• Choose the Medium for Your Paintings

• Select the Right Brushes for Your Paintings

• Pick the Perfect Painting Supports & Accessories

• Explore Airbrush Paintings

• Find Painting Supplies on eBay

• Buy Painting Supplies With Confidence

Choose the Medium for Your Paintings

Choose the Medium for Your Paintings

Each kind of paint, or medium, has various qualities and strengths. You can also combine different paints to work in mixed media. Two relatively inexpensive options to consider when getting started are acrylics and watercolors.

Choose your medium based on what you want to achieve, and where you plan to work. For example, if you're interested in traditional styles, try oil paint. Or if you decide to work outdoors, watercolors require few materials to get started and can easily be used outside. Some of the most popular brands on eBay are Bob Ross, Winsor Newton, and Liquidtex.

Acrylic paints

A newer medium based on a synthetic resin, acrylic paint has many advantages. It’s quick-drying and resists the effects of aging. It’s also waterproof when dry, so you can easily paint on many layers.

Vary the thickness of the paint to create different effects: a thick consistency is known as impasto, while paint that has been thinned with water creates a transparent wash. Brushes dipped in acrylic paint can be cleaned with water.

Acrylics in tubes have thicker consistency, while paint that comes in jars is more fluid. You may want to purchase a mixture of higher-quality professional paints (for your primary colors) and lower-quality student paints as you learn what painting techniques you enjoy.

Special acrylics have shiny, iridescent or fluorescent tones. You should consider starting with acrylics from the same manufacturer, since different acrylic paints have different compositions and may not work as well together.

Watercolor paints

The subtle, transparent nature and fluidity of watercolors can make for some captivating effects. Often used for nature scenes, watercolors are popular, in part, because of the minimal amount of equipment needed to start: just a paintbrush, paper, paint box, and container of water.

Watercolors can be purchased in pans, blocks, or tubes. Because tubes hold more paint, they are useful when painting large areas. Artist-grade watercolor paint is of the highest quality. Watercolors are mixed with water to change their consistency, and brushes are cleaned with water. Look for brands like Utrecht and Winsor Newton.

Oil paints

A favorite of artists throughout the ages, oil paint was probably developed during the early Renaissance. It is extremely versatile and can be applied in smooth washes or in thick, textured layers.

A common characteristic of oil paint is the slow drying period. This allows changes to be made as the paint dries and reaches different consistencies. In recent times, water-mixable oil paints have been created, which can be diluted and cleaned with water.

Oil paints usually come in tubes. You may want to purchase artist oils—they are only a little more expensive than student oils. Often, oil paints are classified by their hue, opacity, and permanence. Look for paint from brands like Old Holland, Bob Ross, and Winsor Newton.

Paint thinner is used to clean brushes and dilute oil paint. Turpentine is the traditional thinner that’s used with oil paint. Look for artist-quality thinner, which is not the same as turpentine found in hardware stores.

Gouache paints

Gouache paints are opaque watercolors with a high proportion of pigment. This medium can be used to create solid and bold colors or softer, lighter effects. Mixing the paint with water produces a softer tone, and mixing it with white paint produces thick, bright colors.

Gouache paint is available in a vast range of colors and comes in tubes, jars, or bottles. Popular brands are Winsor Newton and Reeves.

Select the Right Brushes for Your Paintings

Select the Right Brushes for Your Paintings

Paintbrushes are made up of three parts: the handle, ferrule, and tuft. The tuft is the bristly end of the brush that is used to apply the paint. The ferrule is the piece that connects the handle and the tuft.

Tufts come in various shapes, including round, pointed round, flat, fan, mop, scriptliner, extender, and more. Some materials used to create tufts are:

• Kolinsky sable (mink tail hair): Top-quality paintbrushes are made from this soft, pliant material.

• Sabeline (light ox hair), or camel hair: A substitute for the top-quality sable and often used with watercolors.    

• Hog bristles: Split at the ends and suited for oil paint or other heavy paints.

• Synthetic: Sometimes mixed with natural hair, making these brushes a good value.

The best paintbrushes have nickel-plated ferrules that are securely joined to the handle with double-crimping. Hardwood handles should be lacquered or enameled. Think about these brands to try: Bob Ross, Kolinsky, or Robert Simmons.

Here are recommended brushes for various mediums:

• Acrylic paint: Sable brushes or the Sabeline alternatives. If you only get two brushes, start with a round one with a tuft about a ½ inch long for details, and a larger flat brush for working with larger areas.

• Oil paint: Thick-bristle, hog-hair brushes are best for thick applications, and sable or one of its substitutes for thinner washes. Experiment with various head shapes to see which you prefer.    

