The next supplies that a beginner needs to decide on is paint. In my opinion, Acrylic Paint is the easiest and best option to dive into a hobby in canvas painting. It is the easiest to manipulate and to cover mistakes, or as Bob Ross calls them “happy accidents”. They aren’t messy and are fast-drying. You still get that vibrant color and opacity while having the option to cover up any mistakes or changes in ideas. There are plenty of beginner set options in all the price ranges, but we’ll get into that below.

After that you’ll want to get the brushes that are best for the canvas options that will also work best in the acrylic paint. My recommendation is Synthetic Brushes. They are easy to clean, low-maintence, and very easy on the wallet. They sell wide-varieties of kits and sets, some even with paint included. You’ll want to find one that has the best options included. Look for the ones that have:

• Flat brush- used for backgrounds, blocking color
• Round brush- details, lines
• Filbert- smooth blending, petals, portraits
• Fan brush- grass, texture effects

Any others included can be used as you want, and are usually added in as extras. The more advanced the more you will want the many different sizes of brushes. My collection is never ending it seems. Having multiples of all of your brushes is my personal recommendation. You never know when an extra will come in handy!

Finally, you’ll need some odd and end supplies to get you really settled into the hobby. The first would be an Eisel. They have a size for every size canvas, but I use the basic 8″ on for almost all of mine. It sits on my table and gives a good angle for working on projects. If you are the type to want to stand and paint, they have one with the longer adjustable legs to stand. Another item to get is a Palette, or something to put the paint on while you use it. I have the circle with the indents for each color, but I use just about anything for this. I have pieces of tile that are amazing and easy to clean. Another good option are those metal sauce cups or even a plate from your kitchen. With acrylic paint, anything can be your palette. 

Supplies I recommend that aren’t a purchase but things to have ready before you paint are a cup of water to put brushes in and keep from drying out, paper towels, an apron or old shirt you don’t mind getting paint on, something to cover the table you’re working on, and some masking tape to help with clean lines. 

You can find affordable canvas painting supplies at several local retail stores. Michaels and Hobby Lobby are great first stops, offering frequent sales and coupons on canvases, acrylics, mediums, and synthetic brushes. Walmart is a budget-friendly option for beginners, carrying inexpensive canvas panels, craft acrylics, and basic brush sets. Joann Fabrics also offers solid deals on paint supplies and often matches Michaels’ coupon structure. For ultra-low-cost essentials like water cups, table coverings, foam brushes, and practice materials, Dollar Tree and Dollar General are excellent sources. Five Below carries small canvases and simple starter brushes perfect for early practice sessions, while local art stores often provide higher-quality paint and canvas options along with knowledgeable staff guidance. Don’t overlook thrift stores such as Goodwill for cheap frames, organizers, and even used easels that you can repurpose. These locations make it easy to build a complete painting setup at any budget.