An eye for colour - six tips to help you create vibrant acrylic art

Do your acrylic paintings feel dull or muddy, no matter how hard you try? You’re not alone!

I’m often asked how I achieve such striking colours in my artwork.  The good news is that with a few thoughtful choices and a little self-restraint, you too can create eye-catching acrylic art.

Here I share six of my top tips for using colour more boldly in your acrylic painting.

1.     Select a limited palette

Restricting your palette to just three to six colours can create a strong sense of cohesion and contrast. My typical selection includes a dark tone - like deep violet, Prussian blue, or black – balanced with a light tone such as white, pearl, or a pale pistachio. This simple contrast provides a strong foundation for bold and harmonious compositions.

Too many colour choices can stifle your creativity

2.    Pair contrasting colours

Choose, or mix, complementary or sharply contrasting colours to bring vibrancy and energy to your painting. Pairing magenta with a vivid green, or lemon yellow with iridescent turquoise are two of my favourite combos that really bring out the zing in each other.

3. Incorporate iridescents or metallics

Throw in an iridescent or metallic hue (or two) to add shimmer and depth. Even a small amount can really elevate a piece. Pebeo’s studio acrylic range offers some especially tempting options.

This painting features metallic gold and iridescent violet-blue - just look at the shimmer!

4. Back off the browns

If you want your colours bright and lively, minimise the use of browns like ochre, sienna, and umber. While these earth tones have their place, they can easily dull your work if overused.

5. Use bold, confident strokes

Apply your paint with bold confident strokes. I use wide rubber tipped brushes and palette knives to apply paint in strong, expressive strokes. This allows the colours to blend and coalesce on the surface, creating exciting texture and movement.

My trusty rubber-tipped brushes create bold paint strokes

6. Know when to stop

For me this is one of the hardest lessons. Overworking a painting can drain its freshness and vitality. Know when to stop (hint - it’s usually sooner than you think).

By experimenting with these techniques, I hope you'll find it easier to achieve vibrant, striking colours in your acrylic paintings. Remember, it's all about confidence, creativity and knowing when to let your work shine.

Ignite I - III

Take me to some bold, vibrant art