Acrylic Painting Techniques
Brief History:
• Acrylic paints, a modern medium which
came into general use in the 1960s, have
become very popular due to their extreme
versatility.
• They are made from pigment, water and an
acrylic binder, which forms a hard, clear film
as the water evaporates. It is this transparent
film, reflecting light from the pigment inside
it, that gives acrylic color its brilliance.
Here are a few tips to help
you get started painting with
acrylics:
1. Acrylics dry relatively quickly, so you don't
have to wait much before painting the next
layers. The film is more flexible than that
of other media and is unlikely to crack.
2. Acrylics are extremely versatile, fast-drying
paints, and can be used straight from the tube
like oils or thinned with water and used like
watercolors.
3. Acrylics are resistant to water once dry, which
means they can be over-painted without
disturbing the previous color. This means that
color cannot be dissolved with a damp brush as
it can with watercolor.
4. Acrylics become darker in tone as they
dry, rather than lighter as with watercolor,
so remember to allow for this effect when
mixing your colors.
5. You can mix acrylics with water and use
them like watercolor, or you can use them
straight from the tube as if they were oil
paints.
6. Since acrylics dry so fast, squeeze only a little
paint out of a tube. Always start with mixing the
lighter color first.
7. 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 use them. This prevents
water drops running down and onto your
painting, making blotches.
8. When an acrylic wash dries, it's permanent and,
unlike a watercolor wash, is insoluble and can
be over-painted without fear of disturbing the
existing wash. The colors of subsequent washes
mix optically with the earlier ones. A watercolor
glaze can be lifted out using water and a cloth.
9. Blending Acrylic Paints. Since acrylics dry
rapidly, you need to work fast if you wish to
blend colors. If you're working on paper,
dampening the paper will increase your working
time.
Procedure:
1. Select a personal “landscape” or “cityscape” image/photograph with a good sense
of vanishing point or perspective.
*Tip: try to choose an image that you can relate to such as a vacation photo, but try to
avoid choosing an image with people in it.
2. Sketch the image onto your sketchbook and plan/test out the colors you would be
using. Your colors must represent one of the following color schemes: Warm
Colors (red, yellow, orange), Cool Colors (blue, green, purple), Complementary
Colors (opposite colors on the color wheel such as red & green), or Monochromatic
Colors (different shades of the same color).
3. Now observe your rough sketch and use your imagination to add a small person or
animal in your work. Tip: What is the theme of your painting? What colors are you
using? You might consider adding a bird if it’s a peaceful theme using cool colors,
or you may want to add a cat on the beach during sunrise using warm colors. Be
creative!
4. Draw the final copy on the paper provided using a HB or 2B pencil. Start your
painting using the techniques learned in class. Mix your colors carefully and
remember to take your time to show details since neatness counts!!!
Acrylic Landscape Paintings