home Tile

Acrylic paints use. Acrylic paints. Benefits, composition, application. Acquisition of base and brushes for acrylic painting

Increasingly used in decorative and applied finishing works ah due to significant advantages over other types of paints and varnishes.

Main advantages:

1. acrylic paints can be used on almost all surfaces, excluding some types of plastics;

2. dry quickly, becoming insoluble both in water and in many solvents;

3. environmentally friendly - they have a low odor, do not irritate the respiratory tract, and therefore it is comfortable and safe to work with them;

4. have increased resistance to external influences, do not fade over time, they can be used in rooms with high humidity;

5. versatile and multifaceted - used in many ways, perfectly combined with other materials, suitable for outdoor and indoor work.

Acrylic paints are successfully used for a wide range of finishing works, both traditional and modern, due to their high consumer properties.

They are excellent for design, decorating, restoration, arts and crafts, finishing interior details and facade elements. Acrylic paints from TAIR are suitable for both professional and amateur work.

Composition acrylic paints

Before use, the paint must be mixed and, if necessary, diluted with water (or thinner) to the desired consistency;

Acrylic paints are applied by brush, roller or spray;

All work is carried out at a temperature not lower than 10 °C;

Brushes, tools, containers, stains are cleaned with water before paint dries.

Acrylic paints dry quickly in the air. Keep them tightly closed! Dried acrylic paints can be removed with Acrylic Paint Thinner.

You can buy acrylic paints in our online store. We offer several varieties:

Artistic acrylic paints "Acryl-Art" - thick semi-gloss paints with a traditional palette.

"Acryl-Hobby" - inexpensive bright paints with a matte surface after drying (+ several metallic colors).

"Decolor" artistic - thick colors with metallic and pearl shades.

"Decolor" decorative - viscous, highly opaque paints with metallic shades.

"Chameleon" - viscous iridescent paints with interference pigments.

Fabric dyes - dyes for dyeing natural fabrics.

"Acryl-Hobby De Luxe" - viscous paints in pastel shades.

Acrylic paints for drawing are a universal option: they can be painted on a wide variety of surfaces.

Paper, cardboard, glass, wood, plastic, canvas and even metal - all these materials are great for painting and decorative work with acrylic paints. Great creative space, the ability to realize their ideas and fantasies - that's why many people fell in love with this type of paint.

For drawing with them, both natural and synthetic brushes are suitable, as well as a palette knife and, if the paints are properly diluted with water, an airbrush. For those who have already painted with gouache or watercolor, painting with acrylic paints will be as easy as shelling pears. If you purchase a set of acrylic paints for drawing, you will get a number of advantages over other types of paints: they do not spread, do not fade, do not crack and dry quickly.

If you learn to paint with acrylic paints, you can achieve excellent results. For example, if you mix paint with water, you can achieve the effect of watercolor. If you use a palette knife or a coarse bristly brush to draw, then there will be the effect of a picture painted oil paint. So, let's talk about the process itself in more detail.

Working condition of the paint.
Due to the fact that acrylic paints for painting dry incredibly quickly, you should squeeze them out of the tube very little at a time. And you should definitely buy a spray gun to moisten the paint if you use a regular, non-wet palette.

Wipe your brush.
Every time you wash the brushes, wipe them with a cloth or paper towel. In this case, the drops flowing from the brush will not fall on the drawing and leave ugly streaks on it.

Color transparency.
If you paint with acrylic paints in a thick layer directly from the tube or only slightly dilute them with water on the palette, then the color will be saturated and opaque. And if you dilute it with water, then the transparency of the color will be the same as that of watercolors.

Difference between acrylic wash and watercolor wash.
Unlike watercolor wash, acrylic wash dries quickly, fixes to the surface and becomes insoluble. And this allows you to apply new layers on the dried layers, without fear of damaging the previous ones.

Glaze.
If glazing is needed in several translucent layers, then the layers must be applied very thinly so that the lower layer is visible. That is, acrylic paint must be applied to the surface very carefully, evenly, thinly.

Fluidity.
Fluidity can be improved so that the color intensity does not change, it is possible with a special thinner, but not with water.

Color mixing.
Since acrylic paints dry very quickly, the colors need to be mixed quickly. If mixing takes place not on a palette, but on paper, it is worth moistening it first - this will increase the speed.

