Blending acrylic paints into a smooth, seamless gradient can feel tricky, but with this simple technique it’s really easy! In this post, I’ll walk you through the basic steps for creating soft blends with acrylic paints, and I highly recommend watching the video tutorial below where I demonstrate this method plus several other blending techniques. If you’d like to improve your acrylic painting skills and get access to my full length, in-depth art tutorials, you can also sign up to my Patreon. The written step-by-step instructions on this blending gradient technique are also below.
This acrylic paint blending tutorial focuses on creating a smooth gradient with acrylic paints, using just a paintbrush and beginner friendly techniques. If you’re wanting to learn how to blend acrylic paint, improve color transitions and achieve soft, seamless gradients in your acrylic painting, the methods in this video will be perfect for you! This art tutorial is ideal for beginners and intermediate artists looking for easy acrylic blending techniques and practical tips for smoother acrylic gradients.
Below I’ve written the step by step instructions for one of my favourite techniques for blending acrylic paints into a smooth gradient. This is perfect for creating backgrounds for your paintings, and the technique also helps to build confidence in blending paints in general.
If you want to follow along in real time, you can find the full length tutorial over on my Patreon.
To paint a smooth gradient you will need:
- Acrylic paints – I used dark blue, light blue and white
- Large, wide, flat paintbrush
- Water
- Canvas or other prepared painting surface (paper, wood etc.)
Step 1:
To begin painting your gradient, it helps to add a little bit of water to your canvas as this will help the paint apply smoothly, which helps it to blend together. Avoid this step if you are working on paper as it will make it too damp.
If you want more tips to make your acrylic paints smoother, check out the video below:
Step 2:
Decide which colors you’d like in your gradient. Make sure you choose paints that will blend together well. For example colors next to each other on the color wheel, or like I have chosen, different shades of the same color. Then paint your first color onto the top section of your canvas. Work quickly so that the paint stays wet.
Step 3:
Add your next paint color to the next section of the canvas, making sure the edges of the two different paints meet. Remember to work quickly so that the paints don’t dry while you are painting. Dipping your paintbrush in water before painting can help with this.
I have also created a video below that shows you how to keep acrylic paints wet that may help:
Step 4:
While the two paint colors are still wet, use your wide paintbrush and dip it in the first paint color. Then, apply this color over the top of the line where the two paint colors meet. Continue to move the paintbrush side to side over the line until the colors have blended together. You’ll see the smooth gradient start to appear.
Step 5:
To finish blending the gradient, use the same technique to add the final color underneath the middle paint color. In my example I’m blending a gradient from light to dark blue. Continue to work quickly to keep all of the paints wet. If your middle paint has dried, then just apply some more over the top.
Step 6:
Dip your paintbrush into the middle paint color, and then apply it over the line between the two paint colors. Use a back and forth motion with your paintbrush and the paint will seamlessly blend together.
If you’d like to see the process of this blending technique, I show it in the video tutorial.
I hope this tutorial helps you feel more confident blending acrylic paints and creating smooth, seamless gradients in your own work. Don’t forget to watch the video above to see additional acrylic blending techniques in action, and if you’d like more detailed, full-length art tutorials, consider joining me on Patreon. Happy painting!
