Supply list for Expressive Acrylic Painting class
1. Painting surface: 11 x 14 inches
I usually paint on a stretched canvas because they are economical and lightweight. You can also paint on a canvas board, wooden panel, or paper that is meant for acrylic paint. If using paper, it helps to tape the sheet of paper to a table or board. These are all good options:
Best value: Hobby Lobby Master's Touch canvases
Level 2 Gallery Wrapped Traditional Canvas by Artist's Loft
Acrylic Paper Pad by Artist's Loft
2. Paint and palette
It is important to buy "thick body" or "heavy body" acrylic paint, not fluid. If you must use student-grade paint, ONLY buy Master's Touch. Every other student-grade brand, including Artist's Loft and Liquitex Basics, will only lead to disappointment. Believe me, I have tried them all!
I'll be teaching with a white, medium yellow, yellow ochre or oxide, a cool red or magenta, blue, and green. The exact color names vary by brand.
The best supplies are the ones you have. If you purchase a set that doesn't have the exact colors, you can still produce a great painting. Don't worry about having the exact colors, e.g. if you have one yellow but not another. It will be fine!
The best bang-for-your-buck paint is Master's Touch Acrylic Paint, which is normally around $6 per 4 oz. tube but is on sale for $3.59 every other week. You can also find sets of various colors and sizes like this one for $17.99. It's ready to use right out of the tube and is a great consistency. This is the ONLY student-grade paint I use and recommend. Colors in this brand are: Titanium white, Yellow medium, Yellow ochre, Primary red OR Magenta, Ultramarine, Grass green. Total paint cost: $21.54-$35.94.
The second-least expensive option is Master's Touch Thick Body Acrylic Paint, which is just about equivalent in quality, and also ready to use out of the tube. It's $6.99 per 2 oz. tube and also goes on sale for $4.19 every other week. A set of this paint is $24.99. Colors in this brand are: Titanium white, Yellow medium, Raw Sienna (in lieu of yellow ochre/oxide), Magenta or Red, Phthalo blue, Sap green. Total paint cost: $25.14-$41.94.
Golden Heavy Body Acrylics are good quality paint, but I don't buy this brand anymore because the tiny plastic caps often crack.
Liquitex Professional Heavy Body Paint is great quality. Individual tubes are expensive but you can also buy a set of basic colors for $21.41. This line of paint is thicker and benefits from using acrylic medium (see below). But, if you are an oil painter used to using mediums, this line might feel more familiar to you. Colors in this brand are: Titanium white, Yellow medium azo OR Cadmium-free yellow medium, Yellow oxide, Naphthol crimson, Prussian blue hue, Sap green permanent. Total paint cost: $74.94.
Yes, you can mix and match quality and brands!
You'll need a palette for mixing paint. I like a disposable paper palette but a glass palette or even a paper plate are good options. A glass cutting board is a lower-priced alternative to a glass palette, and works just as well. I do not recommend wood or plastic/acrylic palettes for acrylic paint. I will have some extra paper plates at the June 27th workshop to share.
3. Optional: Acrylic Medium
This is optional, but it helps increase the flow/smoothness of paint, especially if you are using Liquitex Professional Heavy Body Paint, which is rather thick. Acrylic paint can also be thinned with water, but using acrylic medium is an upgrade.
4. Brushes
We will start with a wide flat brush (2" wide). I use this Wooster brush that's meant for house painting because it's easy to grip, but you can also use one with a long handle. This brush should be fairly stiff.
Then, we'll use a semi-large flat (1-1.25" wide), a medium flat or filbert brush (1/2" wide), and optionally a small round or liner brush. You want a brush that has a good bit of "bounce"--not too firm, but not too soft.
My favorite are the Royal & Langnickel SableTek Brushes, sizes: Flat 44, Flat 16, Round 4 (optional).
Royal & Langnickel® Essentials™ Acrylic Gold Taklon are also good brushes and this set comes with every size you will need.
5. Brush cleaning
You will need a white rag or old towel (dark or colored rags will leave colored lint in your painting), or paper towels.
A bucket or large cup of water is necessary. The larger, the better! I like this bucket that also has a spot for holding brushes, but I have also used milk or olive oil jugs with the tops cut off, or soup takeout containers.
I often keep baby wipes on hand to wipe up splatters and drips.
The Masters® Brush Cleaner is exceptional. Brushes must be cleaned immediately as acrylic paint dries in mere minutes.
I will have extra rags and brush cleaner at the June 27th workshop.
Summary
In short, you will need to bring a canvas, paint, brushes, and water cup.
Optionally, you can bring acrylic medium, a palette, rag, and brush cleaner.
See you there!
--Elizabeth
Questions? Please leave a comment below!
Prices were recorded in February 2026.
Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning that if you purchase an item using one of these links, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps me earn a living as an artist! Not all links are affiliate links; I recommend my favorite products whether or not I will earn a commission from them.