Painting with acrylics is a lot of fun, but it can also be somewhat difficult for those who are used to painting with oils and or watercolors. Acrylic painting beginners will learn either through studying other acrylic painters or through personal experience that acrylic paints dry quickly and need to be kept workable. Water color paints are a little simpler to work with, as far as keeping the paints workable goes, because it is OK if watercolor paints dry. Watercolor paints can dry and then be used later by simply adding some water. However acrylic paints dry quickly and once they dry they are no longer useable.
Here are some tips for beginners on how to work with acrylic paints:
Keep them wet and Workable
- Only squeeze a little bit of paint out at a time so that you avoid having large amounts of paint that dries up and is then unusable.
- Get a spray bottle so that you can regularly spray your acrylic paints and keep them moist. Keeping acrylic paints wet is what keeps them workable.
- Use a palette that stays wet. You can place the paint on a sheet of wax paper and place it on top of a damp piece of watercolor paper. The damp paper should keep your paints wet for a little bit longer.
Acrylic Paints, Dry and Flat
Acrylic paints usually dry a little darker you may have to add to your painting layer by layer before you get the color you really want. Acrylic paints also come out a little flat unless you rework areas with several layers. Adding many layers to your painting is a great way to add a different kind of texture and depth.
Upkeep of Brushes
- Avoid making blotches on your paintings and avoid rusty ferrules by using a paper towel or a cloth to wipe your brushes every time you dip them in water.
- Using a larger brush will help you to get what you want onto your canvas before the paint dries.
- Do not leave your brushes in water, the wood will rot, the ferrules will rust, and it will also cause them to stink.
- Use cheap brushes for dry brush work. Dry brush work wears brushes down a lot faster so do yourself a favor and only do this kind of work with your cheaper brushes.
Acrylic paints are a different kind of medium but if you follow the above tips you will be more likely to come up with an end product that you can place on a pedestal or an acrylic sculpture and be proud of.
Madison Resare is a content creator who likes to write about art mediums, painting techniques, and acrylic sculptures.
