Artskills Acrylic Paint Set: How to Choose and Use One (Step-by-Step)

Updated November 2026

An artskills acrylic paint set is a practical starting point for anyone who wants to try acrylic painting without buying supplies one piece at a time. In this guide, you will learn how to check what is in a set, prepare your workspace, mix colors, apply paint in layers and keep your tools in good shape. By the end, you should be able to get consistent results from the set and know when it is time to add something new.

What to Look for in an artskills Acrylic Paint Set

Before you open the box, it helps to know what a typical acrylic kit includes and how those pieces fit together. Sets in this category usually combine tubes or pots of paint with a few brushes and sometimes a palette or canvas paper. The quality of each piece affects how easy the set is to use, so it is worth checking the basics before you start.

Shopping for one? See our guide: 7 Best Set of Acrylic Paints for Beginners and Hobbyists (2026).

• Color range: Look for primaries (red, yellow, blue), white, black and a few secondary or earth tones. A good range lets you mix most other colors yourself.
• Paint consistency: Acrylics should be smooth and spreadable straight from the container. Thick, lumpy paint often needs more water than the label suggests.
• Brush shapes: Flat, round and filbert brushes cover different jobs. A set with at least three shapes gives you flexibility for broad washes and fine detail.
• Surface options: Paper pads or canvas panels designed for acrylics handle water-based paint far better than standard printer paper.

Preparing Your Workspace and Tools

Acrylic paint dries fast and does not reactivate once it is fully cured, so a little preparation saves a lot of frustration. Set up before you open a single tube.

1. Cover your table with a plastic sheet or painter’s drop cloth. Acrylic stains most surfaces permanently.
2. Place two containers of water nearby: one for rinsing brushes and one for thinning paint.
3. Arrange a palette, either the one included in the set or a plastic plate, with a space for each color.
4. Lay out paper towels or a rag to blot brushes. Excess water in the bristles causes streaky edges.
5. Keep a spray bottle of water on hand to keep paint moist while you work.

Setting Up Your Palette

Squeeze a small amount of each color onto the palette in a consistent order, such as warm colors on one side and cool colors on the other. Leave space between blobs so you can mix without contaminating the rest. A dime-sized amount is usually enough for a small piece. You can always add more, but you cannot easily take paint back off.

Mixing and Thinning Acrylic Paint

Thinning controls how the paint flows, how transparent it looks and how many layers you can build before the surface gets heavy. Most artists use a ratio of paint to water that depends on the effect they want. The table below gives general starting points that you can adjust by eye.

Effect	Approximate paint-to-water ratio	Best use
Opaque coverage	Paint straight from the container, little or no water	Base layers and bright highlights
Semi-opaque	About 2 parts paint to 1 part water	Shading and blending
Transparent wash	About 1 part paint to 3 parts water	Backgrounds, skies and glazes

Mix your paint with a palette knife or the tip of a brush, not by stirring the tube. Stir until the color is even and there are no streaks. If the paint looks chalky after drying, add a little more water next time or switch to a slightly thicker layer.

Applying Paint in Layers

Acrylic rewards patience. Thin first layers help the paint grip, and thicker top layers add texture and depth. Work from light to dark when you can, since it is easier to darken a color than to lighten it.

Step 1: Block In the Background

Load a flat brush with a thin mix and cover the background in long, even strokes. Let the first layer dry completely, which usually takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on humidity and paint thickness. Touching a wet layer lifts color underneath and creates muddy patches.

Step 2: Build the Midtones

Add your main shapes with a medium consistency. Use a round brush to define edges and keep your strokes in the direction of the form, such as vertical for tree trunks and curved for petals.

Step 3: Add Shadows and Highlights

Mix a darker shade of your base color for shadows and a lighter tint for highlights. Apply them with small, controlled strokes. Thick highlights look best when they sit on top of a dry midtone.

Step 4: Refine the Details

Switch to your smallest round or liner brush for fine lines, dots and texture. Use very little paint on the brush tip and wipe off the excess before each mark.

Cleaning and Caring for Your Brushes

Acrylic dries inside the bristles quickly, which is the most common reason brushes become stiff and unusable. Rinse brushes in clean water within a few minutes of finishing a session. Gently work soap into the bristles with your fingers, rinse thoroughly and reshape each brush to a point or a flat edge before letting it dry lying flat or standing with the bristles up.

