Acrylic Painting Tips

Artful Hints for a versatile Medium

Nov 25, 2008 Aileen McLeod

Colour Mixing and application to Paper or Canvas with this tried and true approach to a successful Acrylic Painting.

Acrylic paint is a refreshing medium which became popular around 1960. These paints can be used straight from the tube like oils however acrylics, unlike oils, can be thinned with water or a medium. Acrylics are versatile and dry quickly. It is advisable to use good quality paints for your projects.

Various ways to keep paint from drying

Squeeze only a small quantity of paint from the tube because it is fast drying. There are various ways to keep the paint from drying out too quickly. Use a spray bottle and spray a fine mist over the paint from time to time. Stay-wet pallettes can also be made by placing a sheet of wax paper on top of a damp sheet of water colour paper or a thin towel.
Always blot your brushes on a paper towel, as this prevents drops of water running down from the ferrule and onto the painting.
When acrylic paint is applied straight from the tube, with very little water or when mixed with white it can be opaque, whereas when diluted with water or medium it is transparent.

Glazes

An acrylic wash is permanent when it dries, is insoluble and can be overpainted without lifting the original wash.
Build up water colour like glazes with thin layers of application, (a glossy surface is produced with heavy layers.)
Hint: A flow improver medium can be used to increase the flow of colour.

Dampen the paper

When working on paper, it is recommended you dampen the watercolour paper and work quickly when blending colours. Hint: Mount paper onto card backing. Seal canvas with two coats of gesso.
Masking tape placed onto dried Acrylic paint area gives you a sharp edge, such as a horizon etc., Hint: carefully lift off.
Masking fluid can be used for marking out sections. Hint: make sure the brush is washed thoroughly.

Mixing Brands of paint/brushes

Do not mix various brands of acrylic paints as incompatible mixtures can react and so form a gooey, rubbery paint.
Acrylic paints are compatible with any types of brushes although the nylon and synthetic are the most popular. Hint: all brushes must be washed clean with hot water and soap and never allow the paint to dry, especially in a bristle brush.

Beauty of colour mixing

Where red and yellow overlaps it produces orange.
Where blue overlaps red, we see various shades of purple.
Where blue overlaps yellow, shades of green are produced.
Tertiary colours are achieved when three colours overlap.
Hint: experiment with colour combinations.

You will enjoy this acrylic experience, and an extra hint is that oils can be applied over your acrylic painting but that is where it stops as one cannot go back with acrylics over oils!

Happy Painting.

The copyright of the article Acrylic Painting Tips in Painting/Drawing is owned by Aileen McLeod. Permission to republish Acrylic Painting Tips in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.