How to Get Started with Textured Painting (Even If You've Never Painted Before)

Have you ever seen a painting with raised, dimensional details and thought, "I could never do that"? Good news: you absolutely can. Textured painting is one of the most forgiving and satisfying art forms for beginners — and the results look impressive every single time.

Here's everything you need to know to get started.

What Is Textured Painting?

Textured painting uses thick mediums — like modeling paste, joint compound, or heavy-body acrylic — to build raised surfaces on a canvas before (or while) adding color. The result is a painting you can literally feel, with depth and dimension that flat paint just can't achieve.

What You'll Need

You don't need a lot to get started:

• Canvas (stretched canvas or canvas board, 11x14 or larger works well)
• Palette knife or old credit card — your main texture tool
• Modeling paste or texture medium — available at any craft store (or make your own!)
• Acrylic paints in 3–5 colors
• Flat brush for blending color over texture
• Optional: stencils, bubble wrap, or crumpled foil for interesting patterns

Step-by-Step: Your First Textured Painting

Step 1: Plan your composition loosely.
You don't need a detailed sketch. Just decide on a general layout — maybe a horizon line, a floral cluster, or an abstract swirl. Textured painting is very forgiving, so keep it simple.

Step 2: Apply your texture medium.
Using a palette knife, spread modeling paste onto your canvas in the areas you want to have dimension. Work in thick, expressive strokes — don't smooth it out too much. Let it dry completely (usually 1–2 hours, or use a hair dryer to speed it up).

Step 3: Add a base color.
Once dry, brush a thin layer of acrylic paint over the entire canvas. This "stains" the texture and helps you see the shapes you've created. Earthy tones like raw umber or burnt sienna work beautifully here.

Step 4: Layer your colors.
Now the fun begins. Dry-brush lighter colors over the raised areas to make them pop, and let darker colors settle into the recesses. You're not painting on the canvas — you're painting with the texture.

Step 5: Add details and finishing touches.
Use a fine brush to add any small details — dots, lines, or highlights. Step back often to assess. Less is usually more.

Tips for Beginners

• Don't overthink it. Texture painting rewards bold, confident strokes. Hesitant marks look hesitant.
• Let layers dry fully before adding more paint, or colors will muddy.
• Mistakes are features. An unexpected drip or smear often becomes the best part of the piece.
• Start abstract. Abstract compositions are more forgiving than representational subjects while you're learning the medium.

Want to Try It With Guidance?

If you'd like to learn in person with all materials provided, we offer Textured Painting Workshops right here at Jot & Tittle Studios. You'll leave with a finished piece you're proud of — no experience necessary.

Browse upcoming Textured Painting Workshops →

Happy painting! Tag us in your creations — we love seeing what you make.