• Watercolors: Sable brushes are highly recommended, but for a cost-effective alternative buy a high-quality synthetic brush.

Pick the Perfect Painting Supports & Accessories

Pick the Perfect Painting Supports & Accessories

Your choice of support might vary for different works of art. You may decide to use canvas or paper, depending on the effect you want to achieve and how you want to display the piece.

Note: If you are working with oil paints, you should prime the backing before applying paint unless you get a pre-primed backing. Oil primers are a good choice, and acrylic primers will work as well.

Common types of painting supports are:

• Canvas: This is the most widespread painting support. Linen canvas has a fine grain and is widely considered the best material. Cotton canvas is a good, inexpensive alternative. To save money, you may want to buy canvas and stretch, and prime it yourself. Pre-primed and stretched canvas is also available. It’s best to use oil-primed canvas for oil paintings, and acrylic-primed canvas for acrylic paintings. You may also want an easel to support the canvas.    

• Canvas boards: Canvas board is canvas mounted on boards and panels. These are a good choice for beginners, and are easy to use outdoors because they are lightweight.    

• Masonite: Masonite is a strong material that is rough on one side and smooth on the other—the smooth side is usually used for painting. The rough side may be used to paint thick impastos. It is suggested that you buy tempered masonite for oil painting, and untempered masonite for acrylic painting.    

• Paper: For watercolors, you can paint on any watercolor pad, block, or loose paper. It is suggested that you use paper with a weight of 140 or more. Archival-quality watercolor paper is best if you want to keep your artwork for a long time. Pastels can be applied to a variety of surfaces; pastel paper or pastel board is available in various colors and textures. Heavy watercolor paper or handmade Indian paper is suitable for oil and acrylic painting. Or, you may want to obtain some oil painting paper or acrylic sketching paper.    

• Illustration board: Illustration boards come in a range of colors and are suitable for acrylic and gouache paintings. You might want to look for museum boards, which last the longest.

Some other accessories you may want to have in your artist’s toolkit are:

• Palettes: There are various types of palettes designed to hold different amounts and consistencies of paint. Traditional thumbhole palettes can be supported on one arm. Recessed palettes can be used for thin paints, such as watercolors. Integral palettes function both as a paint storage container and as a palette. Disposable palettes and stay-wet palettes—which keep the paint moist—are a possibility for acrylics.

• Mediums: These are liquids that are mixed with paint to dilute the color, decrease the drying time, or create special effects. A medium often used with oil paint is linseed oil; special oil painting mediums are also available. Water and acrylic medium are two common mediums used with acrylic paints. Water is also used for watercolors; mediums such as aquapasto or gum arabic are used to add effects to watercolors.

• Varnish: You might want to apply some varnish to protect your finished painting. Varnish is available in glossy or matte.

• Instructional videos: There are various painting courses on tape, like those available from Donna Dewberry or Bob Ross.

Explore Airbrush Paintings

Explore Airbrush Paintings

Airbrushing is a fun and versatile form of painting that requires just a few supplies to get started. Airbrushing can be used for everything from decorating T-shirts and ceramics to creating paintings.

First, decide whether you want a single-action or double-action airbrush.

• Single-action airbrushes: With a single-action airbrush, the paint is deposited as a fine mist on the surface.

• Double-action airbrushes: With a double-action airbrush, you can control the amount of paint that is distributed, as well as the amount of air that is siphoned. This gives you the most overall control.

Gravity-fed airbrushes deliver paint more quickly than siphon-fed brushes, and allow for quicker color changes. Siphon-fed airbrushes hold a larger quantity of paint.

Internal brushes mix the paint internally, providing a fine mist. If you want a brush that is easy to maintain, choose an external brush. Look for an airbrush with a hose attachment. Make sure to buy compressed air or another air source, and special airbrush paints.

Water can be used to dilute paint to the proper consistency; use airbrush mediums if you want to make a thin mixture. Apply a solvent to clean your airbrush.

For safety purposes, you should use a spray booth and wear a dust mask. Two well-known manufacturers of airbrushes and airbrush supplies are Iwata and Paasche.

Find Painting Supplies on eBay

Find Painting Supplies on eBay

Once you know what type of painting supplies you want, go to the Crafts portal, click Painting and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Acrylic Paint, Airbrushing, Paint Brushes, Canvases, and more.      

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find Bob Ross oil paints, type "Bob Ross" (without quotation marks) into the Search box and use the category structure to refine, clicking into the oil paint category. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Painting Supplies With Confidence

Buy Painting Supplies With Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.