Edge sharpness.
To make the corners sharp and sharply defined, you can stick a masking masking tape on the dried paint without harm to the drawing. But you need to make sure that the edges fit snugly. Also, don't draw too fast around the edges of the tape.

In order to give the canvas whitenessy, it should be covered with an acrylic primer.

But if there is a desire to give the work a contrast , then you can use a dark acrylic emulsion. The primer can be applied with a brush in one or two coats. But if the surface is large, then this is not very convenient. The canvas should be placed horizontally and the primer should be poured onto it, while distributing it with a scraper in a thin layer over the entire area of the canvas.

Proper lighting for working with acrylic paints, skillful organization of the workplace has a positive effect on the creative process.

It is worth following some rules in order to work more comfortably and faster. Lighting should be even and diffused, the same throughout the entire work process. The light should be to the left of the canvas and in no case should it blind the creator.

PECULIARITIES

Acrylic paints were invented as an alternative to oils. Acrylic paint is based on an acrylic resin dispersion, which is a mixture of water and partially polymerized acrylic resin. By itself, it is colorless, with a high degree adhesion to any non-greasy substrates, fairly hard and shiny. After the water has dried (at normal conditions this happens relatively quickly, especially in thin layers of paint), the individual particles of acrylic resin are bonded, and the pictorial image is no longer water-dilutable or soluble, like oil painting. Solubility in water exists only in the presence of an aqueous dispersion. This should be remembered when cleaning brushes. We must not allow the paint to dry on them, because then it is impossible to dissolve it.

Paint is produced, as a rule, in the form of a thick suspension, therefore it holds a smear well, therefore, it can be used in the “oil” technique. The advantages of using acrylic are lower cost, faster drying, allowing layer after layer to be applied. The disadvantage is that after drying, this paint can no longer be washed off. However, before drying, it can be diluted with both special thinners and plain water, which allows you to work in the "watercolor" technique. Acrylic can also be used in mixed media, along with other types of paints. For example, some artists use it as a primer; others are for underpainting. Quick-drying paint that adheres well to any surface, gives a lot of opportunities for creativity.
However, not only classical painting is the main scope of acrylic paints. In the West, they are mainly used for hobbies. Since different types of acrylic fit well on almost any surface, they are used for painting glass, ceramics, plastic, stone. This type of paint is suitable for decorating rooms, painting walls and windows. At home, such paints are used for painting dishes, wooden crafts, - that is, for any hobby in which you need to paint something.

Acrylic paints Koh-I-Noor

The main production area of Koh-I-Noor are dry artistic means, such as pastels and charcoals, slates and sanguines, which have a century-long tradition. In the means for painting, the company has a tradition of "only" half a century; the quality of the products meets the highest standard, the products are intended for both amateur artists and professional artists. Acrylic paints, both basic and low-filled, are currently produced in 37 color shades, and the color scale continues to expand. An integral part of the designation of these colors is, of course, guaranteed light fastness. Paints are available in metal tubes of 40 ml, or in plastic tubes of 250 ml, or in plastic jars 500 ml. The paint is produced under the designation Acrylic. As an option, the firm supplies the acrylic thinner itself, which can also be used as a final surface finish to achieve a sheen.

Acrylic from the plant "Gamma"

Acrylic paints produced by Gamma are an alternative to oil and can be used both in impasto painting and as watercolors.
Decorative acrylic paints produced by Gamma differ from similar products in their versatility. In addition, acrylic fluorescent paints for children's creativity are produced. Fluorescent acrylic has bright unique colors and is designed for decorative work. The paints themselves are bright, but transparent, so it is recommended to apply them on a light surface, or use white decorative acrylic as a primer. They can be applied to any surface previously cleaned of dust and grease: cardboard, paper, plaster, fabric, glass, metal, leather. On the this moment Gamma produces nineteen regular colors and six fluorescent colors. Decorative paints are produced in two types of packaging - large cans (250 ml) and in sets (each package - 75 ml). The company's specialists recommend taking small tubes with you to the open air - their packaging is better suited for transportation than large bottles. The latter are more appropriate for studio work - they are economical, the paint does not dry out in them, it is convenient to squeeze it out of the can onto the palette.
Fluorescent paints are available only in sets of six 7.5 ml jars, as they are used mainly either by children who do not use paint on an industrial scale, or in design work ah, but also a little.

