Acrylic Decorative Painting

Painting with acrylic paint is very versatile. The paints are either tube or jarred acrylic or craft paint. These paints can be found at craft stores and /or art stores. Acrylic paints dry quickly and are easy to use. Paint brushes generally use synthetic hairs and have an easy clean up with soap and water.

What brand of acrylic paint should used- Purchase either tube, jar or craft bottles from either an art store or craft store such as Michael’s.

What colors should be purchase – Most importantly purchase the following: Cadmium Red Medium, Cadmium Yellow Phthalo Blue. These three colors will make every color on the color wheel. Of course having the colors already made is simpler, but more expensive.

What brushes should be purchase – Good brushes are really important to have. If they are taken care of they will last for a reasonable amount time depending on how much you paint and the type painting. Brush sizes are as follows: flat brushes- # ¼”,1/2”,1”; flat # 1”, liner # 2, and an assortment of round, #1/4”, ½”, and 1” filbert and large wash brushes for backgrounds.

Painting Tips:

1. Place a small amount of paint (either tube or bottle) onto your palette. A regular plastic palette or a Sta-Wet pallete works very well with acrylic paints. Always have a spray bottle of water at hand to spray lightly over the paint to keep the paint moist on your palette. Mist regularly.

2. Fill your container with water. As the water becomes murky, pour out the dirty water and refill the water container with fresh water often. Keep folded, single layers of paper towels to blot your wet brush onto the paper towels. This will keep the brushes in good condition as the metal ferule will be kept dry.

3. Acrylic paint is very versatile. The paint can be used lightly or thicker with brushes and palette knives. Mix the acrylic paints with a touch of white to make them more opaque. If the paint is diluted with either glaze or water the colors will become transparent like watercolors.

4. When painting acrylic washes, the wash is permanent and insoluble as soon as it is dry. Subsequent layering of the washes (drying between layers) adds depth to the sheer washes.

5. Transparent acrylic glazes using a glazing medium must be layered between drying time. The more layers, the deeper the depth of color will develop.

6. Mix a Slo-Dri Blending gel medium with acrylic paint to increase the loss of color strength.

7. Work quickly when you are blending colors. It is important to keep your brush damp with a slow drying gel medium. For more transparency add a gel medium as needed.

8. When developing hard edges use 3M Blue 1” masking tape. Acrylic paint colors painted against the tape keeps the paint from leaking beneath the tape edge. When dry carefully remove the blue tape.

9. The surfaces that acrylic paint works well with canvas/canvas board, Clayboard and wood panels.

10. Plastic palette or Stay- Wet palette Palette helps keep the paint moist.

11. Acrylics can be mixed with either water (best on a damp brush) or mediums such as retarders, or glazing medium.

12. Because acrylics dry quickly wash your brushes as soon as you have completed the task at hand…otherwise the paint will begin to dry in the ferule (the metal part that holds the bristles together).

About the Author: Barbara's painting career began almost 30 years agoand has been teaching and lecturing ever since. Barbara's new project is the culmination of years of experience and a desire to bring a fresh look into the world of decorative painting. To that end, Barbara brings you Arte de Soul.