How to Paint With Acrylic Paints

Acrylics, unlike oil paints, are odorless, clean up easily with water and do not stain clothing or hands. Acrylic paints come in various sized tubes, jars and consistencies and can be thinned with a little water (for a watercolor effect), thickened with Gesso, or used as is. Acrylics are fast drying, making it possible to completely finish a hobby painted craft in minutes or a complete, complex canvas painting in one evening.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Clean tube tops before capping.

   Acrylic paints can easily be blended with other colors. Using a sheet of waxed paper as a palette, squeeze a little paint out of the tube, add a bit of one, two or even three colors and mix together. Blending adds an interesting touch to an abstract painting by playing with various colors in many areas. Use this method -- adding sparkle, snow or glitter -- when decorating and painting any type of poster.

2. Acrylic tube paints, when left on a palette, will stay moist for a few hours by lightly topping the entire palette with another sheet of waxed paper. For leaving overnight, use any spray bottle -- filled with water -- and lightly spray the paints before covering. Always replace the cover on tubes of paint after using them. Acrylics used in jars can be brush-dipped then painted directly on the canvas.

3. 
    
   Brushes are expensive.

   Buy brushes that are expressly marked for acrylics. Rinse each after changing colors and allow to dry. It is best to have two of each often-used size to allow one to dry while using the other. Never allow brushes to sit (brush down) in jar of water. The bristles will bend out of shape and become useless.

4. Wash acrylic brushes with a special brush cleaning soap or a liquid brush cleaner. Put some on the palm of one hand, while rubbing the bristles back and forth into the palm of the other hand creating a lather. When your palm has no more paint coming out of it, dry the brush with a paper towel, mold it into shape, and laying it flat on a paper towel to dry.

5. Add a watercolor look to any painting -- easily and quickly -- by dipping the brush first into water and then into acrylic paint. Brush lightly over a paper bag to remove excess water, then paint onto the canvas. Allow to dry and repeat the process with another color to add another watercolor effect if desired. Acrylic paints, when diluted with water, can also be used for air brushing.

6. 
    
   Artist SondraC

   Masking tape can easily be added to and removed from any dried acrylic painting without harming the existing paint. This makes it simple to add a sharp and clean edge when needed onto any painting. Stick the tape firmly on the canvas, trying not to paint on top of the edges of the tape but instead on the canvas. This will create a sharp and defining edge to the painting. (see picture) Use this method whenever a sharp line is needed. Allow to dry a few minutes before carefully removing the tape.

Tips & Warnings

• A thick but even coat of acrylic paint, on the underside of a cut out paper, can act like sticky glue and can be used for collages. Make posters with Artist Acrylics that come in small jars in a variety of colors, glitter and sparkles. They are inexpensive and found in any craft store. Using acrylic paints on any ceramic figure is a creative method of entertaining even the younger child on rainy days. Acrylic paint is washable, odorless and fast to clean up. Ceramic figurines also make inexpensive gifts. Coat the tip of the opened tube of paint with Vaseline to prevent the paint from sticking, making it easy to open and close the paint tube.
• Always wipe the tips of tubes of paint before screwing on the cover. Never squeeze the tube from the bottom or you will damage the tube and make it garbage material.

Resources

• Paint with Acrylic Paints
• Video: Acrylic Paint
• Video: Learn to Paint on Wood Using Acrylics.
• Video: Benefits of Painting with Acrylics.
• Acrylic Techniques