Assortment of acrylic paints ZHK

The assortment of the “Artistic Paints Plant” includes artistic and decorative acrylic for any surface. The main qualities of acrylic are ease of use, compatibility with other materials and versatility.
Artistic acrylic paints are more matte and thicker than decorative ones. Due to the consistency of matte acrylic, you can work both in case and in the glazing technique. Decorative acrylic, unlike artistic acrylic, forms a glossy surface when dried. This property makes it possible to solve precisely decorating tasks, and therefore glossy acrylic is in demand in interior design, in the field of arts and crafts, among glass, ceramics, and theater artists. These acrylic paints occupy the middle price segment and at the same time have a quality that is not inferior to the most popular foreign analogues.

Mother-of-pearl acrylic from the Luch plant

Since 2001, the Yaroslavl chemical plant "Luch" has been producing mother-of-pearl acrylic, which is distinguished by pastel colors with a characteristic mother-of-pearl effect. These paints are not transparent, they can be diluted with water to the desired consistency, and also dry quickly, and after drying the paint is not washed off. Their main focus is the use in children's creativity for coloring crafts, postcards. For young sculptors, this is a real find, as figures made of gypsum, clay, salt dough or plasticine, painted with mother-of-pearl paints, do not lose their brightness over time, acrylic does not crumble or peel off. These paints are non-toxic and do not contain solvents. Paints fit well on any surface, they can be used to draw on paper, cardboard, glass, wood, ceramics, porcelain and other materials. Mother-of-pearl acrylic can be used to colorfully decorate an advertisement, a stand or a visual aid at school.
The assortment of the enterprise includes two sets of acrylic paints: three and five colors, each of which has a unique colors. The three-color set features blue, gold, and pink tones, while the five-color set includes lemon, scarlet, emerald, brown, and purple. Paints are produced in convenient plastic jars with a capacity of 20 cm3.
Acrylic mother-of-pearl paints can also be used for design work, they dry faster than gouache, leave an elastic, water-resistant film, and after drying, the color of the paints becomes deeper. Tempera lovers can also recommend mother-of-pearl acrylic, since these paints are close to each other in their properties, but acrylic paints are superior to tempera ones in a number of properties and retain their qualities much better during storage. Possessing a number of advantages over other means of painting, mother-of-pearl acrylic can be used both independently and in mixed media in combination with pencils, watercolors, gouache, and tempera.

Characteristics of acrylic paints produced by "Tair"

Acrylic paints produced by "Tair" are water-borne, viscous, soft opaque paints based on acrylic resin, which do not contain harmful substances and pigments with heavy metals.
The paints have a low odor and dry by evaporating water, becoming water resistant. Their paint layer is elastic, mechanically strong and durable. They are resistant to weathering, do not turn yellow and do not age. They have bright saturated colors and a silky surface. After drying, they do not form cracks and do not wrinkle. These paints have excellent "adhesion" to almost all grease-free substrates. Dry within one hour. They can be mixed with each other in any ratio, as well as with gouache and tempera paints. Resistant to turpentine, gasoline, alcohol and white spirit.
Perfect for designers and decorators, for easel and wall painting, for professionals and amateurs, for theater artists. Suitable substrates for acrylic paints are: paper, cardboard, fiberboard, chipboard, primed canvas, fabric, glass, plastic, primed metal, concrete, brick, plaster, natural stone, plaster. Used indoors and outdoors.
Decorative acrylic paint popular and widely known trademark"Decolor" are made from the best pigments imitating noble and non-ferrous metals. The richest palette of 36 colors and shades allows you to cover all types of finishes known today using precious and non-ferrous metals. "Decolor" is an exclusive product that has no analogues of Russian production. Compared to imported paints, "Decolor" is not inferior to them in quality, but compares favorably with the price.
A group of acrylic paints for painting works is represented by paints well-known brand"Acryl-Art" - the first acrylic paints for painting in Russia. The Acryl-Art color palette contains 56 bright saturated colors.

