How to Select the Proper Acrylic Paints for Painting

Acrylic paint is good for creating art that resembles watercolor or oil based paintings. Acrylic paint can be thinned with water, but becomes water-resistant when dry. Artists mix acrylic paint with other mediums to form different textures in their paintings.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Easel
• Canvas or paper
• Topcoat varnish
• Acrylic paints
• Gesso

1. Select an acrylic paint if you need a fast-drying medium. For example, if you are working on a project that requires multiple layers, or needs to be moved to another location quickly after it's painted, a proper acrylic paint can offer the best results.

2. Use artist-grade acrylic paint from a manufacturer who mills pigments and mixes paints. A better brand of acrylic paint dries with a durable layer on the finished painting. Explore painting techniques and working with acrylics at Danielsmith.com (see Resources below).

3. Obtain a medium that can enhance the texture of your painting and is compatible with acrylic paint. Build up a proper selection of mediums including a gloss medium, retarder, flow releaser, matte gel and crackle paste.

4. Pick the right finish. Acrylic paints can be used in high gloss or matte finishes. The paint's sheen can be influenced by the pigment amount and particle size. You can use a matting agent to mute the finish. Rely on a topcoat or varnish to adjust the sheen.

5. Purchase acrylic paint in various containers. Acrylic paint can be squeezed straight from the tube for intense color. When employing dripping or spattering techniques select containers with nozzles.

6. Prime your canvas when working with acrylic paints. Use a proper, artist-grade acrylic gesso to ready your canvas before painting with acrylics.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider your overall finished product when electing to use an acrylic paint. This type of substance appears darker when it dries. Before you begin your actual painting, brush a stroke on a practice surface to see the end result.
• If you want to get an oil paint look by using an acrylic paint add a gloss medium.
• Thin your acrylic paint the proper way. Do not add too much water or it will prevent the paint from forming a stable film. Instead, use an extender to solidify a paint film.
• Avoid using acrylic paint in an arid climate, since it dries rather quickly. If you have to capture just the right sunrise or desert scene, time your work accordingly.

Resources

• Acrylic supplies and uses at Danielsmith.com