All above is great info,,,It would help to know a bit more about you and your taste and styles of music.
I am a bit the opposite on what to use to learn to play on.  I am from the electric school of thought.
so my thoughts lay down like this:

A:  electric guitars can be had as a starter kit for around 200 US.  My problem with a a lot of these kits is they are very cheaply made and you will be disenchanted with them.  I suggest finding a good used electric for around 200 or so, and a decent amp. Costs of great 10 and 15 watt ones out there for around 100.

B:  electric guitars have thinner strings. you can go with ultra lights .009 to .042 and it will be easier on your fingers. 

C: Electric guitars are easier to hold.  They can be clean  and sound pretty like Les Paul and Mary Ford or fat and nasty as you want to get.

D: You have many styles to choose from, and depending on your music taste, some guitars are suited better for country and jazz than rock or metal. 

E: My favorite all around electric is a Stratocaster styled body that has a pick up configuration of Humbucker Single Single. You can play just about anything with this set up (especially if your Humbucker is coil tapped to be a single or a double-- but that is a bit advanced for you right now)

F: You can learn all your open chords on an electric and even better yet,, you learn all your Barr chords and get comfortable using them.  As you stay on here you will hear that the biggest challenge for some is making Barr chords. And the dreaded B chord.  Learn to play B as a Barr and your good to go.
G: And finally, if you do get an acoustic,, you can put the .009 electric strings on it to build up strength and switch later on. I used .009’s on a Yamaha acoustic for a couple years.
HAVE FUN, VISIT OFTEN, AND ENJOY!

Working on it,, since I tend to write long stuff,, I thought a short one would be nice LOLOLOL

a shop might know,,, or maybe the company hotline?? IDK have not tried it

let me know

At least its only the strings that broke, unlike my Fender 12ers bridge, and blackies inner struts.,,, Still have not gotten them to the Doctor.

That is the DEAN Bret Michaels from poison guitar.   I only wish I could create that LOLOL

IF this is your acoustic, what type of finish is on it? urethane? shellac, epoxy?  here is a good article  abut what will work with what, http://www.diynetwork.com/home-improvem … index.html

but I honestly thing you can use whatever you want.  If you look at the chordi stock pics Chick has a hand painted guitar that looks like craft paint or acrylics with a clear coat over it.  If your going the stencil rout, or complete change rt my favorite all around durable paint is Auto paint.  Duplicolor  has tons of options and large and small cans even touch up colors if you only need a little bit of a color, and then clear coat it a few times to protect what ever art you have.  Remember after you have put all the work into the design,, you do want to protect it.  The more thin layers of C/C the more protection and also more sacrificial layers so you can wet sand it to a deep gloss. 1500 to 2000, to 3000, then some quality rubbing compound (and a easy one that is very good and off the shelf at wall mart or an auto store is Meguiars Ultimate compound )  and polish (Meguiars Ultimate Polish) followed by a good sealer or wax.  and your ax will look fantastic.  I have only scratched the surface here, PM me if you need any more help.

I know your talking an acoustic, but paint is paint.most guitars you  see with a solid finish and artwork is clear coated any way. like say this one 

Rockmans clean sound  is totally awesome, the distortionis 100% Boston! that was also the downfall,, they always sounded like boston LOLOLOL but for a headpone amp or a pre amp,, they really are the cats meow! ROCK ON! they now have the metal ace and the rock ace,, not sure wihch one is the original,, but they are down to 60 bucks. They were a coupple 100 back when they came out! LOLOLOL

LOLOL thanks Doug. when It comes to that 3rd Pick up Im going to take it directly to the Luthier that I trust LOLOLOL.  Ill still be happy with the 2 PU config and just have the bridge tapped.  but this is what I am shooting for:

Bad to the bone! very cool,  Idd make a 12 X 13 out of it and frame it.