2 Ways To Thin Acrylic Paint | Painting With Acrylics For Beginners

✓Showcase your talent and win big in Artists Network prestigious art competitions! Discover competitions in a variety of media and enter for your chance to win cash prizes, publication in leading art magazines, global exposure, and rewards for your hard work. Plus, gain valuable feedback from renowned jurors. Let your passion shine through - enter an art competition today!

Although many of the materials used in acrylic painting—paint, brushes, mediums, and a surface—will be familiar to any painter, to approach acrylic in the same way you would oil or watercolor, for example, would inhibit you from exploiting the medium’s full capabilities. The more you know about acrylic, the better prepared you are to explore the unique characteristics of this versatile medium, experimenting and varying techniques to suit your needs. Here we’ll explore two ways to thin acrylic paint.

Acrylics for Beginners by Nancy Reyner is available as part of an Artists Network Membership. Join today and get instant access to over 1,000 hours of video instruction, a searchable archive of digital magazines and eBooks, and so much more.

There are two ways to thin acrylic paint: with water or acrylic medium. Water breaks down the binder in acrylic, thinning the paint so that it looks like watercolor, allowing it to sink into the surface, resulting in a matte finish. Acrylic medium minimizes the need for the addition of water and allows the paint to sit on top of the surface, maintaining a rich, glossy appearance. The amount of water you add depends on the desired effect and the surface. Adding up to 30 percent water to acrylic paint thins it but still allows it to coat a surface. Adding 60 percent or more water creates a watery paint application called a wash. Rubbing a wash into an absorbent surface so that only a hint of the color remains is called a stain.

Similarly, adding more or less medium to acrylic paint creates different qualities. Up to 30 percent medium added to paint will thin it, but still allow it to coat the surface. Adding 60 percent or more medium creates more transparency, often called a glaze.

From Our Shop

• Artists Magazine January/February 2026 Digital Edition $14.99
• Southwest Art December 2025/January 2026 Digital Edition $9.99
• The Best of Drawing: Strokes of Genius 17 Competition Winners Digital Edition $14.99 Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 5 customer ratings