The Acrylic Paint Starter Kit

What Colours Do You Really Need?

Starting out with acrylic paints can be exciting – but also a little overwhelming with all the colour choices. Do you need every shade on the shelf? Not quite! With a smart starter palette, you can mix a surprising range of colours and get painting straight away.

Here’s our tried-and-true guide to building your first acrylic palette – with two options depending on how simple or versatile you want your setup to be.

Option 1: Essential 6-Colour Starter Kit (Left to right)

Titanium White

Use it to lighten colours, create tints, or paint highlights. Essential for skies, clouds, and soft blending.
Try: Mont Marte Signature Acrylic, Chromacryl Student Acrylic

Primary Yellow

Great for flowers, sunlight, and landscapes; mixes beautifully into oranges and greens.
Try: Liquitex Basics

Primary Red

Ideal for florals, sunsets, or bold underpainting; mixes into oranges and skin tones.
Try: Mont Marte Signature, Mont Marte Satin, Chroma A2

Primary Blue (Phthalo Blue)

Perfect for oceans, skies, and cool shadows; also great for mixing greens.
Try: Liquitex Basics, Mont Marte Signature, Chromacryl Student Acrylic

Burnt Umber

Ideal for tree trunks, hair, earthy shadows and for toning down bright colours.
Try: Mont Marte Signature, Chromacryl Student, Jo Sonja

Yellow Ochre

Perfect for skin tones, landscapes, and softening mixes naturally.
Try: Mont Marte Signature, Mont Marte Satin, Amsterdam Acrylic

Option 2: Expanded 10-Colour Kit (Left to right)

Lemon Yellow

A cool yellow perfect for vibrant greens, citrus fruits, and fresh light effects.
Try: Mont Marte Satin, Mont Marte Signature

Cadmium Yellow Medium

A warm, golden yellow that brings brightness to sunflowers, golden light, and warm glows in portraits.
Try: Mont Marte Satin, Atelier A2

Naphthol Red

Ideal for bold florals, dramatic underpaintings, and warm, glowing mixes.
Try: Liquitex Basics

Alizarin Crimson

A deep, cool red perfect for shadows, muted florals, and realistic skin tones.
Try: Atelier A2

Phthalo Blue

Excellent for seascapes and shadow tones; mixes beautifully into greens.
Try: Mont Marte Signature, Mont Marte Satin, Liquitex Basics

Ultramarine Blue

A warm blue ideal for skies, shadows, and mixing purples.
Try: Mont Marte Satin, Atelier A2

Burnt Umber

As above – perfect for earthy tones, tree trunks, and neutralising brights.

Yellow Ochre

As above – great for landscapes, skin tones, and muting saturated colours.

Payne’s Grey

A soft blue-black perfect for shadows, stormy skies, and outlines.
Try: Jo Sonja, Mont Marte Satin, Liquitex Basics

Tips for Mixing Popular Colours

One of the joys of working with a starter kit is learning to mix your own custom colours. Here are a few go-tos:

• Green
  - Bright grass green: Lemon Yellow + Phthalo Blue
  - Olive green: Yellow Ochre + Ultramarine + a touch of Burnt Umber
• Purple
  - Violet: Alizarin Crimson + Ultramarine Blue
  - Muted purple: Naphthol Red + Phthalo Blue + a touch of white
• Pink
  - Soft blush: Titanium White + Alizarin Crimson
  - Bubblegum pink: Titanium White + Naphthol Red
• Skin Tones
  Start with Yellow Ochre + Burnt Umber + a hint of red, then adjust with white or blue to cool or warm it up.
• Black Substitute
  Mix Burnt Umber + Phthalo Blue or Ultramarine to create a dark, rich black alternative.

With just a small set of colours and a bit of practice, you’ll be amazed at how many shades you can mix. For beginner-friendly acrylic sets and artist advice, swing by Art Shed Brisbane: we’re always here to help get you started!