Acrylic paints produced by Olki

Artistic acrylic paints "Olki Art" are designed for traditional painting on the ground, cardboard, any kind of paper. They can work in different techniques (oil, watercolor, tempera) depending on the needs of the artist, and such paint properties as light resistance and elasticity greatly expand its capabilities. The quick drying of the paint allows you to even combine techniques using different types colors. If you dilute the paint (with a special thinner or just with water), then you can work in the watercolor technique, moreover, when applying several layers of paint, the lower one will not be blurred by the upper one. The series consists of twelve colors.
Acrylic paints for design and arts and crafts are intended for painting wooden, leather, plaster surfaces, as well as some types of plastics, stone and many others. The paints do not contain organic solvents, and after drying they give a durable waterproof film. After drying, the color of the paint darkens somewhat. This series consists of 19 colors.
Paints for painting fabrics can be used in different techniques - from cold batik to screen printing. The series consists of 16 colors.
Acrylic paints for glass painting are designed for making stained-glass windows, Christmas decorations, porcelain painting and glazed and unglazed ceramics. Available in a set of six colors.

The range of imported paints of the company "Chernaya Rechka"

The company "Chernaya Rechka" presents on the Russian market acrylic paints produced by the Italian company Maimeri in three series - Brera Acrylic, Polycolor and Start.
The paints are made from a mixture of acrylic resins in water emulsion, combined with the best pigments on the market and other substances that emphasize the quality characteristics of the paints and protect them from the harm of atmospheric, chemical and physical influences.
Brera Acrylic paints are universal. They can freely mix with each other. The gamma consists of 93 colors, 20 of which are specially designed for overflows, rainbows, metallic sheen.
Polycolor thin acrylic paints are based on pigments of increased lightfastness mixed with acrylic emulsion, which lie on any substrate and form a strong and elastic film. They are particularly suitable for work that will be outdoors. The gamut has recently been expanded to 48 colors. Currently there are also seven metallic colors. Due to their versatility and dense juicy consistency, Polycolor acrylic paints have long been recognized by artists.
Start is a specially designed scale to facilitate the work of those who take the first steps in this writing technique. Paints are prepared on the basis of pigments with bright and light tones. Due to the soft, creamy consistency, the paints easily lay down on any base. All colors mix freely with each other. Can be used for work that will be outdoors.

Acrylic factory Ferrario

TrestSpetsBumSnab presents Acrilic School acrylic paints on the Russian market. This paint is ideal for artists, hobbyists and schoolchildren. The characteristics of this paint are as follows: fast drying, good lightfastness, excellent application on surfaces, flexibility (elasticity), brightness (luminosity), insolubility with water and oils. Acrilic School includes 24 colors that can support watercolor, gouache and oil painting effects.
The Apa Color series of matt acrylic paints includes 51 tones, including 9 metallics, which can all be mixed and layered. The main characteristics of these products are the breadth of application and the excellent quality-price ratio. The series is suitable for everyone who uses acrylic paints a lot, namely: for artists, students, decorators and designers, it is also suitable for small touch-ups and modeling. Apa Color acrylic paints can be applied by brush, trowel, roller, airbrush and spray gun. They adhere strongly to any non-greasy surface and remain highly elastic, even when applied thickly. The binder is a finely ground, non-yellowing acrylic resin diluted in an aqueous emulsion with pure pigments. highest quality, both natural and synthetic, which provide good light fastness and purity of tones. All colors have a pleasant matte and covering effect. Inflicted in pure form or diluted with water, they dry for a short time. The Apa Color series is packaged in convenient transparent plastic packages that allow you to see the paint.

The Cril Color series of thin acrylic paints is available in a range of 56 tones, including 6 metallic tones, all of which can be mixed with each other. Thanks to the rationalization of production and the careful selection of acrylic resins and pigments, the Ferrario factory was able to launch a series of highly competitive quality professional paints on the market. Cril Color series paints are bright, light fast, elastic and have excellent fixation on non-greasy surfaces. Suitable for both brush and trowel application, even in large coats, Cril Colors are ideal for artists, hobbyists and students.

Today on the Internet you can find a lot of different information about how, of course, the approach to work for each artist may differ from each other. And every way of drawing will be correct!

Nevertheless, I also decided to make my tiny contribution to the "cobweb of the Internet", as I work with this type of paint, along with traditional oil and lacquer stained glass paints. You can see my paintings in different execution techniques in

The whole complexity of writing with acrylic paints lies precisely in the details. General principles the application of these paints and their combinations differ little from oil. But nevertheless, mixing, applying them to the surface, as well as transparent glazing are somewhat specific. Previously, I wrote in painting.

