What Surfaces Can I Paint On With Acyrlics?

Did you treat yourself to a painting set for Christmas or receive acrylic paints as a gift?
You may have painted before with other types of paint or be completely new to painting, and if you are wondering what to paint on, the answer is almost Anything!

This paint will stick to canvas, paper, board and wood without any problem, but the finished result will depend on the absorbancy of the surface. The more absorbant the surface, the less shine there will be because the paints will sink in.

As layers build up the shine will increase because the first layers will seal the surface and stop the sinking.
You can prevent this ‘sinking’ by sealing the surface or ‘priming’ it. There are articles on the website if you need help with preparation.

You can buy canvasses and painting boards that are ready primed and some materials are less absorbant in the first place. You can also buy wooden objects and furniture intended for painting.

Using things you have

All sorts of things that you might find around the home can be painted, so there’s no need to buy anything until you are ready. Think about what you already have that you can use. Not only will you get some practice but it’s a great way to recyle.

Things like outer food packets often have a slightly sealed surface and the printing can be completely obliterated. You might have some scrap wood or hardboard you can use, or some old clothes you can cut up. You can even paint on stones you find outside. The odd shapes can be quite inspiring. The paint will stick to plastic and glass and that provides a way to decorate single-use containers rather than throw them away. There are so many uses for decorated glass jars that seldom need a wash. We even painted a boat once. It was just an experiment but it worked really well!

Fabrics are very absorbant and the paint will be difficult if not impossible to remove, so be careful with the clothes you are wearing! Your indoor plant pots might need a lift and terracotta takes the paint well but weather may make your artistic efforts deteriorate over time.

I hope you find these ideas useful as you make yourself familiar with the different ways you can use acrylic paints.