a house. Start with a solid foundation layer to cover the white canvas, then gradually build up your colors, textures, and details. For a polished final piece, aim for at least three layers: one for grounding the canvas, another for defining values and composition, and a final layer for rich colors and finishing touches.
Mistake #4: Relying on Tiny Brushes
While small brushes can feel precise and controlled, relying on them for your entire painting can limit your creativity and slow down the process. Many beginner artists fall into the trap of overusing tiny round brushes, which can make their work feel constrained or overworked.
The Fix: Embrace larger brushes, such as flat or filbert brushes, which allow for bold, confident strokes and efficient coverage of large areas. Big brushes help you achieve a loose, impressionistic style and build your painting’s overall composition with ease. Save the tiny brushes for detail work or signing your name at the end.
Mistake #5: Overblending Your Brushstrokes
Overblending is a common habit among beginner acrylic painters who want their colors to look smooth. However, too much blending can make your painting look muddy and lifeless, robbing it of texture and dynamic energy.
The Fix: Practice intentional brushwork. Place each stroke deliberately, then step back to assess your progress. Avoid the urge to keep blending once the paint is on the canvas. Allow bold, distinct brushstrokes to shine through for added depth and movement in your artwork.
Why Avoiding These Mistakes Matters for Beginner Artists
As a beginner, learning how to work with acrylics effectively is a game-changer. By addressing these common pitfalls, you’ll gain confidence, improve your technique, and create paintings that truly stand out. Acrylic painting is all about experimenting and having fun—so don’t be afraid to make mistakes, but use them as stepping stones to grow as an artist.
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Ready to elevate your acrylic painting skills?
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Click here to get instant access and don’t forget to share your creations with me on Instagram at @katiejoblingart. Let’s paint something amazing together!