For those who are just looking at acrylic and trying to draw for the first time, it is useful to take the first steps according to a well-established technique. That's why this article came up: I will tell you in it how to paint with acrylic paints so as to take into account their main features. This is of course not an absolute rule, since any painting is a whole living world and accordingly, improvisation in art is only welcome.

Two acrylic sketches

In the photo, I choose one of the acrylic sketches for further work on oil on canvas.
In the art of music, most likely there would be no jazz if it were not for the virtuoso musical improvisation of the musicians. By the way, did you know that many musicians have shown talent in the visual arts as well? Take an interest and see for yourself the talent

In the future, if you decide to continue working with them, you will already be able to experiment with certain subtleties, improvising and creating your own music on canvas! So let's go...

Getting started: preparing a palette, brushes and paints

You can draw with acrylic paints on cardboard, on thick paper intended for acrylic, but it’s better, of course, a suitable canvas is suitable for acrylic painting. Therefore, painting with acrylic paints on canvas will be the right decision!

If you're not ready to paint on canvas right now, start simple with acrylic paper, with canvas structure. You can later stick such work on thick cardboard, hardboard or canvas. And as they say, framed and on the wall!

Accessories before you start painting with acrylics

Already at the stage of preparation for work, it is necessary to take into account the main features of acrylic paints.

First feature: they dry very quickly, both on the palette and on the canvas. Therefore, to prepare paints, you must either use a special palette, or constantly keep them in a semi-liquid state. If you decide to apply masks pasty or with a palette knife, then this feature will only help you.

How long does acrylic paint dry?

Everything directly depends on the thickness of the stroke, the thinner it is, the faster the acrylic dries! If in acrylic painting the drying speed confuses you, and you do not dare to try them in your work because of this, then do not worry. Today on the Art space appeared special means - drying retarders.

Retarders for acrylic painting

They dilute acrylic paint and it will not dry for hours on the palette, remaining in the right consistency. On canvas it also dries with a noticeable slowdown.

Second feature: acrylic paints after drying slightly darken, fade by about a ton or two. Therefore, initially we select them so that in the working form they are a tone or two lighter than we need in the picture. This is especially important if you are finishing where a smear has already been placed. That is, one stroke over dry paint will be visible ... try it and you will understand for yourself.

Sketch with acrylic paints

The photo above shows an example of a previously made sketch with acrylic paints. This sketch was prepared before the main work - painting on the wall. The drawing must be clear and correctly written. Therefore, the image on the wall must match the sketch, as there will be an exact repetition, only on a larger scale.

Pay attention to the transition from light to dark in the arch opening .... This effect can be achieved by glazing, as if transparently overlapping with one paint from above.

The picturesque colorful layer is the main thing in painting, so we start work with the choice of colors and shades of your future composition. As a rule, novice artists simply take the colors of paints that they have in the kit, that is, in tubes. And if you need colors that are not in the tube? Here the ability to mix colors comes to the rescue, to get a new shade. After all, it is by mixing that we get new interesting color variations!

The richness of shades is obtained by mixing

Glazing with acrylic paints- a separate issue. If you are just learning acrylic, then paint with independent, dense tones, just get used to the colors and their features. Once you've mastered the basics, you'll be able to play around with creating translucent blister layers.

Below in the photo from left to right: the usual method of applying paint, the second option is the postose technique, the third is a light watercolor-lisser technique.

Examples of paintings in different acrylic techniques

Important feature: with each stroke, try to form those contours that you want to see in final version. Acrylic paints dry in just a few minutes and it may turn out that when you want to finalize the contour, it will already dry and fade, and the new layer on top will contrast with it and prevent you from correctly evaluating the intermediate version.

It is desirable, of course, to immediately outline the contours of objects with contrasting edges. This will make it easier to draw each individual one.

Another caveat: the brush needs to be washed frequently, especially when drawing very fine details. For example, animal hair, grass, small stones require very thin brush strokes. If it sticks to the brushes a large number of paint and it dries up, then the hairs stick together and the strokes become thicker and rougher. They fail to create the desired structure.

