Sometimes acrylic paints, if left uncovered, will coalesce and stop flowing. To free them up, you may be tempted to dilute it with water. And, water will dilute it and allow it to flow more freely.

The bad thing, however, is that adding too much water to an acrylic paint will also cause the color to become washed out. If that is the effect you are looking for, then fine. Otherwise it is best to dilute the paint with a special medium produced by a few companies which dilute the paint but leave the brightness of the colors intact.

In order to do your best work, good paint brushes are essential. But they are expensive. And when using acrylic paints, it is important that you maintain them and keep them in good shape. The paint brush is your main tool, and if you neglect it, it will become an unreliable tool and you will be forced to buy a new one.

When finished with your painting, it is best to clean it right away, before the paint has a chance to set and dry on the brush. Simply take a soft tissue and simply wipe the excess paint from the brush as well as the handle. Then, swish it around in water. Take it out, pat it dry with a rag or paper towel, and swish it again. Repeat this procedure until you have washed all of the paint from the brush.

There is one thing that you should never do with acrylic paintbrushes. And that is to place if in a glass of water with the bristles face downwards. You might think that doing so will make it easier to clean. And, while that is true, you will also end up ruining your brush. The best practice is to clean it as soon as you are done using it, and before it has dried. This will ensure that you get the most use out of it.

The way you care for your brush when not using it is important as well. So it makes a big difference how you store your bush. Many paintbrushes are sold with a hole in the handle of the brush. A hole makes them very convenient to simply hang on a nail and letting it air dry after using. And, if you want to spend a little money, you can buy paintbrush holders that allow you to place your brushes with the handle down and the bristles facing up. Either of these options is better than storing the brush flat which may shorten its life.

It is also important that you don't use your acrylic paintbrush with other types of paints. If you want to expand your painting to oil or water colors, then buy brushes to specifically use with those mediums. Keeping separate brushes for separate mediums will ensure that they all last for a long time.