The best thing about acrylics is that they dry fast, are water soluble and are quite versatile.

The paint: You will find two types of acrylic paints on the market.

Student acrylics - The first one is aimed at students and is generally reasonably priced.
They are the ones to purchase if you are only starting and would like to get a good feeling on how to use them.
Professional acrylics - Once you are a bit more experienced and are ready to throw yourself into using acrylics permanently, you can purchase the second type of acrylics which is more aimed at experienced painters and professionals. Although more expensive, they will last longer, are easier to work with and are less likely to lose their colours over time.

Palettes: Acrylic paint can be a bit difficult to clean when dried off so I recommend you buy the disposable paper palettes instead of a plastic one. They usually come in a pad of 50 sheets that you can tear off as you go along. Very practical and nothing to clean (apart from your clothes and brushes).

Brushes: Brushes come in all shapes, sizes and brands so if you are only starting, just purchase a couple of inexpensive brushes of various size, depending on the effect you are trying to achieve.

Mediums: Mediums are used to achieve interesting effects when mixed with acrylics.
For example, you can make the paint thinner or thicker, give it some texture or slow down its drying time.

Varnish: Once you finished artwork is dry, varnishing it is indispensable to protect it from dust and dirt. You have the choice between matt and gloss varnish which can be applied with a brush. For an even coverage, buy it in a spray can. Just make sure you spray about 20cm away from the painting in thin layers. Do not try to spray a thick layer to speed things up as varnish will leak and run and look terrible! Three thin layers is the minimum but if you want a very glossy finish, you will need to apply more coats.
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