3 Acrylic Painting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
If you are new to acrylic painting, and are a beginner just starting out, you have probably encountered some acrylic painting mistakes. Making mistakes in your acrylic painting is common in the beginning, but I will show you the three most common acrylic painting mistakes and how you can avoid them to become a better acrylic painter.
Acrylic Painting Mistakes
As a beginner painter just starting out acrylic painting mistakes can be very common, but also extremely frustrating.
That's why I created a free 12 page acrylic painting guide, where I share 10 common acrylic painting mistakes and how you can avoid them. I also give you a roadmap of recommended acrylic painting tutorials to help you take your acrylic painting skills to the next level and improve your acrylic painting quicker. You can download the free guide now by clicking on the button below.
Watch some acrylic painting tips in a video below. Be sure to subscribe to my acrylic painting YouTube channel so that you don't miss any other videos.
3 Acrylic Painting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
If you’re just starting out with acrylic painting, it’s easy to fall into habits that make your paintings look flat or less realistic than you’d like. The good news is that with a few simple adjustments, you can improve your work right away and gain more confidence as an artist.
Mistake One: Using Paint Straight from the Tube
One of the biggest beginner habits is using colours exactly as they come out of the tube. For example, painting a sky with only blue paint or using the same green straight from the tube for all of your grass. The problem is that real life isn’t just one flat colour—it’s full of variation, shadows, and highlights.
To fix this, practice mixing your colours. Add white to make tints, black to deepen shades, or yellow to brighten. You can also mix in complementary colours to tone things down and create more natural effects. Even within one patch of grass, aim to use several different greens to make it look more realistic.
I created special tutorials and worksheets for you to practice your colour mixing skills so that you can make more realistic acrylic paintings. Check out this resource and save 30% by by clicking on the button below.
Mistake Two: Not Varying Brushstrokes
Another mistake beginners make is using the same type of brushstroke over and over again. If you always paint with straight up-and-down strokes, your painting will lack depth and movement. To make your artwork feel more three-dimensional, change up your brushstrokes depending on what you’re painting.
For example, when painting a round object like an apple, curved strokes help give the illusion of form. Experiment with different brush types and sizes as well. A wide flat brush creates a very different effect than a small round detail brush.
Check out my video linked below with nine different brushstrokes. You can try when doing an acrylic painting. Take some time this week in your sketchbook and practice these different brushstrokes.
Mistake Three: Forgetting Highlights and Shadows
A final mistake is leaving out highlights and shadows. Every object has both—the lighter side that catches the light source, and the darker side that falls into shadow. Without these, your painting will look flat instead of realistic.
To avoid this, study your reference photo carefully and exaggerate the lights and darks a little more than you think you need to. Add highlights where the light hits directly, and deepen the shadows on the opposite side. This contrast will instantly make your painting feel more alive and natural. You can watch my video here about painting shadows and highlights on round forms.
Conclusion:
Avoiding these three mistakes will help you move from painting like a beginner to painting with more control and intention. Mixing your colours, experimenting with brushstrokes, and remembering highlights and shadows are simple habits that make a big difference.
If you found these tips helpful, you may want to download my free guide: “10 Common Mistakes Beginners Make (and How to Avoid Them).” Inside, you’ll find even more practical advice, links to videos, and guidance to help you continue building your painting skills. Click the button below to download the FREE guide now!