Acrylic Painting Acrylic Painting TipsTips

THE MEDIUM-THE MEDIUM-

All acrylics are made from coloured All acrylics are made from coloured pigments mixed with synthetic resin pigments mixed with synthetic resin which acts as the binder and which acts as the binder and adhesive. Once dry acrylic colours adhesive. Once dry acrylic colours form a tough plastic coating which is form a tough plastic coating which is almost indestructible.almost indestructible.

Acrylic PaintAcrylic Paint

Change your rinse water often to Change your rinse water often to keep colours pure and cleankeep colours pure and clean

Wash brushes with cool water, not Wash brushes with cool water, not hothot

Paint left to dry on clothing or in Paint left to dry on clothing or in brushes becomes permanent – wash brushes becomes permanent – wash while wet!while wet!

If you get paint on your clothes, rinse If you get paint on your clothes, rinse it out with cold waterit out with cold water

Acrylic PaintAcrylic Paint

Blend colours together on the painting Blend colours together on the painting surface while wet to achieve gradual surface while wet to achieve gradual changes in value/tonechanges in value/tone

If you want an area to be well blended, it’s If you want an area to be well blended, it’s a good idea to pre-mix the colours you will a good idea to pre-mix the colours you will need so you can apply them more quickly need so you can apply them more quickly and be able to blend while still wet. For and be able to blend while still wet. For example, if you want to blend a red into a example, if you want to blend a red into a yellow, pre-mix a couple in between yellow, pre-mix a couple in between colours – this way, not all your blending is colours – this way, not all your blending is done on the painting surface, allowing you done on the painting surface, allowing you to work quickerto work quicker

Acrylic PaintAcrylic Paint

Acrylic dries slightly darker than it Acrylic dries slightly darker than it looks when wetlooks when wet

If an area doesn’t work out, let it dry If an area doesn’t work out, let it dry and simply paint over it again – it is and simply paint over it again – it is very forgiving!very forgiving!

Acrylic PaintAcrylic Paint

Opaque from the tube- easy to paint one colour Opaque from the tube- easy to paint one colour over another, even a light colour over another over another, even a light colour over another one only takes one coatone only takes one coat

Translucent when one adds water- bold or Translucent when one adds water- bold or subtle transparent washes. Does not behave as subtle transparent washes. Does not behave as watercolour; washes are unsolvable so once dry watercolour; washes are unsolvable so once dry cannot be removed. This allows you to add one cannot be removed. This allows you to add one transparent colour over another without transparent colour over another without disturbing the colour underneath. They also dry disturbing the colour underneath. They also dry to a rather flat finish, the more water you use to a rather flat finish, the more water you use the less shiny the final work.the less shiny the final work.

Using a gloss medium can thin the paint and Using a gloss medium can thin the paint and keep the shine keep the shine

Can be applied thickly to add texture. Mediums Can be applied thickly to add texture. Mediums can be used to make this even thicker.can be used to make this even thicker.

Acrylics are Acrylics are adhesive which adhesive which works well with works well with collage and collage and mixed media mixed media projects.projects.

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SurfacesSurfaces Painting surfaces- wide range- canvas, board, Painting surfaces- wide range- canvas, board,

cardboard, paper; also, plastic, metal, formica and cardboard, paper; also, plastic, metal, formica and other surfaces. All surfaces should be primed to other surfaces. All surfaces should be primed to seal the surface and provide a key for the paint to seal the surface and provide a key for the paint to adhere to. It will not adhere to an oily or waxy adhere to. It will not adhere to an oily or waxy surface so do not use it to paint over an old oil surface so do not use it to paint over an old oil painting. Acrylic gesso or acrylic primer provides a painting. Acrylic gesso or acrylic primer provides a good white surface. To retain the colour of the good white surface. To retain the colour of the canvas board, card or paper seal the surface with canvas board, card or paper seal the surface with acrylic gloss or matt medium.acrylic gloss or matt medium.

Bought surfaces- ready primed for acrylic use Bought surfaces- ready primed for acrylic use including, stretched canvas, boards, and canvas including, stretched canvas, boards, and canvas covered boards as well as special papers which covered boards as well as special papers which have a texture similar to canvas.-limited range of have a texture similar to canvas.-limited range of sizes and shapessizes and shapes

Inexpensive alternatives- hardboard, masonite, Inexpensive alternatives- hardboard, masonite, cardboard, thick paper- prime with two coats. cardboard, thick paper- prime with two coats.

ACCESSORIES AND ADDITIVES-ACCESSORIES AND ADDITIVES- Palettes-use white plastic palettes or flat plastic or Palettes-use white plastic palettes or flat plastic or

glass sheets, not wooden palettes. Keep paint moist glass sheets, not wooden palettes. Keep paint moist while you work with an occasional spray of water.while you work with an occasional spray of water.

