Acrylic paints are vibrant in colour and so easy to work with. They’re made from fine-ground pigment particles which are suspended in water and bound with a type of plastic, and have been manufactured since the 1950s – 60s. Ranges of acrylic paints can be found in art shops and online, and it’s not necessary to choose the most expensive ones in order to get great results. They come in a wide assortment of colours and as they’re water-based, there’s no smell. Brushes are easily cleaned with water. Canvases or canvas boards are perfect as a base for painting on, although it’s possible to use heavy-duty watercolour paper, or a wooden block. One advantage is that acrylic paints dry very quickly – within 15 minutes or so. This means that any mistake can be painted over without any wet paint showing through from underneath. As with anything new, it takes a while to get used to something, and then it becomes second nature. Brushes must be kept wet while you’re painting, so keep them in a jar of water and keep rinsing and drying on some kitchen roll. When you’ve finished painting for the day, rinse, dry and lay flat. If a brush is left with paint on it which then dries quickly, the brush will be ruined, so get into the habit of rinsing it often. Depending on the type of painting you’re doing, you might want to use colours which are less vibrant. One good tip is to mix acrylics with vinyl matt emulsion. They’re both water-based and blend well together. Emulsion tester pots are very reasonably priced and are perfect for experimenting with colours. The pastel shades are perfect for “calming down” the vibrancy of acrylic shades. It’s possible to water down acrylic in order to create a wash effect. Perhaps you’d like a misty effect to show over a seascape. When applied to the canvas over the sea, for instance, it gives the impression of a mist and it can look effective if washed over distant mountains. One tip for doing this is to get a clean, damp, white washing-up cloth and dip it into your wash. From left to right, draw it over your canvas covering the area of the sea you want to cover. If it looks too dense, wet your cloth more and apply again, making sure you carry on while it’s wet. Be brave and bold with your application with the cloth. Remember that it doesn’t matter if you make a mistake because you can always paint over it, but I always prefer to add more rather than try to take some away. The types of brushes used are important. It’s possible to buy brushes especially for acrylic painting, but some such as sable can be expensive, and it’s not necessary to spend a lot. Use cheaper brushes if you’re experimenting – you don’t want to ruin an expensive sable brush by accidentally leaving paint on it which has dried. Some decorators’ brushes can be ideal. The important thing is that it has a fine flow, doesn’t leave lines as some hard bristles can do, and doesn’t moult hairs. Acrylic brushes come in various shapes which enable ease of painting. A palette knife is a good alternative for giving a good effect when a thickness is required. It works well when a lot of paint is on the canvas and is a joy to use. Impasto gel can be mixed with paint in order to give it a thickness, which can be ideal for showing the depth and movement of the sea. Gloss or matt varnish can be applied to a finished painting if required. Acrylic painting is a joy.
Article Source: http://www.bizymoms.com/expert-advice
Stella Coles is an artist who mainly paints with acrylics or pastels. There's so much beauty around us that we can capture onto canvas. To get some ideas visit Landscape Art By Stella