Acrylic Painting Ideas

Acrylic paint is a popular artistic medium that is easy to use and forgiving. If you make a mistake, wait for it to dry and then paint over it. The ease of use is one of the main reasons that this medium is prized by beginner painters. More advanced artists also use acrylic for a wide range of projects, and they mix it with several other mediums for different effects.

If you want to try using this type of paint, check out some of these acrylic painting ideas. There are some projects that will help you improve your overall technique and there are others that are just plain fun. Pick one and get inspired.

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Try Painting Retro-Inspired Flowers

One way to add an interesting element to a painting project is to paint it in a particular style. Every style has different elements to consider like shape, color palette, and overall feel. This tutorial from The Postman's Knock will explain retro style and then teach you how to paint these flowers using that style.

Retro Painted Flower Tutorial from The Postman's Knock
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Learn a Simple Bubble Painting Technique

A Piece of Rainbow

This acrylic painting project is a fun one to tackle with kids or a group of youthful-minded friends. The main painting is done using acrylic paint just like any other painting. A Piece of Rainbow will then show you how to make the hydrangea blooms using acrylic paint and bubbles.

Make Bubble Paint Flower Hydrangeas from A Piece of Rainbow
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Paint Your Favorite Whimsical Animal

Ink Struck

If you're unsure of what to paint, consider trying to turn your favorite animal into a cartoon character painting. First, check out this tutorial from Ink Struck to see how she painted this panda. Next, use the steps here to create your own animal painting.

Panda Acrylic Painting Tutorial from Ink Struck
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Try Out a Pouring Technique

oxygen / Getty Images

Acrylic pouring creates similar results as tie-dye in that every project is unique and somewhat unpredictable. The article below discusses the process of pouring acrylic paints and answers several commonly asked questions.

Learn How to Pour Acrylic Paints from The Spruce

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05 of 15

Pick a Serene Mountain Landscape to Paint

Ink Struck

This mountain painting looks so light and airy that at first glance, you might think that it was painted using watercolors. We can assure you that the painting was done using acrylic paint. To find out how to replicate this technique, check out the tutorial on Ink Struck.

Mountain Painting in Acrylics from Ink Struck
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Use a Palette Knife for an Abstract Painting

Feeling Nifty

Abstract paintings aren't as easy as they look. It's possible that you could read this headline, pick up a palette knife and some acrylic paint, then go at a canvas randomly. However, there's more to it than that. If you want to create an abstract painting that also looks professional, head over to the tutorial by Feeling Nifty and read about all the steps involved.

Palette Knife Acrylic Abstract Tutorial from Feeling Nifty
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Have the Entire Family Paint Hearts

Feeling Nifty

If you want to paint with the entire family, pick a simple shape, and have everyone paint their own painting inside the shape using the same color palette. Each painting will be unique to the family member, but they will all look cohesive hanging on the wall together.

Heart Painting on Canvas from Feeling Nifty
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Set Clouds on a Magical and Colorful Sky

Feeling Nifty

Painting clouds using acrylic paint can be challenging because blending colors on the canvas isn't always an easy-to-achieve option. This acrylic painting tutorial will show you how to use cotton swabs to create a realistic texture of a cloud that also looks magical.

How to Paint Acrylic Clouds from Feeling Nifty

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Figure Out How to Paint Birch Trees

Persia Lou

If you enjoy a modern farmhouse style with a touch of rustic, you might want to paint this piece of art for your home. This birch tree painting tutorial goes through some simple techniques that will teach you how to add texture and depth to trees.

DIY Birch Tree Art from Persia Lou
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Make Your Painting Glow in the Dark

Persia Lou

One way you can amplify an acrylic painting is by using some acrylic paint that glows in the dark. This project from Persia Lou will talk about the materials she used as well as how they painted a realistic-looking moon using a watercolor effect.

DIY Glow in the Dark Moon Art from Persia Lou
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Paint Your Shoes Instead of a Canvas

The Spruce

If you've run out of acrylic painting ideas, try to rethink your canvas. Acrylic paint is a versatile medium that works on a variety of surfaces. We love this painted shoe project and think the final product turned out great. Find out how to stencil your own shoes with a few inexpensive materials.

How to Paint Shoes from The Spruce
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Pick a Pillow as Your Canvas

Delineate Your Dwelling

This is another acrylic painting idea that is based on rethinking your canvas. Instead of painting some wall art, think about adding some art to a throw pillow. This blog post will explain the process and help you pick out colors that will complement your existing decor.

Painted Retro Pillow from Delineate Your Dwelling

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Create Some Simple Art with Your Kids

Damask Love

Sometimes acrylic paintings don't need to be complicated or have a lot of colors to make a big impact. Learn how to make a gallery wall of simple abstract floral art that will add an instant pop of color and personality to any room.

Easy Abstract Floral Wall Art from Damask Love
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Practice Painting Houseplants and Herbs

Elle Byers Art

Most artists agree that painting with acrylics is the most enjoyable when they don't overthink it. Try to focus more on the process than on perfection. Remember, the finished product doesn't need to look exactly perfect for the art to look good. This tutorial will help you loosen up your brush strokes and really start to enjoy the act of painting.

How to Paint Acrylic Herbs and Houseplants from Elle Byers Art
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Make a Mess with Splatter Painting

Lauren Thomann

If you want to learn how to splatter paint, the first thing you need to do is learn how to prep your work area because splattering acrylic paint is messy. However, the mess is worth it because the process can be fun and even cathartic at times. Learn some basic techniques in the tutorial listed below.

How to Splatter Paint from The Spruce