In one day or evening, it is desirable to complete one complete independent element, at least one of its layers. Then, after drying the next day, you can start with a new element and not puzzle over whether the part completed today will contrast with the one you wrote yesterday.

Painting with acrylics on canvas

On a note

Remember that acrylic paints are practically not washed off clothes. Therefore, it is advisable to write with them in a durable apron or work robe.

This may be your first acrylic painting and it doesn't have to be perfect. Its task is to let you understand how to work with acrylic correctly, how it lays down on canvas or paper, how long it takes to dry, and what result you get when applying it.

When you write it, you will already understand what caused certain shortcomings, and in the next works you will be able to avoid these mistakes. That's why feel free to write, evaluate the result, draw conclusions and improve. Perhaps it is acrylic that will help you to fully reveal your creative potential!

For those who want to improve and want to go further, I offer a complete video course, a guide on the example of a painting in modern style. Video is the most convenient way to learn, in my opinion. Lesson announcement 📌

Friends, so that the article does not get lost among the many similar ones, save it to your bookmarks. It will always be at your fingertips at the right time.

Ask your questions below in the comments, I usually answer all questions quickly

Acrylics are relatively easy to work with and dry quickly to form a water-resistant finish. Acrylic paints are very versatile and can be used to create many different visual textures and effects. But before you start drawing, you need to prepare everything necessary materials, create a contour sketch of the image, and only then move on to drawing smaller details. Once you've learned the basics of working with acrylics, you'll be able to move on to more advanced painting techniques such as layering colors and dotted lines.

Steps

Acquisition of base and brushes for acrylic painting

As simple option basics choose a primed canvas on a stretcher. If you are an aspiring artist, canvas will be the best material for you as a base. Canvas can be made from cotton or linen and sold in various forms, for example, on a stretcher and without it. Canvas on a stretcher is firmly fixed on a wooden frame of a certain size. Canvas without a stretcher is usually sold not in pieces of ready-made sizes, but per meter from a roll (like regular fabric).

The primed canvas is coated with a special primer that improves the adhesion of the paint to the fabric. If you don't want to purchase primed canvas, you can purchase unprimed canvas and a tube of Gesso primer. Before you start painting, coat the canvas with a coat of primer and let it dry.
In art and craft stores, you can find ready-made canvases in various sizes, both with and without a stretcher. Take a close look at your choices to find the shape and size of canvas that best suits what you have in mind to paint.

If you plan to paint with acrylics diluted in water, opt for thick watercolor paper. If you like the effect of watercolor painting but love using acrylic paints, try using thick watercolor paper, which is suitable for painting with thinned acrylic. Watercolor paper will cost less than canvas on a stretcher, especially if you do not rule out that your first works will not be very successful and go straight to the trash.
- Thick watercolor paper can be found in stationery and craft stores.
- Keep in mind that thin paper can ripple and warp from water-diluted acrylic paints.
Choose 8-10 colors of artistic acrylic paints. Unlike student acrylics, art acrylics contain richer pigments and come in a wide variety of colors. If you are just getting started with painting, 8-10 colors will be enough. Choose one tube of base colors (blue, yellow and red) and 5-7 additional colors that you like to paint with. For example, you can take the following colors:
- the black;
- purple or pink;
- Brown;
- green;
- White.
Buy 5-8 art brushes to paint in different styles. If you paint with only one brush, it will be difficult to achieve the full variety of visual effects that can be created with acrylic paints. Therefore, buy several brushes of different styles at once. Below is a list of the most common types of acrylic brushes:
- round brushes (for drawing lines and details);
- flat brushes (for creating large bold strokes and painting over large areas);
- fan brushes (for mixing paints and blurring borders);
- flat, shortened brushes (for working close to the canvas and creating clear, thick strokes);
- flat beveled brushes (for painting corners and drawing small details).
Acrylic paint basics

