Painting with Acrylics

Acrylic Paintings are well known for vibrant and bright colors. This flower done by Mary Looney helps portray the wide range of colors. It also shows the evident layers from the background to the rose.

Melinda Looney

Acrylic Paintings are well known for vibrant and bright colors. This flower done by Mary Looney helps portray the wide range of colors. It also shows the evident layers from the background to the rose.

  Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Jackson Pollock all iconic artists utilized this medium for its bright, vivid colors and visual appeal. Acrylics are a fast drying and very lasting medium. It takes practice and skill to work with acrylic paints correctly.

Before starting a painter needs the correct supplies.  Acrylic paints can be found in many art stores including Michaels and JoAnn.

Every artist has his or her preferred brands, “my favorite brand of acrylic paint is Golden, because of their magnificent colors, followed by Liquitex because the consistency is great to use with a palette knife.”  painting expert Marion Bobby-Evans said.

These paints often have to be moistened because of their fast drying nature. There are also certain palettes an artist can get that will keep the paint wet longer. Although it is hard to find this type of palette with a thumb hole so many artists find it uncomfortable.

First piece of advice is to paint in layers. Although acrylic paints may be similar to watercolor a key difference is that in this medium when the acrylic wash dries it is permanent. So make sure to plan out the piece before putting the brush to the canvas.

Additionally masking tape can be added over layers to help paint the perfect hard edge. It is proven not to peel off the layers underneath. But when someone is painting hard edges make sure they do not make lines to thick or else the finished product will not look as crisp and clean.

Furthermore acrylics are quick to dry. Since painting can only be blended when it is still moist, when someone adds water to the paper it can lengthen the blending time.

“It is also beneficial to keep a piece of paper towel or cloth next to your water jar and get into the habit of wiping your brushes on it every time you raise them. This prevents water drops running down the ferrule and onto your painting, making blotches,”  Boddy-Evans said.

Moreover someone can use acrylics for glue in collaging. “Provided it is used fairly thickly and the item to be stuck is not too heavy, all you need to do is simply apply some to the surface, like you would glue.” said Bobby- Evans.

With time and hard work anyone can develop skills for working with acrylic painting.