When it comes to painting in acrylics, there are several products and tools that I have found to be essential. Here are my go-to supplies:

Acrylic Painting Palettes

Because acrylic paint dries with exposure to air, it is important to have a palette that retains moisture. I love using the Masterson Sta-Wet Palette System by New Wave Art. It keeps acrylic paint workable for hours, preventing it from drying out while painting. This unique system utilizes a sponge and special permeable palette paper that can be dampened and placed on top, allowing moisture to absorb from underneath.

The sta-wet air tight palette comes in a couple of sizes. There is a small travel-size palette for plein air painting and a larger palette for studio painting. Both options come with a cover, allowing you to seal the palettes overnight.

 

In addition to the sta-wet palette, I also use a large vinyl surface that is custom cut to fit my painting palette table. I use the surface primarily for more impasto painting knife applications.

 

Water Basin

To rinse brushes while painting, I use of a water basin that allows my brushes to lay on their side instead of on the tip of the brush. This protects the brushes and ensures that they remain moist. If acrylic paint is allowed to dry on a brush, it will grab hold of the bristles, ultimately fraying the brush in the end.

 

Spray Bottle

When painting in acrylics, it is important to regularly mist the paint in your palette. This will keep the paint moist from the top. A spray bottle can also be used for dripping techniques onto the painting surface. I specifically like using the spray bottle by Atelier Interactive. It creates an even mist, is easy to pump and holds a good amount of water.

 

Acrylic Brushes

The brushes that I use for acrylic painting are primarily synthetic. It is important that you do not use expensive natural hair brushes for acrylics because they will most likely be ruined. The paints, mediums and pastes can really do a number on brushes. I primarily use a range of Rosemary & Co. Shiraz and Golden synthetic brushes. I also find the Royal & Langnickel clear choice gold taklon synthetic brushes are a good option for acrylics because of their plastic handle. I like the fact that they do not have a wooden base, which can peel over time from long periods of time soaking in water while painting in acrylics. Generally speaking, any artist quality synthetic brush will work with acrylics.

 

Painting and Palette Knife

I love to use a flat edge painting knife with two sides as my primary tool for impasto painting. But, I also employ a wide range of painting knives in my work. Shown are just some of the knives that I use while painting in acrylics. When it comes to a palette knife, I use an offset palette knife when I need to mix. I don’t do a lot of premixing when painting in acrylics.

 

Painting Shapers and Scrapers

When it comes to creatively removing paint while it is still wet, the various shapers and scraper tools shown below work great.

 

Painting Sticks

I sharpen wooden sticks and chop sticks to scratch into the painting surface to create linear detail. You can use them on both wet and dry (to the touch but not cured) acrylic paint by wetting the stick first and then drawing into the working surface.

 

Painting Brayers

I have smooth brayers and textured brayers that I use to apply paint to the surface, creating interesting transitions and passages of color.

 

Spatter and Stipple Brushes

To spatter paint, I use a toothbrush and various stipple brushes.

 

Painting Sponges

In my work, I use both natural and synthetic sponges to creatively add marks to the surface and to break up large areas of color.

 

Dripping Tools

I have various droppers that I use to drip liquid acrylic down the painting surface.

 

Relief Application Bottles

I love adding relief details into the painted environment. I have a set of videos called Relief Surfaces that Sparkle demonstrating this technique!

 

Paint Crimper

Having a paint crimper is critical when painting in acrylics. The acrylic tubes can trap air inside if the paint tube isn’t crimped. By simply squeezing the tube with your hand, you are creating gaps for air to get inside, essentially drying out the paint over time.

 

Painting Surfaces

I like to use several aluminum composite panels (ACM) made by ARTEFEX. The Allinpanel and the Alcotpanel are some of my go to panels. I will be using an Allinpanel in my demo at Acrylic Live! In addition, I enjoy a custom die-cut ACM panel that I designed, as shown below.

 

Acrylic Paint

I primarily use heavy body tube-based acrylic paint, as that gives me the most range of viscosity options. For certain techniques, I also employ both fluid and ink-based acrylics. There is also a soft body option of acrylics available. The viscosity also differs within the options provided by various manufacturers. Even a heavy body tube-based paint can vary amongst paint manufacturing companies. It is my recommendation to try different brands to see which offer the viscosity range that you find most useful.

 

Acrylic Mediums

I use specifically use Liquitex acrylic matte medium and matte gel medium most of all. In addition, I also use Liquitex gloss medium in a mixture with the matte medium at different stages of the painting process. For mixed media drawing techniques, I will use Liquitex Ultra Matte Medium. Use can see how each dries below.

 

Acrylic Pastes

When it comes to pastes, I typically use Golden’s molding paste. I like the consistency that I get with that specific product.

 

Painting Easel

I mainly paint on an easel. My easel is custom fitted with a maul stick that moves side to side, lights that swivel and move in and out and an adjustable platform for paintings to move up and down as well as front and back. For relief techniques, I do use a flat table.

 

Acrylic Live is an annual event attended by thousands of artists from all over the world. During the ESSENTIALS TECHNIQUES DAY (March 24) of this exciting online conference, I will be doing a portrait in acrylics, utilizing many techniques and approaches that I have developed over the years! In addition to my demo, you will get a full supply list and my reference picture so that you can paint alongside me!

As a faculty member at Acrylic Live, I can offer you a SPECIAL DISCOUNT to the event!!!

Use the code CYR for 10% off your ticket at AcrylicLive.com!

 

VIP tickets will also get recorded video access for 12 months! And lots of great VIP SWAG goodies sent to your studio! Beyond instruction, you’ll have access to breakout rooms, networking cocktail hours and interactive discussions, creating opportunities to connect with fellow artists, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships.

 

For my portrait painting demo at Acrylic Live, I am using an ARTEFEX ACM acrylic-primed ALLINPANEL. Since I am an ambassador for ARTEFEX and use their panels in my work, I can share MORE DISCOUNTS with you!

If you use the code CYR on any panel order using this link: ARTEFEX

You will also receive a FREE trial panel set when you add the trial pack to your order!

You do not need to attend Acrylic Live to take advantage of this offer.

 

If you are interested in learning more about working in relief on the painted surface or working in experimental mixed-media techniques, check out my Masterclass on Patreon!

https://www.patreon.com/lisalcyr

copyright 2026 Lisa L Cyr, Cyr Studio LLC, all rights reserved