Article: If you're a beginning painter, canvas will be your go-to painting surface. Canvas is made from either cotton or linen and comes in a variety of styles, the two most common being stretched and unstretched. Stretched canvases are tightly fixed over a wooden frame. Unstretched canvases are typically not cut to size but are sold as fabric wound on a large roll.  A primed canvas means that it's been treated with a priming substance that will allow the paint to adhere. If you'd prefer not to purchase a primed canvas, you can pick up an unprimed canvas and a tube of a primer like gesso. Paint a layer of gesso on the canvas and allow it to dry before you begin painting. You can find a variety of sizes of stretched or plain canvases at a local art-supply store. Look around awhile until you find a shape and size that fits the project you'd like to paint. If you like the watercolor look but prefer to use acrylic paint, try painting on thick paper specifically designed for use with acrylics. Watercolor paper is also cheaper than stretched canvases, especially if you plan on disposing of your first few attempted paintings.  You can find thick watercolor paper at your local art-supply store. Keep in mind that watery acrylic paint can make thinner paper wrinkle or warp. In distinction to students' acrylic paint, artists' paint is rich in pigment and comes in a large variety of colors. If you're just starting out as a painter, 8–10 colors should be plenty. Select 1 each of the primary colors (blue, yellow, and red), and 5–7 additional colors that you'll enjoy painting with. For example, select colors such as:  Black Purple or pink Brown Green White If you only paint with a single brush, it'll be hard to achieve the full range of effects possible with acrylic paint. So, buy a handful of different styles of brushes. Some of the most common acrylic brush styles include:  Round (for lines and detail work) Flat (for making big, bold strokes and filling in large spaces) Fan (for blending and feathering) Bright (for holding close to the canvas to make thick strokes) Angular flat (for filling in corners and fine details)
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Choose a primed, stretched canvas for a simple option. Opt for a thick watercolor paper if you'd like to use watered-down acrylic. Select 8–10 colors of artist-quality acrylic paint. Purchase 5-8 paint brushes to paint in a variety of styles.