Your First Acrylic Painting on Canvas: A Simple Sunset, Step by Step

Posted by

Haanz Team

2026-10-18

On 2026-10-18

Haanz Art GuideFree, practical advice from the team at Haanz Art & Craft Materials

Starting a blank canvas can feel scary, but a simple subject and a clear plan make it easy and fun. This guide walks you through your first acrylic painting on canvas: what you need, how to set up, and a step-by-step sunset over the sea that teaches blending, layering and adding detail. You can finish it in an afternoon.

What you need for your first acrylic painting

Canvas: a small, pre-primed canvas such as the Bomeijia Canvas 20 × 30cm or 20 × 20cm.
Paint: a starter set such as Art Rangers Acrylic 12 × 12ml, or singles in white, yellow, red, blue and black. See our starter acrylic palette guide.
Brushes: a Bomeijia Brush Set (12 pcs) gives you large and small flats and rounds.
Palette: a Mixing Tray with Thumb Hole.
Extras: a water jar, a cloth or paper towel, and an apron.

Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price. Browse all canvases and acrylic colours.

Setting up

Cover your table and lean the canvas slightly, or use an easel. Our easel guide explains the options.
Squeeze out small amounts of paint; acrylic dries fast.
Keep one jar of water for rinsing and wipe brushes on a cloth before changing colour.
Work in good light, away from fans that dry the paint too quickly.

Acrylic painting step by step: a sunset over the sea

Horizon: lightly draw a straight line about one third up from the bottom with a pencil.
Sky: with a large flat brush, paint yellow just above the horizon, then orange, then pink-red, and purple-blue at the top. Paint each band while the one below is still wet and blend where they meet with side-to-side strokes.
Sun: while the sky is still slightly wet, paint a small circle of yellow mixed with white just above the horizon.
Sea: paint the sea below the line in dark blue with a little purple, using horizontal strokes.
Reflection: once the sea is dry, use a small flat brush to add short horizontal strokes of yellow and orange under the sun, getting smaller towards the bottom.
Waves: add a few thin lines of light blue and white on the sea.
Silhouette: with a small round brush and black or dark blue, paint a palm tree or boat to one side.
Finish: paint the edges of the canvas and sign your work.

Tips for smooth blending

Work quickly while the paint is wet; acrylic sets in minutes.
Use a slightly damp brush, not a wet one, so colours blend without streaks.
If the paint dries before you finish, paint a second thin layer and blend again.
For a slower drying time, add a little retarder. See our acrylic retarder guide.

Finishing and protecting

Let the painting dry for a few days, then protect it with FUJIN Acrylic Varnish. Our varnishing guide shows how. Wash brushes in water straight after painting, and reshape the tips before they dry.

Next projects to try

A night sky with stars, using a dark blue background and white dots flicked from an old toothbrush.
A simple flower in a vase, practising shapes and shadows.
An abstract painting with a palette knife; see our palette knife guide.
A mountain landscape with layers of colour from dark to light.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to prime the canvas?

No. Ready-made primed canvases can be painted straight away.

What if I make a mistake?

Let it dry, then paint over it. Acrylic is opaque, so mistakes are easy to cover.

How long does acrylic take to dry?

Thin layers dry in minutes; thicker paint can take an hour or more. Wait a few days before varnishing.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you put together a first painting kit.

More Haanz Art Guides