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Painting with Acrylics
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THE NATURE OF ACRYLIC
COLOUR
 Acrylic
colour was created to imitate the qualities of oil colour, but
eliminate the problems of lengthy drying times and the need for
specialist mediums and brush cleaners. It is a water-based medium
which can be used as an oil colour substitute or, by diluting the
colour thinly it is possible to create translucent glazes in the
manner of watercolour. Unlike watercolour, however, acrylic dries
quickly to a tough finish that is no longer water-soluble, so great
care must be taken that brushes are cleaned promptly.
Acrylic colour can be used opaquely – in other words, a light colour is
capable of covering over a darker colour, which is useful for rectifying mistakes.
Like oil colour, it can be applied very thickly to create textured paintings,
and it is this versatility and practicality that has been so attractive to many
modern artists, such as David Hockney, who now often uses acrylic colour in preference
to oil colour.
PREPARATION
Acrylic colour is hard to remove when dry,
so wear old clothing and use a disposable tablecloth. You will also
need an old rag or a kitchen roll, and a large jar of water for cleaning
brushes.
If you are indoors, make sure you have enough natural light to the front or side
of you. Acrylic colour dries quite quickly, so only squeeze out small quantities
of colour at a time. Unlike watercolour, the colour cannot be re-activated once
it has become hard.
COLOUR MIXING
 Knowing
how to mix colours and how much paint to use can only come with experience
and experimentation. Red, Yellow, and Blue are called the Primary Colours.
This means they cannot be mixed from other colours. Your set of colours
can be mixed to form a comprehensive range, but remember that sometimes
it may be necessary to mix 3 or even 4 colours to achieve a result.
Once you have achieved the correct colour, you must then achieve the correct
tone (or shade) i.e. the strength of the colour. Remember that black is not the
only way of darkening a colour. It can make colours look dirty. Try experimenting
with browns and blues. They darken colours in very different ways to black. Conversely,
try lightening colours with yellow or white, or a combination of the two. It
is advisable to make notes to remind you how to achieve various colour mixes.
Experiment on a piece of scrap board by trying to accurately mix the colours
of objects around you. Always mix the colours thoroughly. Try both supplied brushes.
They will make very different types of mark on the board.
Add water to the mix to thin the colour. Remember that Acrylic is capable of
being used thinly like watercolour or opaquely like oil colour. Finally there
are no shortcuts to learning about colour mixing. It is inevitable that you will
make mistakes, but some of them may be happy ones!
COMPOSITION
 Choosing
subject matter is a very personal thing. If you are inexperienced,
avoid complex compositions, you will become frustrated and abandon
the picture! It is better to tackle a simple scene and do it well.
Before committing yourself to paper, consider the scene from different angles
and distances until you settle on the best viewpoint. Work out which section
of the scene you are going to paint and then lightly, with a soft pencil sketch
out the basic lines of the composition. Do not concern yourself with too much
detail at this stage. Correct any mistakes with a soft putty eraser to avoid
tearing the paper surface, and never use an eraser on wet paper.
PAINTING
Whether you are painting a still-life, a
figure or a landscape the same rules apply. The pictures opposite show
how a painting is built up in stages.
| 1. Simple
tonal sketch of the composition in diluted yellow ochre and
brown. Allow to dry. The artist has made a feature of the dramatic
sky by keeping the horizon line low in the composition. The
farm building provides a useful focal point. |
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| 2. The sky
area is blocked in with thicker paint applied with the square
ended brush. A basic mix of blue & white is used for the
sky and yellow and white for the clouds. The darker areas of
sky are created by mixing the blue with a touch of crimson
to make purple, and applied while the other areas of sky are
still wet. Areas of white are also blended into the clouds
to create highlights. The basic underpaint of the path and
grass areas is blocked in with mid green and cream. |
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| 3. The background
trees are created by adding blue with the green mix, giving
the impression of distance. The basic underpaint of the farm
buildings and large tree is added. (It’s advisable to
allow the sky to dry before adding tree detail). |
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| 4. More layers
of tone have been added and the picture is now at full strength.
The medium allows both dark and light areas of detail to be
painted on top of the undercoat, as shown clearly in the foreground
grassy area. As a general rule, undercoat layers should be
thin, with the consistency of the paint increasing for the
top layers. Areas of detail have now been added to the farmhouse
and the large tree. The paint has been scraped on sparsely
to create the broken texture of the tree’s leaves. Finishing
touches are added with a small brush. The picture is impressionist
in style, so no attempt has been made to paint individual leaves
or blades of grass etc. |
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FINISHING TOUCHES
Acrylic paintings can be framed under glass
like watercolours, or without glass in the style of oil paintings,
depending on your personal preference. If you choose glass, it is advisable
to also use a card window-mount, which will prevent the glass pressing
against the picture and causing damage.
CARE OF EQUIPMENT
Acrylic colour must never be allowed to
dry on a brush, as water becomes ineffective once the colour has dried.
Never stand brushes upright in water jars. This ruins the bristles.
Always thoroughly clean brushes in soap and water at the end of the
day and restore their shape before putting them away. Do not contaminate
the purity of your paints by dipping brushes into them, or by using
the wrong tops. Always use the palette for mixing. Make sure the tops
are firmly screwed onto the tubes to avoid drying out. |
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