Buying acrylic paints, what colors should I buy?

Question

Ok, so I've painted in an art class before using acrylic, watercolor and oil, and I loved it, so now I'm thinking about buying my own art supplies. I know I want to buy acrylics first since they are what I am more familiar with, I just don't know where to start with all the colors. I was thinking about buying a set that has burnt sienna, burnt umber, cadmium red light, cadmium yellow medium, mars black, Thalo blue, Thalo green, Thio violet, titanium white and yellow ochre. Are those good colors to start with? Also, what other colors would I need, or are those colors enough? Thanks in advance:)

Answer 1

I wrote an article on how to paint with acrylics and how to choose your paint colors. I answer your question in my post.



With acrylics it is a good idea to guy secondary colors as well as the beginner started kits.

Answer 2

It is actually good to use a limited palette.



2 red - I most often use a permanent rose or magenta and permanent alizarin



2 yellow - new gamboge and aureolin or lemon yellow



2 blue - cobalt or ultramarine and indigo



white - titanium white



brown - Sienna brown



I often add an orange, green, and purple plus black with acrylics



When money is real tight I use student grade acrylic paint and sometimes craft acrylics or latex paints in pint or quart cans from Lowes (I love Golden Acrylic paint and use it a lot, but it is expensive as the pigments are intense)



I work on canvas panels, mat board, Masonite (at Lowes and very inexpensive), canvas paper, foam core - I do not like stretched canvas and find these other surfaces to be less expensive.



I use brushes of different sizes and shapes, but not many as you will end up only using a handful and house painting brushes work well for larger pieces.



I use foam plates as my palettes and use them over and over until they break. I also use a bucket for water and paper towels and washcloths.