Never leave a brush sitting in water for hours, since water can loosen the glue that holds the ferrule and handle together. Store brushes in a cup with the tips up or in a roll-up case once they are fully dry.

Common Mistakes

• Painting over wet layers: This pulls up earlier paint and muddies colors. Let each layer dry before adding the next.
• Using too much water in the first layer: Over-thinned paint sticks poorly and can crack when dry.
• Leaving paint on the palette: Acrylic skins over and dries within an hour or so. Mist the palette or cover it with a damp paper towel between sessions.
• Ignoring the brush shape: Using a round brush for broad washes or a flat brush for fine lines makes the work harder than it needs to be.
• Skipping the surface prep: Painting on very smooth or unprimed surfaces can make the paint peel. Use paper or canvas made for acrylics.

Tips for Getting More From Your Set

• Practice color mixing on a scrap sheet before starting a finished piece. Mixing a grid of your primaries with white and black teaches you more than any chart.
• Keep a small notebook with your mixes and ratios so you can repeat colors you like.
• Use a retarder medium if you need more open time for blending on a warm day.
• Seal finished work with a varnish once it has cured, usually after about 24 hours for thin layers and longer for heavy impasto.
• Once you have used most of the included colors, consider adding a few single tubes in shades you reach for often, such as a deep blue or a warm brown.

Recommended gear

These items pair well with an acrylic set and help with the steps covered above.

• Liquitex Basics Acrylic Paint: A widely used student-grade brand whose tubes make a good addition if you want to expand your palette with single colors. View on Amazon
• Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Brush Set: Useful for controlling thin washes if you also experiment with water-based media on the same paper. View on Amazon
• Strathmore 400 Series Mixed Media Paper: A sturdy surface that handles repeated wet layers better than thin drawing paper. View on Amazon

If you are comparing different kits before you buy, several related guides on this site cover set contents and beginner use. For example, Which Acrylic Nail Art Paint Set Is Best for Beginners? 2026 Guide is useful if your interest is in small-scale work, while What Makes a Nice Acrylic Paint Set Worth Buying? Key Factors Explained walks through the features that matter most across brands. For a general starting point on palette preparation, see How to Set Up an Acrylic Paint Palette: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners, and if you plan to paint on the go, Top 5 Acrylic Paint Travel Set Options for Painting On the Go covers portable options.

FAQ

Do I need to buy extra paint to start with an artskills acrylic paint set?

No. A set with a reasonable color range is enough to learn the basics. You can mix most secondary and tertiary colors from the primaries, white and black, so extra tubes are optional.

How long does acrylic paint take to dry?

Thin layers usually feel dry to the touch in 10 to 20 minutes. Thick layers can take an hour or more, and full curing can take days. Drying times vary with humidity, temperature and paint thickness.

Can I use water to thin acrylic paint?

Yes. Water is the standard thinner for acrylic paint. Use clean water and add it gradually so you do not weaken the paint’s binder too much.

Will acrylic paint wash out of clothes?

It is hard to remove once dry. Rinse fabric immediately under cold water and use mild soap before the paint sets. Wearing an apron is still the safest choice.

How do I keep acrylic paint from drying out on the palette?

Mist the palette with water, cover it with a damp paper towel or use a sealed palette box. This slows drying between work sessions.

Is acrylic paint safe to use indoors?

Most water-based acrylics are considered low risk for home use, but you should still work in a ventilated room, avoid eating or drinking near your paints and wash your hands afterward. If you have concerns about a specific product, check the label or consult a professional.

Can I use acrylic paint on fabric?

You can, but use fabric medium mixed with the paint so the color stays flexible and washable. Heat-setting instructions on the label should be followed closely.

How long should I wait before varnishing acrylic work?

Wait at least 24 hours for thin layers. Thick or heavily textured paintings often need several days to a week to cure fully before varnish goes on safely.

Conclusion

An artskills acrylic paint set can take you from your first brushstroke to finished pieces if you prepare your space, control your thinning and build your layers patiently. Focus on drying times, brush care and surface choice, and the set will go further than you might expect. Once you know what you reach for most, you can add single tubes or specialty tools to fill the gaps.

Related reading

• Which Acrylic Nail Art Paint Set Is Best for Beginners? 2026 Guide
• What Makes a Nice Acrylic Paint Set Worth Buying? Key Factors Explained
• Vallejo Acrylic Paint Set: A Beginner's Guide to Choosing and Using One
• Top 4 Acrylic Paint Set Kits for Beginners Compared (2026)

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