Squeeze a very small amount of acrylic paint onto the palette at a time. Even a small amount of paint is enough for a lot, so to get started, squeeze a strip of paint only about 5 mm long from the tube. Prepare in this way 4-6 colors of paints with which you are going to work. Distribute them at some distance from each other along the perimeter of the palette.
- This will allow you to leave room for subsequent mixing and testing of color combinations in the center of the palette.
First, with large brushes, draw the outlines of the objects that you want to portray. Starting to paint with acrylic paints, use large flat brushes to draw the outlines of large objects on the canvas. For example, if you are painting a mountain landscape, start by drawing clear outlines of the mountain peaks.
- You may find it more convenient to use matte, opaque colors to create outlines. Then, when you draw the details, you can already work with more transparent colors.
Use small brushes to paint details. When you have finished working on the general contours of the drawing, pick up smaller brushes. Use them to add detail to an image. Try different spiky brushes to create lines of varying thicknesses and visual effects on your canvas.
- For example, after creating the outlines of large mountain peaks, use a small, pointed brush to fill in the drawing with such details as freestanding trees, a lake and tourists on its shore.
Spray the palette with water every 10-15 minutes while you work. Acrylic paints dry quickly and become more difficult to work with. To keep your paints in optimal condition, spray them with water from a spray bottle to prevent them from drying out and hardening prematurely on the palette or canvas. Be aware that after drying, it is no longer possible to remove acrylic paint from the surface.
- Keep a small spray bottle of water handy.
Rinse the brush old paint before moving on to the new color. To wash off the paint from the brush, hold its bristles under running tap water. Or just rinse the brush in a glass of water. It won't give different colors mix in an unnecessary way on the brush itself. After rinsing the brush in water, blot it with a clean cloth to prevent streaks from further painting.
- If you do not remove the remaining water from the handle of the brush, drops can accidentally fall on the canvas and leave behind blots of soaked paint.
Let the leftover paint dry before throwing it away. Don't wash your palette as acrylic paint can clog sewer pipes. As a palette, it is better to use a disposable plastic plate, and after work, wait for the paint residue on it to dry. Then you can simply carefully remove a layer of completely dried paint from the plate.
- Alternatively, you can not throw away the dried paint, but next time apply fresh wet paint directly on top of the old one.

Various drawing techniques

Mix different paints with a palette knife to get new color combinations. Artists rarely use acrylic paints in their original form directly from the tube. To get the paint of the color you want, drop two drops of paint of different colors into the center of the palette and mix them with a palette knife or brush. This will allow you to get rich new shades of color to give your painting a unique look.

While working, it is a good idea to use a color wheel to mix colors. For example, mixing red and yellow paint will give you a bright orange color. If you then add dark green paint there, you get a rich brown color.

Lighten paint by adding water. If you use acrylic paint directly from the tube, it will be thick and opaque. To make the paint more transparent, put a drop of paint on the palette and add some water. The more water you add, the more transparent the color will be. Use transparent tones to create a watercolor or airbrush effect.

When mixing acrylic paint from a tube with water, add no more than 20% of water to it (of the volume of the paint itself). If more than 20% water is used, the binding agents in the paint that cause it to stick to the surface can break down and the paint will peel off the canvas when it dries.

Mix acrylic paints with varnish or texture pastes to change their texture. If you use acrylic paints exclusively in the form in which they are presented in tubes, your painting will receive a soft, uniform texture. Mixing acrylic paints with various additives allows you to change them appearance on canvas. Therefore, try adding materials such as varnish or texture paste to the paints when dissolving. In general, diluting the paint with other substances allows it to give it a more transparent, watery appearance after drying. Look for a variety of varnishes and texture pastes at an art supply store.

Layer 2 or 3 coats of paint in different colors on top of each other to create extra texture. Instead of mixing colors on a palette, stack them on top of each other right on the canvas for a unique layering effect. Apply as many coats of paint as you like, just remember that darker colors override lighter shades. For example, try painting a flower with red, pink, and blue layers to create petals.

Give each coat of paint enough time to dry before covering it with another coat. Thin coats will dry in 30 minutes and thick coats may take over an hour to dry.

To create a bubbling effect, apply paint with the corner of a sponge. Dip the corner of the sponge into the acrylic paint of your choice. Then gently press this corner to the canvas. Also try smearing the paint on the canvas with a sponge for a different visual effect. A layer of paint applied with the edge of a sponge will contain many holes, allowing the color of another paint or the canvas itself to show through.

For example, you can apply paint with a sponge when depicting water bodies to give them a more realistic texture.
Combine this technique with layering paint to effectively combine several of its tones at once.
If you want to try painting with a variety of sponges, be aware that you can find different textures of sponges in art supply stores.