13 Acrylic Painting Techniques For Beginners
Intro to Acrylics - The tools and materials
When it comes to using different paint tools for applying acrylic paint, the sky is the
limit. Acrylic paint can be swept with a brush, applied with a knife, dabbed with a
sponge, pressed with a sponge, sprayed with an airbrush…wherever your imagination
and creativity take you!
Another note of caution: Once acrylic has dried, it’s very difficult to remove from a
brush or tool. Prevent any mishaps by leaving your tools in water while working and
rinsing all tools well once you are done. Soap and water should do the job.
Palette
Surfaces are another method to affect the way you use acrylic. From palette (such as
wood), glass, Plexiglas, acrylic and plastic, acrylic palettes work on a variety of
surfaces. The ability to remove dried paint will vary based on the overall smoothness of
the surface. You could also also find disposable artist palettes on the market that can
be discarded after use.
Remember, acrylic paint dries very fast, so it can be challenging to keep the color you
just mixed wet if you want to be able to use it for a few hours. Some artists regularly
spray the paint with water in order to maintain moisture. Another method on the market is a “stay wet”
palette, which includes a system of lids, wet sponges and wet paper, designed to keep the paint moist
for hours.
Support
Acrylic can be painted on many supports, including canvas, wood, artist panels, art boards and paper.
Unless you are buying primed, ready-to-paint canvas, your surface needs to be thoroughly prepared.
Techniques for paint application
The most basic supplies (brush, acrylic paint and paper) can be used in a variety of ways.
1. Dry brush
When paint is applied to canvas or work surface using a dry brush and paint undiluted by water, you’ll
create a strong current of color on the page. Your lines will be uneven, as they won’t have water to
soften the edges, but this can be a purposeful painterly effect. Dry brush application lends texture and
movement to lines.
2. Wash
You can treat acrylic somewhat like watercolor when you dilute the paint with enough water. You can
use the watered down paint to apply translucent washes on your surface. However, unlike watercolor,
the acrylic paint will set permanently. Mixing wash and dry brush methods can be very effective in
creating a variety of textures in a single piece.
3. Stippling
This is a method used in drawing which can also be used with paint (Georges Seurat’s work is a fine
and famous example). Creating an assemblage of tiny dots to create imagery can be an effective way
to show texture and to create a compelling scene with subtle variations in color.
4. Flicking
Using a fairly wet brush, you can flick paint onto a work surface for an uneven splatter effect. It’s
fantastic for creating an abstract landscape or a starry night or for just adding texture to a piece.
5. Dabbing
Using a corner of a sponge or even a piece of paper towel, you can dab on accents of color. Think of
it like very artistic sponge painting. Dabbing adds a lot of texture and movement to a piece. For
instance, on the painting above, dabbing with a sponge perfectly captured the texture and movement
of trees swaying in a light breeze.
6. Detailing
A small, fine brush can be used to apply details, such as the whites of eyes, the glisten on the wing
lines on the leg of a bird.
7. Palette knife
Applying paint with a palette knife is an instant way to make your painting “artsy.” It might seem
intimidating or advanced, but it’s a technique accessible even to beginners. Simply use the
palette knife to scrape up a bit of paint and apply it to your work surface. Pretend that
you’re artfully spreading buttercream on a cake or even butter on bread, and you’ll get the idea
pretty quickly.
Techniques for building a painting
One of the great things about these techniques for building a painting is that they will grow as your
skills develop. Mastering these basic techniques is like laying the groundwork for future paintings.
8. Underpainting
Start your painting by creating a “sketch” of the image in paint. Often this is done in a color that
contrasts with the palette you have in mind for the finished piece. You can paint over the
underpainting entirely using opaque acrylic to cover any evidence of the paint below, or you can let
parts of it shine through for a more dimensional effect.
9. Glazing
By incorporating matte medium into your paint, you can create luminous scenes. The technique is
simple: Mix acrylic paint with a small amount of matte medium and apply the paint in thin layers,
building the color until it creates a rich, complex color.
10. Layering
Layering, which can be combined with either of the two above methods, is simply to paint in layers.
This means that you’ll build the painting from the bottom up. You’ll start by painting big blocks of
color, often as washes, and then adding more and more refinement as you add layers. The technique
is detailed in this post about how to paint a self portrait, but the method could be applied to paint other
subject matter.
11. Paint in blocks of color
This is a fantastic method for beginners. Trace your image, separating each color or tone into
separate shapes. Create a palette, and then paint in the shapes as if it were your own DIY paint by
numbers piece. This is an easy method with monochromatic palettes or can be employed with a
variety of colors, too.
Color mixing techniques:
12. Partially mix colors before painting
Instead of fully mixing the two colors, just give them a brief mix with your palette knife. Then, use the
partially mixed colors to paint. You’ll get a fascinating mingling of colors as you apply the paint to your
work surface.
13. Create a family of colors
Creating a family of colors or tones to work with in a painting can help you create subtle variances in
your painting. Whether it’s slight varieties of skin tones or varying shades of pink, having a family of
tones pre-mixed before you paint can really help streamline the process.
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Then, get creative
While there are a few tried-and-true techniques all beginners should try out, don’t limit yourself to the
basics! Mix and match these methods and techniques, exploring the ways of painting that feel right to
you. As you develop your skills, you’ll notice that your techniques will become refined into your own
unique method of creating art.