Styrofoam trays with moistened paper towels- can Styrofoam trays with moistened paper towels- can keep paint moist on a limited budget- cover with tinfoilkeep paint moist on a limited budget- cover with tinfoil

Paint- tube paint generally thicker than that in jars.Paint- tube paint generally thicker than that in jars. Mediums-gloss medium- allows the paint to become Mediums-gloss medium- allows the paint to become

transparent with a shinier result. Often used when one transparent with a shinier result. Often used when one colour needs to be seen underneath. Matt is the same colour needs to be seen underneath. Matt is the same but leaves it with a non=reflecting surface.but leaves it with a non=reflecting surface.

Gel Medium and Texture paste- used to make it Gel Medium and Texture paste- used to make it thicker, allowing for texturizing with a brush, knife or thicker, allowing for texturizing with a brush, knife or other tools. You can also make your own special other tools. You can also make your own special textures by adding sand sawdust or other substances.textures by adding sand sawdust or other substances.

Retarder- slows down drying time, used with thick Retarder- slows down drying time, used with thick paint to allow time for texturizing.paint to allow time for texturizing.

LayeringLayering

Most effective way to adjust colours , Most effective way to adjust colours , tones and composition by overlaying tones and composition by overlaying paint rather than manipulating wet paint rather than manipulating wet paint on canvas as with oils.paint on canvas as with oils.

LayeringLayering The first step should be an The first step should be an

underpainting.underpainting.

Underpaintings should not be Underpaintings should not be detailed.detailed.

This first layer of paint covers the This first layer of paint covers the gessogesso (primer) and prevents white (primer) and prevents white areas. It can also add a different areas. It can also add a different tint to layers on top of it. It can be tint to layers on top of it. It can be one colour for the entire painting, or one colour for the entire painting, or different colours for different areas.different colours for different areas.

Broad brushstrokes of thinned paint Broad brushstrokes of thinned paint are good for underpainting and are good for underpainting and blocking in large areas of colour. blocking in large areas of colour. Smaller brushstrokes with thicker Smaller brushstrokes with thicker paint are useful for adding detailspaint are useful for adding details

Layering, con’tLayering, con’t Sometimes painters allow Sometimes painters allow

portions of the underpainting portions of the underpainting to show through, forming what to show through, forming what looks like an outline.looks like an outline.

Allow successive layers to dry before building on top so the colours don’t become muddy; add glaze layers on dry paint to change tone of an area

Painting OrderPainting Order Work from Work from backgroundbackground

to to middle groundmiddle ground to to foregroundforeground! !

For example, in the For example, in the example shown here, sky example shown here, sky first, then blue hills, first, then blue hills, brown hills, white hills, brown hills, white hills, then trees.then trees.

Also consider that dark Also consider that dark colours layer over light colours layer over light colours more easily than colours more easily than light over dark.light over dark.

WASHES:WASHES: Three uses you want your picture Three uses you want your picture

to look like a watercolour, or you to look like a watercolour, or you want to use it as a starting place want to use it as a starting place for your picture, or you want to for your picture, or you want to use it as an overlaid colour. use it as an overlaid colour.

The latter is known as glazing and change the The latter is known as glazing and change the underlying colour without obliterating it. Some underlying colour without obliterating it. Some paints are strong and do not work well as glazes, such as are strong and do not work well as glazes, such as phythalo blue and alizarin crimson. Remember water phythalo blue and alizarin crimson. Remember water produces matt finish and medium a gloss finish.produces matt finish and medium a gloss finish.

TextureTexture

ImpastoImpasto-thick or lumpy application of paint, or -thick or lumpy application of paint, or deep brush marks (brushstrokes), as deep brush marks (brushstrokes), as distinguished from a flat, smooth paint surface. distinguished from a flat, smooth paint surface. (pr. im-PAHS-toh)(pr. im-PAHS-toh)

Other Textures Other Textures -Model with a knife, scratch into -Model with a knife, scratch into with a brush handle (show layer underneath), with a brush handle (show layer underneath), imprint with another material such as tinfoil; imprint with another material such as tinfoil; combing; dab with your finger; dab from the tube; combing; dab with your finger; dab from the tube; stipple with the flat of a knife; mix with sawdust , stipple with the flat of a knife; mix with sawdust , sand, rocksalt, rice, eggshells etc. ; have sand, rocksalt, rice, eggshells etc. ; have candlewax below, paint over such things as a candlewax below, paint over such things as a doiley (stencil), paint over applied fabric.doiley (stencil), paint over applied fabric.

Don’t over do it- it can take away from the Don’t over do it- it can take away from the picture, be selectivepicture, be selective

Scumbling/drybrushingScumbling/drybrushing Scumbling/drybrushing can Scumbling/drybrushing can

be used on top of be used on top of completely dry areas to add completely dry areas to add soft, broken, transparent soft, broken, transparent areas of colour – good for areas of colour – good for highlights for examplehighlights for example

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcr55uRTD4M&feature=player_embedded

Skin TonesSkin Tones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRDwuoX43HQ&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRDwuoX43HQ&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCOf7gYq2iE&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCOf7gYq2iE&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNyeJyNl_kI&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNyeJyNl_kI&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzo1dXgwM7g&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzo1dXgwM7g&feature=related