How to Paint With Acrylic

Acrylic paints have a number of benefits and advantages surrounding them. They are easy to use, less costly, versatile and a fast drying paint medium. One can achieve different and varied effects while painting with acrylic paints. Acrylic paints are best recommended for amateurs or beginners in the world of painting. Let us have a look at the following guide which can help in knowing more about the method of painting with acrylics.

1. First of all, start by choosing the surface on which you wish to paint your acrylic colors. Surfaces can range from a canvas to paper. Acrylic paints can also be used on plane surfaces like cardboard, wood and pottery.
2. After having chosen on the surface, you shall have to decide whether you want a transparent or an opaque medium of the paint. Acrylics are capable of being either of them according to your choice. It is worth mentioning here that transparent mediums allow light to shine through them which in turn bounces off the surface beneath for special effects. On the other hand opaque mediums of acrylic paints cover the surface completely.
3. The next step after choosing the medium is to take the paint out from its tube and mix it in water. Acrylic paints have the ability to dissolve completely in water. These paints can also move very easily and smoothly when they are wet. If you want them to move easily, then add a little amount of water to the paints but if you wish to use them as water colors then you have to add a lot of water.
4. There are numerous benefits if acrylic paints are used as water colors. They can be transparent which will make them to allow highlights from any background of light. As watercolors, they can also be layered upon one another for blending purposes. Lastly, adding lots of water to the acrylic paints can make them to be used as glaze.
5. If you want to create the look of an oil painting, the use the acrylic paints straight out of its tube. Its thick texture helps in recreating the feel of an oil painting. It’s fast drying and low cost qualities make it a superior substitute of oil paints with absolutely no compromise in the effects section.
6. As acrylic paints dry at a brisk pace, you will have to work quickly for its blending. Incase you want to extend the work time, you can always mix the acrylic paints with a slow dry medium which can be bought from any art supplies stores easily. You do not have to worry at all about the paint becoming thin after using the slow dry medium. But mixing water with acrylics will surely make them thin along with extending the work time. Incase you are painting on a paper, it is best advised to wet the paper instead of the paint. This will increase the drying time without thinning the paint much.

Watch a video instruction on how to  paint with acrylic

See also

How to Paint Ocean

How to Paint Water

How to Paint Fire

How to Paint Brick