Imagine a magical scene where you're standing in front of a fresh palette — brush in hand, possibilities wide open, inspiration a-flowin'. It's that image of peaceful art making that makes it so intriguing, but oftentimes we are met with more questions before we even begin.
Sometimes an artist can be completely overwhelmed by even which paint to use in their masterpiece — and if you've ever felt this, then you’re absolutely not alone! Should you go for the gentle transparency of watercolor, the bold matte of gouache, or the rich texture of oil?
I've seen artists of all experience levels asking the same question: What paint is right for me? And the honest answer? It depends on how you love to work.
I'd love to walk you through the most popular types of paint and what makes each one shine — plus a few real-life notes from my own journey figuring them out. Luckily, the good news is that the fun is in the experimentation.
🎨 Watercolor: Light, Layered, and a Little Wild
Watercolor was one of the first paints I ever used — as a kid with a cheap plastic palette of rainbow pans. Like many beginners, I found it incredibly frustrating and limiting. My colors always turned muddy, and I assumed that was just how watercolor worked.
Everything changed the summer my parents signed me up for a watercolor class. I showed up with my trusty school supplies — only to find out it was an adult-level workshop and I was amongst experienced artists. I must’ve appeared adorably naive, but the instructor welcomed me and gently pointed me toward better materials. That made all the difference! Once I had the right tools, I finally saw the magic: watercolor’s soft layers, its dreamy blends, and the beautiful unpredictability that teaches you to let go and trust the process.
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Best for: Loose illustrations, often botanicals or nature, with blending and layered effects for a softer effect.
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Keep in mind: Mistakes are harder to cover up — but that’s part of the beauty. The medium helps you trust the process and let go.
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You’ll love it if: You enjoy softness, spontaneity, and the meditative flow of water.
Bonus Pro Tip: Use two jars of water—one for rinsing your brush and one for clean mixing. It keeps your colors clearer and prevents that dreaded muddy look. Bonus tip: a ceramic palette (even a thrifted plate!) gives you more space to mix than the tiny plastic pans.
✨ Need an in-person workshop to get you started? Bloomery Art Co. often presents opportunities for beginner-friendly classes in Allentown, PA. Check them out!
🎨 Gouache: Bold Color with a Velvety Finish
Gouache feels like a secret medium of artists — I absolutely never experimented with it until I noticed more illustrators making vibrant works with the medium, and my curiosity piqued. The paint is kind of this magic mix of opaqueness (like acrylic), but it's water-based (like watercolor) so you can reactivate and rework areas if needed. When I discovered gouache, it felt like unlocking new possibilities in my work. Suddenly, I could paint flat shapes with perfect coverage AND layer them with a little more control.
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Best for: Flat illustrations with much control, which are enhanced by a matte velvet appearance when dry (great for scanning and making it into a digital file).
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Keep in mind: It dries quickly and can lift easily — use a gentle hand when layering.
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You’ll love it if: You want more polish for your controlled lines and shapes, but still like a paint that flows with washes.
Bonus Pro Tip: Mist your palette with water as you work to keep the paint from drying out. Don't throw out your paint once it's dried! Gouache reactivates with water, so you can keep using the same dried palette over and over if you just add a little spray of H2O.
✨ Need an in-person workshop to get you started? Bloomery Art Co. often presents opportunities for beginner-friendly classes in Allentown, PA. Check them out!
🎨 Acrylic: Fast, Forgiving, and Fun
If you want bold color and quick results, acrylic might be your new best friend. It dries fast (sometimes too fast), but that also means you can build up layers and experiment without a long wait. When I first taught acrylic painting in school, I was struck by how forgiving it was. Made a mistake? Let it dry and paint right over it. Want more texture? Load your brush or try a palette knife. Feeling stuck? You can pivot mid-painting without derailing your whole process. I saw how empowering it was for beginners, but make no mistake, this medium appeals to fine artists as well.
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Best for: Abstracts, bold brushwork, texture. Acrylic is versatile on almost any surface — canvas, wood, paper, even fabric. You can go from sketch to finished piece in a single afternoon.
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Keep in mind: That fast drying time can also be a challenge. Blending colors smoothly takes more speed and planning. There are fluid mediums you can mix in to slow dry time.
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You’ll love it if: You like building up bold layers, working quickly, and experimenting with texture or mixed media.
Bonus Pro tip: Try acrylics with a stay-wet palette or a misting bottle to keep your paint workable longer — especially if you live in a dry climate!
✨ Need an in-person workshop to get you started? Bloomery Art Co. often presents opportunities for beginner-friendly classes in Allentown, PA. Check them out!
🎨 Oil: Deep, Dreamy, and Worth the Wait
Oil paint is like the slow dance of the art world — it's elegant and dreamy to work with, but it takes its time, and it invites you to do the same. When I finally sat down with oils in college, I was wayyy intimidated, and I hear that's typically the hang up for beginners. But once I leaned into the process — long blending times, mixing with mediums, learning to clean my brushes properly — I found I loved the richness of the colors and the way a painting could unfold over days. The fact that it dries slowly also allows you to revisit and refine your work over days, or even weeks. I felt like a true, thoughtful, patient artist.
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Best for: Realism, portraits, textured and layered works. Their slow-drying nature allows for subtle transitions in color and tone, making it ideal for highly detailed or realistic work.
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Keep in mind: Requires solvents for cleaning brushes, a well-ventilated space, and proper mediums to help with drying time.
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You’ll love it if: You’re detail-oriented, and you find joy in the rhythm of slow creation!
Bonus Pro Tip: Are you nervous about using harsh solvents with oil paints? Then you need to try water soluble oil paints (yes, they exist)! These paints behave like traditional oils while wet, but they’re easier to clean up and more studio-friendly. They still dry slowly like regular oil paint, giving you plenty of time to blend and layer.
✨ Need an in-person workshop to get you started? Bloomery Art Co. often presents opportunities for beginner-friendly classes in Allentown, PA. Check them out!
🎨 Bonus Mediums: The Fun Extras!
I found these in my adult life, and I thought they needed a shoutout for how awesome they are...
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Acrylic Gouache: Acrylic gouache combines the velvety matte finish of gouache with the durability of acrylic. It’s perfect for illustrations with vibrant, opaque color that won’t reactivate once dry. If your work requires crisp lines and bold illustrations, it's great!
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Digital Painting: Apps like Procreate let you explore any style without worrying about cleanup! You can experiment with different brushes and tools, making it perfect for trying out new techniques in painting. While working digitally on a screen has its perks, it is absolutely no replacement for the tactile experience of traditional media!
- Acrylic Paint Pens: These were life changing to discover when I began hand lettering! These pens offer precision with the richness of acrylic paint — awesome for fine details and small areas in your artwork (yes, some fine artists use them on their acrylic canvas paintings!). Great for everything from doodling to adding highlights!
So, What Paint Fits Your Style?
The truth is, you don’t have to choose just one. Let yourself explore. Try a few swatches. Take a low-stakes class. Creativity blooms when we’re curious — not perfect.
At Bloomery Art Co., we’re here to help you explore your style with playful, supportive workshops — whether you’re picking up a brush for the first time or rediscovering your creative side. We even have programming for teen artists!
You don’t have to be “good” to get started. You just have to begin. 💖
