How To Create Art

5 Tips on How to Paint with Acrylics

5 Tips on How to Paint with Acrylics

Are you new with painting to acrylics? Do you not want to blow through canvases you don’t like? Here are 5 tips on how to paint with acrylics.

Keyword(s): How to Paint with Acrylics

Are you unsure of how to paint with acrylics?

Working with a new type of paint can be a bit nerve-wracking, especially if you’re a perfectionist.

However, if you follow the tips listed below, you will be painting with confidence in no time.

How to Paint with Acrylics Tip 1. Keep Your Paint Moist

You might be surprised by how quickly acrylic paints can dry out. In order to get the most out of your paints, be sure to keep them moist.

A small spray bottle or plant mister works perfectly to prevent paint from drying out. Simply spray a little water on your palette periodically as you’re working.

You can also spray your canvas or paper directly.

2. Use the Right Brushes

When people are learning how to paint with acrylics, they often wonder what kinds of brushes they need.

If you’re just starting out, you don’t need to buy a whole new set of brushes. A medium-sized flat brush can be used for most paintings. A filbert brush, which has a rounded shape, is also good for blending and softening edges.

Whatever brushes you use, make sure they are made of synthetic material. Acrylic paints can quickly dry out and damage brushes made with natural fibers.

3. Mix Your Paints Like a Pro

Knowing how to mix your paints properly will save you a lot of time and money down the road. A working knowledge of the color wheel will go a long way here, as will having the proper mixing tools.

You can use a palette knife or a plastic knife to mix your colors. If you don’t have either of these tools on hand, an extra brush will also get the job done.

Remember that acrylic paint can dry slightly darker than when it is first mixed. If you need a very precise color, try mixing just a small amount first to get the right shade. Since acrylic paint dries so quickly, you’ll be able to tell almost immediately if you have the right color.

4. Vary Your Painting Techniques

Now that you have your brushes and your paint is mixed, it’s time to think about how to use them.

There are several different techniques for painting with acrylics, and you can combine several of them to make a truly unique work of art.

Common techniques that every beginner should be familiar with include:

Dry Brush

As the name implies, dry brush application uses a dry brush and undiluted paint to create strong lines with bold colors.

Washing

When you add enough water to acrylic paint, it goes on the page very similar to watercolor paint to create a softer image.

Dabbing

Dabbing involves applying paint in a quick pouncing motion to show texture on objects like bushes and trees.

5. Make Sure Your Canvas Is Ready to Go

You have lots of information about how to paint with acrylics, but don’t forget about the canvas!

Although you can paint directly on a raw canvas, priming it will help guard against discoloration.

An acrylic Gesso primer can easily be applied with a brush or squeeqee to ensure your painting is not accidentally altered by impurities on the canvas.

Give these five acrylic painting tips a try today. You’ll be amazed at what you can create!

 

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