Acrylic Painting

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Acrylic Painting

Acrylic paint is made from a mixture of traditional pigments and synthetic resins, a fairly recent invention. It is the most maleable paint and it dries very quickly, allowing for speedy work. It can be incorporated with materials such as sand, paper and pastes, and thick layers of the acrylic paint can be worked to achieve a sculpted effect etc. Finally, acrylic can be used to create transparent layers of paint, it can be mixed and remixed endlessly, and its transparency can be varied.

The pros of acrylic

Ideal for beginnners of those in a hurry.
No smell.
Compatible with all medium.
Lasting colours.

Supplies

Tools

Protection for clothing. NB : It is impossible to remove dried acrylic from fabric.
Paintbrushes
Medium sized painting knife
Kitchen roll
Palette
Toothpick or stick to sculpt the fresh paint
Water container

Materials

Sheets of card or cloth
Scraps of paper for testing
Tubes of acrylic paint: the primary colours, white, black and natural sierra for starters
Modeling paste
Pencil
Rubber
Varnish to stick the paper and to make the painting shine once finished

Directions

Arrange your colors on the palette, spaced out.
Mix up the colors and explore how the work together.
To start:
- Draw a sketch onto paper using the pencil or trace out motifs.
- OR apply the main areas colour straight away.

Techniques of acrylic painting

According to the technique you have chosen, work with paint washes,layers of paint or pouring the paint.

Paint washes

Fluid paints can be used like watercolors.

Mix paint with water (not more than 50%).
Apply to Canvas or Paper.
Explore its transparency effects.

Layering the paint

Layering the paint is often used to create more depth in an image.

Apply the paint directly without diluting it and experiment with its sculpturing effects.
Wait for the layer to dry thoroughly.
Apply another coat.

Pouring the paint

When pour painting no brushes or knifes are needed.

Pour the fluid paint directly onto the canvas.
Tilt the canvas to move around the paints.
Let them blend.

Acrylic Mediums

Acrylic mediums are used to change the consistency of the paint without changing the it's color.

Glazing or fluid mediums

When mixed with more than 50% of water acrylic paint will no longer stick to the surface. Applying glazing or fluid mediums will ensure that the paint will be easy to be applied on your canvas.

Texture mediums

Texture mediums can either be mixed with the paint or you can apply it to the canvas to paint over. Other texture meidums let your paint dry in a clear, glossy way or to a coarse, matte finish. This can be used for all kinds of surfaces to also allow you to bring depth to your painting.

Retarder mediums

To slow down the drying time you can mix your paint with a retarder medium which is extending the drying process and can be applied as often as you want.

Mediums for decorative painting

There are different acrylic mediums to achieve particular paint effects. A Cracking medium is used to crack a varnish or layer of paint for an aged effect. Marbling medium is used to stop paints to blend. Antiquing medium is used to make a painting look old.

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