Painting on Canvas With Acrylic Paints
Painting on canvas can be a soothing, recreational activity. It provides the opportunity to express yourself using a canvas, paintbrush and paint. Painting with acrylic paints offers several advantages. Acrylic paint is fast-drying, water-soluble and can be applied directly onto canvas without mixing aids, such as turpentine. The most difficult component of painting on canvas with acrylic paints is likely choosing the right paintbrush.
Things You'll Need
- Sheet of paper
- Pencil
- Palette
- Set of paintbrushes
- Painting tools (palette knives, painting tape, sculpting foam, etc.)
Instructions
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Draw a sketch of your painting on the canvas using pencil, unless you are painting freehand, or creating an abstract or expressionistic piece. Start with a draft on a sheet of paper because it is difficult to erase graphite from canvas. Transfer the sketch to the canvas once you are satisfied with how it looks.
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Prepare a palette with the range of colors you need for your painting. Acrylic paint straight from a tube offers a solid, vibrant look. This is good for realistic and still-life paintings. Dilute your paint with water if you want a more glazed, translucent look, which is better for abstract work. Avoid blending undiluted acrylic paint, as it dries too fast to be used after mixing.
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Select an underpaint and color your canvas with it. The right underpaint can help bring out deeper hues in your paints. For instance, black paint from a tube is dull and one-dimensional. However, black paint from a tube mixed with other colors creates a wide range of dark colors, making black appear in various shades. This is the benefit of an undercolor.
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Choose your paintbrush carefully. Paintbrushes come in different shapes and sizes. Each one is best used for certain conditions. For instance, round-tipped paintbrushes are good for detailed work. Fan brushes are best for creating a flat profile spread, such as when transitioning colors.
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Experiment with acrylic painting tools, such as palette knives, painting tape and sculpting foam. Like paintbrushes, painting tools come with advantages and disadvantages and should be applied effectively.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
