Acrylics are wonderful to paint with because of its' versatility, durability, vibrant colors and ease of use. It's a great choice for the novice to the professional painter. I love how they dry quicker and allow for so much layering of colors. I also like how acrylics can be mixed with a lot of different art mediums, like colored pencil, charcoal, paper and so on, creating some spectacular and original works. However, it does have some disadvantages, such as drying too quickly at the worst time. It can be a real pain when you're wanting to blend colors in larger areas of your canvas and find the paint has already set. So, here are some tips below that I've found...
WHAT DO I DO WITH THE BACKGROUND? Have you ever gotten to a point where you just can’t decide on a background? Should you add more details, use one color or two or even create some abstract design back there? Here are some ideas for you when deciding on what to do in your background. KEEP IT SIMPLE Keep the background simple. Do not add too many details in the background, because having too much “stuff” will distract from the focal point. The focal point area should always be the most detailed while the outer edges are softer and more blurred. Your viewer will want to focus on the more detailed part and give the eye a resting spot. COLOR CHOICES Use only...
Here are a couple of questions from acrylic painters who struggle with color: “I get so frustrated when color mixing and it doesn’t turn out what’s in my mind’s eye. How am I ever going to get it right without wasting paint?” “Is there an existing resource somewhere for how to mix specific paint colors?” “How do I know what color’s work best with each other?” Can you relate? I sometimes have these same issues even after painting for years and years. Here are some tips that have helped me: COLOR MIXING KNOW-HOW: If you want a great resources for helping you mix the color you want, here is a wonderful book: Color Mixing Recipes for Oil & Acrylic: Mixing recipes...
After finishing a painting, the next step is usually photographing it. You may want to share your new work on social media, make prints or even apply for art shows, so it’s important to capture your work accurately. Here are some tips to taking great photos of your art. It’s okay to use your phone camera to photograph your work because today’s phones have come a long way. It’s best to photograph your art in natural light. My favorite spot is placing it on the concrete slab under my carport where there is no direct sunlight. The light is perfectly soft and subtle there. Another option is to place it on a wall near a window and with the...
Flowers and more flowers! That has been my subject for as long as I can remember but my medium and style has changed over time. For many years, I loved painting in watercolor because of the easy flow of the paint and the effects of layering color. The transparency of each layer was like looking through stained glass. For me, this is so beautiful. Within the last five years, I’ve switched to acrylics and found they can be just as transparent when you use professional quality brands, like Golden. I didn’t realize that acrylic paint came in many variations of transparencies. If you look at a tube of artist quality paints, you will see a little square printed on the front. There is a solid box, a...
