8 Things To Do When Using Acrylic Paints
Acrylic paint is celebrated for its versatility, quick-drying properties, and vibrant colors. This painting medium is favored by both novice and seasoned artists. However, understanding some critical aspects of acrylic paint can significantly enhance your beach wall art hanging, regardless of your skill level.
Enhance Your Acrylic Painting Experience
Acrylic paint offers unique characteristics that can either work to your advantage or present challenges, depending on your approach. The following tips are designed to help you make the most of acrylic paint’s properties and simplify your painting process.
1. Always Start with Gesso
Before you begin painting with acrylics, it’s crucial to apply a layer (or multiple layers) of gesso. Gesso acts as a primer, creating a textured surface that helps the paint adhere better and prevents it from being absorbed into the canvas. Even if you’re using a pre-primed canvas, applying additional layers of gesso ensures a consistent and smooth painting surface. Sanding between layers with fine-grit sandpaper can further refine the texture.
2. Apply Ground Color Immediately After Gesso
After your final layer of gesso is applied, it’s beneficial to paint your ground color while the gesso is still slightly wet. This practice helps to create a cohesive base layer that can affect the overall tone and vibrancy of your painting. Depending on your palette, choose a warm ground color for cooler tones and a cool ground color for warmer tones to enhance the contrast and depth in your artwork.
3. Moisten the Back of Your Canvas
If you’re working on a stretched canvas rather than a canvas board, dampening the back of your canvas can help keep the front surface moist and workable for longer periods. This technique aids in blending and prevents the paint from drying too quickly. Use a spray bottle filled with distilled or boiled tap water to avoid hard water stains and maintain an even moisture level.
4. Use Two Pots of Water
Acrylic paint is water-soluble, making it easy to thin and clean brushes with water. To prevent contamination of your paint colors, use two pots of water: one for cleaning your brushes and another for wetting them. This method ensures that dirty water doesn’t introduce unwanted pigments into your paint, helping you maintain color purity in your artwork.
5. Keep Your Brushes Out of the Pot
To maintain the shape and longevity of your brushes, avoid leaving them submerged in water for extended periods. Prolonged exposure to water can cause the bristles to become misshapen and the glue binding them to loosen. Instead, clean your brushes thoroughly and lay them flat to dry after each use.
6. Wet Your Palette
Acrylic paint dries quickly, which can be advantageous or frustrating, depending on your working style. To extend the paint’s working time, lightly mist your palette with water or use a wet palette. A wet palette keeps your paints moist and workable for longer periods, allowing for more leisurely and detailed work sessions. If a wet palette isn’t available, consider using an acrylic retarder to slow down the drying process without compromising paint adhesion.
7. Have Acrylic Extender Ready
Mixing acrylic paints to achieve the perfect shade can be challenging if you need to replicate the exact proportions. An acrylic extender, which acts like colorless paint, can help you create more of the same color without altering its properties. Acrylic extenders also come in various forms, such as matte medium and gloss medium varnish, allowing you to adjust the sheen of your paint as needed.
8. Clean Your Brushes Thoroughly After Use
Proper brush care is essential for maintaining their performance and longevity. Always clean your brushes immediately after use to prevent acrylic paint from drying on the bristles, which can cause permanent damage. Even if the brush appears clean, residual pigment can remain hidden within the bristles. Use soap to thoroughly clean each brush, rinse well, and dry them gently with a paper towel before storing them flat.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you can optimize your acrylic painting process, whether you’re a beginner exploring this medium for the first time or an experienced artist looking to refine your technique. Understanding how to prepare your canvas, maintain your tools, and manage your paint’s properties will help you achieve more consistent and professional results in your modern coastal wall art.