painting with acrylics
Click here to see examples of different types of acrylic paintings. On this site I will share with you the techniques that I used to create each type of artwork. Whether you want to learn to paint abstract art or photorealism, this site will show you how to do it. Scroll through the Table of Contents below and see what strikes your fancy!
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Read an overview of the basic characteristics of acrylics. This will help prepare you with what to expect while painting with acrylics! Also see some examples of different types of artwork that were created with acrylic paint. |
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Read this in-depth 15-page Step-by-Step Guide on How to Paint Photorealism in Acrylics. Contains everything you need to know about painting photorealistically in acrylics, from start to finish! |
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An easy lesson on how to paint abstract art with acrylics. Includes progress photos and instructions for creating your very own colorful abstract painting! Suitable for all skill levels. |
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Ready to varnish your finished acrylic painting? Find out how to varnish an acrylic painting, with tips and step-by-step instructions. |
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Learn
about all the basic
art supplies that are essential for painting with
acrylics. This page explains the necessary art supplies for
getting started with acrylics, with links to even more info!
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Do you have any questions about painting with acrylics? If so, ask here! Your question, along with the answer(s), will be posted online as part of a FAQ about using acrylics.
Info about acrylic painting supplies:
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Acrylic paints: Find out what acrylic paints you should get if you want to get started with acrylic paintings. If you're a total beginner to painting with acrylics, learn what paints are best for you!
- Artist Palette Guide: Need help choosing an artist palette? Read this handy Artist Palette Guide which provides an overview of the 9 main types of palettes available. Also includes handy tips for keeping your acrylic paints from drying out!
- Paintbrushes for acrylics: This in-depth guide explains the different types of paintbrushes for acrylics and what they are used for. You will also learn how to care for your paintbrushes and clean them properly.
- Canvas: Learn all about canvases for acrylics. This page discusses all the different types of canvases available for painting with acrylics: panels, pads, stretched and unstretched.
- Gesso:
What is gesso and why is it important? Find out! Learn about all
the different types of gesso. Discover how to prime canvas with
acrylic gesso.
characteristics of acrylic paint
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Acrylics are
water-based, which means that unlike
oil paints
,
they can be thinned with water and cleaned with water. They are also
non-toxic and non-smelly. For the
eco- or health-conscious, this makes acrylics a more attractive option.
Acrylic paints can mimic the quality of oil paints, but without the
toxicity and clean-up issues that go along with oils. When thinned
with lots of water, acrylics can also mimic the qualities of watercolor.
Acrylic paint
dries quickly. This can have its advantages and disadvantages.
For one thing, painting with acrylics is great if you like to work
quickly. It is also very easy to "go over" if you've made
a mistake. The main disadvantage of the quick drying time is that
sometimes it can be difficult to blend colors, but this can be remedied
with the use of an
acrylic medium,
such as
retarders
,
which extend drying time, or
flow release
,
which increases color blendability.
Acrylics are very
versatile, which means they can achieve
many different effects and be easily used for a variety of styles.
For instance, they can be applied thickly or thinly.
The texture and consistency can
be modified with
acrylic gels,
acrylic mediums
,
or pastes
to
create various effects. For example, you can add sand
gel
or
glass
bead gel
to
create funky textures. Or you can mix acrylics with clear
tar gel
to
produce a stringy, tar-like paint that is great for dripping. Acrylic
mediums can also be used to alter the sheen of the paint, causing
them to have high gloss or matte sheens. There are many enticing gels,
mediums and pastes on the market to mix with acrylics to enhance and
alter the quality of the paint.
Acrylic paint lends itself well to mixed media applications, which further broadens the possibilities of painting with acrylics. The most popular surfaces for painting with acrylics are canvas, wood, or paper. But once primed with gesso, acrylics can be painted on almost any surface, such as fabric, clay, or even your old vinyl records! If you get bored with the brush, you can use a variety of other tools, such as scrapers, toothpicks, sponges, Q-tips, etc to create various effects.
The final finish of the painting can be altered with gloss, matte, or satin varnish. When properly varnished, acrylic paintings do not need to be framed behind glass. They can be hung directly on the wall. You can even paint the edges of the canvas to match the front, for a cool contemporary aesthetic. If they collect dust, simply wipe the surface gently with a damp cloth.
examples of acrylic paintings
I use acrylics to paint in a variety of styles, such as photorealism, abstract, whimsical, and a composite (combination) of any of these styles. I love painting with acrylics because they are capable of achieving bright, strong colors, which seems to be a common characteristic running through my work. Here are some examples of my acrylic paintings:
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You can see more of my painting with acrylics at my website!
