







Tips on Acrylics and painting by Beth Haizlip 2025
Supplies:
- Paper towels
- big blue soft paper roll from home depot. Does not leave lint on your painting. I always use a large towel under my palette to wipe off paint.
- Brushes
- Very inexpensive – Creative Mark 1/2 , 1/4 inch Flat and #2 round. https://www.jerrysartarama.com/creative-inspirations-dura…
- The big brush I love is Royal soft grip series 700 brush 3/4 $4.00
https://www.dickblick.com/…/royal-langnickel-soft-grip… - Finally found a small brush that holds up and keeps a point – Best bushy round creative mark #2
https://www.jerrysartarama.com/beste-finest-golden-taklon..
- Soap
- Jack’s Linseed Studio https://www.jerrysartarama.com/jacks-linseed-studio-soap is by far the best especially for oils or a Bar of ivory soap does an amazing job. If acrylic is dry in the brush use rubbing alcohol 91% to dissolve it. A water container that has grooves on the bottom to wash out the brush with very hot water. This helps dissolved the acrylic paint.
- Paints
- I mostly use Golden heavy body acrylics or Utrecht. For teaching I use cheaper paints Liquitex basics, Artist loft or Winsor Newton Galeria which is the better of the cheaper paints especially yellow or orange which can be too transparent. I use the cheaper white to do skies and backgrounds since it is more fluid. Golden heavy body for highlights and details. I do not like the Atelier Interactive slow drying acrylics. I like having acrylics dry fast. I use Flood Floetrol latex base from Home Depot to blend my acrylics especially for clouds and sunsets. My big paintings and murals I use Behr paint from home depot for the background and good paint for details.
- Ice cube tray: I squeeze paints into the ice cube tray with a good plastic top
- OXO Good Grips® No-Spill Ice Cube Tray https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-No…/dp/B007U256D2… Keep tray wrapped in a wet towel and in large Ziploc bag – it will last forever. Spray with distill water. The plastic lid is so easy to take off and on.
- The colors I use in this order : white, cad yellow or lemon, yellow ochre, cad orange, any bright red, magenta, dioxazine purple, Burnt Sienna, sap green, phthalo green, cobalt blue , phthalo blue, ultramarine blue and black.
(The quinacridone colors – red, rose, orange are very nice) - Wet Palette a must! It keeps the paint from drying out. You must order the yellow sponge to go under your palette paper. Follow directions carefully for better results. I microwave a bowl of water and let the paper soak for at least 10 mins. Before putting it in the palette case. http://www.jerrysartarama.com/masterson-air-tight…
- Aluminum paint tube extruder to get every last drop out of your tube!
https://www.jerrysartarama.com/save-it-paint-tube-extruders - Paint pens : POSCA or Surf Paints much better than sharpies! These are good to sign your name and do small detail work on your paintings. Sharpies will smear if you varnish over them. I buy posca markers at Jerry’s at Jax or Ponte Vedra Arts and Crafts. Surf paint markers are great for big projects.
https://www.surfpaints.com.au- Best deal for small acrylic markers is by Royal and Langnickel at walmart.
https://www.walmart.com/…/Royal-Langnickel…/5332753980
- Best deal for small acrylic markers is by Royal and Langnickel at walmart.
- Varnish: Liquitex Gloss Varnish https://www.jerrysartarama.com/liquitex-acrylic-finishing… Use a very soft brush to apply and blend with your fingers so brush strokes do not show. I varnish the painting when I am 90% done. It dries in about 20 minutes and then I paint on top of the varnish. This makes the highlights pop! Varnish again after the painting is completely done. This process makes it look more like an oil painting. I also like using the Liquitex spray Gloss or Satin varnish. Quick and easy.
- Molding Paste: For texture All purpose joint compound from Home Depot Apply with palette knife. I also use this in my gesso. https://www.homedepot.com/…/USG-Sheetrock…/100321605
- Gesso: Jerry’s is cheaper and covers ok. I like professional stretch gesso the best – very thick. https://www.utrechtart.com/…/utrecht-artists-acrylic-gesso
- I stretch my own canvas if I cannot find the size that I like. I gesso over any canvas that I buy at the store. Lightly sand canvas before you gesso and after each coat. I like 2 coats. I learned a new trick I like. I put the the all purpose joint compound 1/3 to 2/3 gesso. This gives a thicker smooth surface to paint on. Sand slightly after priming. I use a 3 inch rubber paint brush to spread.
https://www.jerrysartarama.com/colour-shaper-wide…
- I stretch my own canvas if I cannot find the size that I like. I gesso over any canvas that I buy at the store. Lightly sand canvas before you gesso and after each coat. I like 2 coats. I learned a new trick I like. I put the the all purpose joint compound 1/3 to 2/3 gesso. This gives a thicker smooth surface to paint on. Sand slightly after priming. I use a 3 inch rubber paint brush to spread.
- Canvas: Michaels has the best sales on canvas. I stock up when they have the 70%off sale. Panels: Make your own. Masonite board from home depot. Cut to size and put 4 coats of gesso lightly sanding between coats if you need a smooth surface. Daniel Green paints on this surface. He suggests putting a coat of gesso on the back, but it eats up the gesso and I don’t think it necessary unless it is large. It will keep it from warping.
Acrylic Artists that inspire me:
- Josef Kote http://www.josefkotefineart.com
- Ellen Diamond http://www.ellendiamond.com
- Ellen has an excellent video out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh01qGy5zas
- She teaches at https://app.etapestry.com/…/Cul…/default/category.php…
- Roger Bansemer http://www.bansemer.com
- Roger lives and teaches in St Augustine. He does PBS art specials every week on TV.
- Monique Carr acrylic abstract https://www.moniquecarr.com
Places in Jacksonville to shop:
- Framing Supplies: Florida Framing Supplies – 8500 Baycenter Rd. Suite 22, 367-8506. You must have sales tax # and report quarterly to the Florida Dept. of Revenue. Very easy to do on line. www.myflorida.com go to business – taxes – e-filing services – File and Pay.
- PV Arts and Craft 288-1 Solana Rd Ponte Vedra, fl 32082 904-473-5171. They have a big selection of brushes and offer big discounts. It is nice to see and feel a brush before buying it. They give students discount.
Website that is inexpensive and easy to use and exceptional support. http://faso.com
Please tell them I sent you! You can check mine out www.bethhaizlip.com
They promote blogs and newsletters. You can enter for free every month the Bold Brush contest!! http://faso.com/boldbrush
Giclee prints – I highly recommend Luma prints. They do an excellent job and you can order one at time. Great price and great quality. https://www.lumaprints.com
Cards and business cards: Hard to beat Vista Print. https://www.vistaprint.com.
