How To Paint With Acrylics

  • December 14, 2009
  • 2,701 Views
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Follow these tips to create your own personal masterpiece.

You Will Need

  • A painting surface
  • Acrylic paint
  • Brushes
  • Gesso
  • Fine sandpaper
  • A medium
  • A pallet knife
  • A fan brush
  • Miscellaneous tools
How To Paint With Acrylics: Choose a surface

Step 1: Choose a surface

Choose a surface for your painting. Canvas is the most common, but wood, masonite, and many others are also used.

How To Paint With Acrylics: Pick your colors

Step 2: Pick your colors

Choose only a few colors, mixing them for countless shades.

How To Paint With Acrylics: Buy basic brushes

Step 3: Buy basic brushes

Buy a few basic brushes: a large gesso brush to prepare canvas, a fine round brush for detailed work, and a flat inch-wide brush.

Splurge for better brushes. Cheap ones tend to shed hair.

How To Paint With Acrylics: Prepare the canvas

Step 4: Prepare the canvas

Prepare your surface with gesso to make it smooth. Apply an even layer and let it dry. Lightly sand and repeat until your desired smoothness is achieved.

How To Paint With Acrylics: Use a medium to dilute acrylic

Step 5: Use a medium to dilute acrylic

Use a medium, such as a gel retarder or gesso primer, and water to dilute acrylic paint. It will help prevent cracking, and your painting will last longer.

Mediums also add texture to your acrylics.

How To Paint With Acrylics: Add to your collection

Step 6: Add to your collection

Add a palette knife, fan brush, and other tools to your collection to create your personal style.

Did you know? Medieval gesso was a mixture of plaster of paris, white lead, and red clay for color.

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