Uploaded byJacques de Beaufort
Studio Basics PAINTING de Beaufort
This document provides 10 tips for using acrylic paints in studio art. It recommends keeping rags or paper towels on hand to blot excess water from brushes and wipe brushes between color changes. Acrylic paint dries quickly so artists must keep brushes moist by dipping in water and replacing dirty water. Tips include keeping paints workable, blotting brushes, using paint thickly or thinly, building transparent glazes in thin layers, improving flow without losing color, blending quickly, using masking tape for sharp edges, using washing up liquid to remove masking fluid from brushes, and using acrylic paint thickly as glue for collage.
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- 13. • Spills andsplotches are inevitable while painting, so it's essential to have some rags or paper towels on hand. Not only are they handy for those emergency moments, they are also necessary for blotting excess water from your paintbrush. You will also need them to wipe your paintbrush after changing colors. And finally, they will help dry out your paintbrushes after you've cleaned
- 14. • Acrylics dryvery quickly, so you will need to consistently dip your paintbrush in a jar or cup of water to keep both the bristles moist and the paint moist. A clear jar or cup is recommended, because it allows you to see how clean or dirty the water is. When the water gets too murky, replace it with fresh, clean water. Be sure to choose a jar or cup that is sturdy and won't easily tip over. And also choose one that is allowed to get paint all over it, rather than something that you want to keep tidy. See my cup on the right for an example of what a well-used artist cup will look like after some time!
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- 20. ACRYLIC TIPS • AcrylicPainting Tip 1: Keeping Acrylic Paints Workable Because acrylics dry so fast, squeeze only a little paint out of a tube. If you're using a 'normal' plastic palette invest in a spray bottle so you can spray a fine mist over the paint regularly to keep it moist. 'Stay-wet' palettes – where the paint sits on a sheet of wax paper place on top of a damp piece of watercolour paper – eliminate the need to do this, but generally don't have a hole for your thumb so are more awkward to hold in your hand.
- 21. • Acrylic PaintingTip 2: Blot your Brushes Keep a piece of paper towel or cloth next to your water jar and get into the habit of wiping your brushes on it after you rise them. This prevents water drops running down the ferrule and onto your painting, making blotches.
- 22. • Acrylic PaintingTip 3: Opaque or Transparent If applied thickly – either straight from the tube or with very little water added – or if mixed with a little white, all acrylic colours can be opaque. If diluted, they can be used like watercolours or for airbrushing.
- 23. • Acrylic PaintingTip 4: Acrylic vs Watercolour Washes When an acrylic wash dries, it's permanent and, unlike a watercolour wash, is insoluble and can be over-painted without fear of disturbing the existing wash. The colours of subsequent washes mix optically with the earlier ones. A watercolour glaze can be lifted out using water and a cloth.
- 24. • Acrylic PaintingTip 5: Think Thin When Thinking Glazes If you want transparent glazes, these should be built up in thin layers; a heavy layer will produce a glossy surface.
- 25. • Acrylic PaintingTip 6: Improve Flow Without Losing Colour To increase the flow of a colour with minimal loss of colour strength, use flow-improver medium rather than just water.
- 26. • Acrylic PaintingTip 7: Blending Acrylic Paints Because acrylics dry rapidly, you need to work fast if you wish to blend colours. If you're working on paper, dampening the paper will increase your working time.
- 27. • Acrylic PaintingTip 8: Hard Edges Masking tape can be put onto and removed from dried acrylic paint without damaging an existing layer. This makes it easy to produce a hard or sharp edge. Make sure the edges of the tape are stuck down firmly and don't paint too thickly on the edges, otherwise you won't get a clean line when you lift it.
- 28. • Acrylic PaintingTip 9: Washing-up Liquid with Masking Fluid Masking fluid can be used with acrylics washes, as well as watercolours. Be sure it's completely dry before you paint over it, and don't paint too thickly over it or you'll have to scratch away the paint to get to the masking fluid. Masking fluid will work on paper and canvas, but do try it out first before using it in a painting to get a feel for it. Once masking fluid has dried in a brush, it's nearly impossible to remove. Dipping a brush into some washing-up liquid first makes it easier to wash masking fluid out of a brush.
- 29. • Acrylic PaintingTip 10: Using Acrylic Paint as a Glue for Collage Provided it's used fairly thickly and the item to be stuck isn't too heavy, acrylic paint will work as a glue in a collage.