Acrylic painting is one of the newest painting mediums, being introduced as 'recently' as 1955. These paints have come a long way since then, with an ever-widening range of paints and associated art supplies. If you've ever painted the walls of your home with latex or emulsion paint, you'll have used a very close cousin of the these paints. In fact I use white matt emulsion, tinted with yellow or brown, to put a base coat on the canvasses I prepare for some of my acrylic painting work. The acrylic painting technique offers both the new and experienced artist a very versatile method of painting. It's a water-based medium and the usual texture and consistency is similar to oil paints. However, unlike oils, you can get acrylics in a wide variety of densities (or 'viscosity' as it's sometimes called).These range from a very thin, ink-like consistency able to be used in airbrushes through various degrees of 'flow' to the consistency of soft cream cheese. This allows really heavy 3D (impasto, or paste) effects. And you have the choice of either mixing the paints with the additives to create a solid color throughout the impasto, or letting the impasto dry, then painting over it. Various substances are available to be added to the paint to create all sorts of textures. Or you can use your own, such as plaster or sand, for a further variety of textured effects. All the brands and thicknesses can be thinned back down using water. Some artists actually use thinned down acrylic in a pure 'watercolor' style. Acrylics, although similar in style and finish to oils, gives subtely different but important qualities to your work. Probably, its biggest benefit is its speed of drying. But hold on! I'm getting ahead of myself here... Click on the links below to find a series of articles on paints, brushes, surfaces and additives. Each page is packed with tips that will help the newcomer to acrylic painting get off to the best start. I'll tell you as well how you can save time and money, by using household items instead of searching for those 'must have'expensive accessories the manufacturers would love you to buy!
The process of exploration is one of the most exciting things about acrylic painting. The excitement of a new discovery, and the possibilities for painting it make me jump up and down like a small child (possibly not far from the truth!).
Exploring the world around us allows us to discover some amazing moments. These "simple" moments, translated onto canvas through painting with acrylics, have kept food on my table for over 20 years. They keep me excited about life.
What excites you about your acrylic painting process? Is it the process of exploration and discovery? Preparing your surface? Actually getting into it? And what frustrates you? Mixing colors? Wrestling with your paintbrushes? Creating compositions that pop? Or even knowing when to stop?
Explore on this site:
▪ the potential of acrylic paints
▪ the way acrylic mediums work
▪ how limiting your brushes can be a Good Thing
▪ how improving your palette set up can improve your paintings
▪ the simple complexity of a seascape
▪ super realism techniques
▪ how your underpainting can set up your piece
▪ how to paint clouds, skyscapes and more
▪ the colours of tropical & beach landscapes
After 20 years of painting professionally, I have a lot of knowledge stuck in my head. Before old age causes this knowledge to disappear from my brain forever, I want to share it with you! Painting processes and techniques are something I feel should be accessible for everyone. No elitism here. Professional or beginner, we can all learn.
When I went to art college (longer ago than I care to remember) it seemed that unless there was angst, turmoil or negative emotion involved in the process, that there was no "art", or that the work was somehow not as "good". I have always rebelled at this way of thinking.
Growing up on the sunny, light-filled north coast of NSW in Australia, my world was (and still is) full of nature's magic and wonder. Celebrating the amazing nuances of light, shade, tone, colour and texture was for me the only way to go. And the feeling when it all comes together! That feeling is what it is all about.
The process of creating art should lift us up - inspire us; improve our lives, even enlighten us. And this, in a nutshell, is the focus of this website. Inspiring you to explore new techniques. To improve your acrylic painting processes, tools and workspace. To fill your images with light and life! And, most importantly, to have fun while you're at it.
Take some time out for yourself and really explore your love of acrylic painting. Your curiosity about the world will be refreshed.
So let’s get into it! It's a contact sport after all; let’s chuck some paint around!
