| Acrylic paint, when compared with other mediums like | | | | the ground or layer of dry color underneath. There are |
| oil paint, is a fairly new addition to the world of painting. | | | | a number of different tools that can be used for this |
| It has only been around since the 1950's . It has been | | | | technique. Tools like screwdrivers or the sharpened |
| continually under development and refinement since | | | | end of an old paintbrush handle can work. |
| that time. Just because acrylic paint has not been | | | | Using a Squeegee |
| around as long as oils, does not make these paints | | | | A regular squeegee that you can buy at any |
| less important or enjoyable. | | | | hardware or auto store has the ability to create some |
| Some of the wonderful benefits of using acrylic paints | | | | interesting effects. First squeeze out some paint blobs |
| are their versatility, permanence and ease of use. | | | | directly along one edge of your support. You can |
| These paints can be applied thickly as an impasto or in | | | | layout whatever colors you wish. Then with one fluid |
| thin washes similar to watercolor. Acrylic paint does | | | | motion drag the paint across the surface with your |
| not yellow or harden with age like oils. | | | | squeegee smearing and mixing the paint as you go. |
| Another reason artists love to work with acrylics is | | | | ACRYLIC PAINTING TIPS |
| their fast drying time. Since acrylic paint dries so | | | | Variety |
| quickly, colors can be applied and layered quicker than | | | | One of the things that makes a painting interesting is |
| oil paints. But with this fast drying time comes a few | | | | variety. Use a variety of different brushstrokes, |
| disadvantages: | | | | techniques and values in your paintings. Change the |
| 1) The paint will not remain workable for very long, so | | | | direction of your brushstrokes or mix different |
| you have to work fast. | | | | techniques in the same painting. |
| 2) Brushes can be ruined if you do not clean them right | | | | Don't Copy |
| away. | | | | Don't copy other artists. Allow other artists to influence |
| 3) If you plan to paint outdoors, then acrylic paint is | | | | you and paint your own impression of what you see |
| probably not the best medium to use, especially on a | | | | from your heart and soul. This is how your inner |
| hot sunny day. When you lay out your colors on a | | | | creativity shines on the canvas. It is what set painters |
| palette or other surface, they will begin to dry quickly | | | | like Vincent van Gogh and Salvador Dali apart from |
| forming skins on the surface, making them quite difficult | | | | the rest. They each injected their own style and heart |
| to work with. | | | | into their work. |
| ACRYLIC PAINTING TECHNIQUES | | | | Observe Your Surroundings |
| Watercolor Effects | | | | Spend time observing and studying your subjects and |
| Many artists like to use acrylics in a fluid state, similar to | | | | surroundings. Landscape artists spend a great deal of |
| watercolor. There is a notable difference though. With | | | | time outdoors studying nature. Figure and portrait |
| acrylics, washes can be layered on top of one another | | | | artists spend a great deal of time studying the human |
| without fear of disturbing the colors underneath. You | | | | anatomy. If you aren't spending enough time observing |
| must wait for one layer to dry completely before | | | | the subjects that you wish to paint, then you won't |
| applying another of course. Once each layer dries it | | | | have the necessary knowledge to paint them. |
| becomes insoluble in water. One disadvantage to using | | | | Art Supplies |
| acrylics as a watercolor medium is the difficulty in | | | | Are you using quality acrylic painting supplies? In the |
| modifying the color. Once acrylic paint begins to dry it | | | | beginning when you are experimenting, it is ok to use |
| becomes very difficult to modify and washes can | | | | cheaper supplies, but as you become more |
| sometime dry with unwanted hard edges. You can | | | | experienced, you may want to consider investing in |
| avoid this problem in one of two ways. You can either | | | | better quality. When it comes to fine art supplies, you |
| dampen the paper before the paint is applied or you | | | | usually get what you pay for. If you buy cheap |
| can use an additional brush dampened with water. Use | | | | brushes, they will more than likely begin to fall apart. |
| one brush to apply the paint and immediately soften | | | | The ferrule of the brush can loosen and the hairs can |
| the edge with the other brush that has been | | | | fall out. If you use cheap paint, you will get cheap |
| dampened with the water. | | | | looking results. The colors will not have the same |
| Pouring & Dripping Technique | | | | brilliance or the right consistency. |
| This technique was made popular by the master | | | | Don't Be Afraid to Use your Paint |
| painter Jackson Pollock in the late 1940's and early | | | | Lets face it, good paint does not come cheap, so in an |
| 1950's. You use a very fluid acrylic paint for this | | | | effort to conserve our paint, some artists will use as |
| technique. You can pour it directly on the canvas or dip | | | | little paint as possible. This is a reasonable concern, but |
| a brush into the paint and let it drip down onto the | | | | the truth however, is that your paintings will be more |
| canvas. You can create some very interesting effects | | | | interesting if you lay down the brush stroke, leave it |
| with this technique. Check out Jackson Pollocks work | | | | alone, and then reload your brush. Don't try and scrub |
| to see this technique in action. | | | | the paint into the canvas, otherwise you are just |
| | | | staining, and not painting. |
| Sgraffito Technique | | | | Don't Over Think |
| Sgraffito is a scratching technique. It got its name from | | | | Don't overly criticize or judge your own work while you |
| the Italian word graffiare which literally means to | | | | are painting. This will discourage and frustrate you. Just |
| scratch. Just as the name implies it involves scratching | | | | relax and let go. Trust yourself and your abilities. ? |
| into the surface of the wet paint which reveals either | | | | |