How to Paint With Heavy Body Artist Acrylics
Acrylic paints are among the most versatile and dynamic painting mediums. Medium to heavy acrylic paints have a consistency and body similar to oil paints, but do not have the unpleasant odors that oils emanate. Working with heavy body acrylics involves careful planning and preparation. Because acrylics dry rapidly, it is easy to layer too much paint in a short amount of time. Learn how to handle heavy body acrylics for the best look in your next composition.
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Things You'll Need
- Painting palette
- Mixing knife
- Brushes
- Two water containers
- Damp cloth
- Easel or painting board
- Pencil
- Acrylic retarder
- Acrylic glazing liquid
- Paintbrushes
- Painting knife
- Plastic wrap
- Soap
Instructions
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Set up your work space. Arrange a painting palette, mixing knife, brushes, two containers filled with water and a damp cloth near your easel or painting board. Keep the paints sealed until you are ready to use them.
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Sketch the framework for your composition in pencil. Have a basic sketch prepared before you mix or prepare your acrylic paints. This will allow you to get the most amount of time to work with the paints.
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Mix your paint. Squeeze a small amount of heavy acrylic paint onto a painting palette. Add a second or third color that you plan to mix in the same area. Combine the hues to create a new color using your mixing knife to blend them together.
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4
Add an acrylic retarder product. Pour or squeeze a small amount of the retarder product into your mixed hue. This will allow the paint to stay wet longer, giving you more time to work with it.
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Thin your paint. If your composition requires a smooth acrylic paint, add small amounts of water or acrylic glazing liquid to thin out the paint. Mix in small quantities at a time to get the right consistency for your project. Use clean water to thin out your paint.
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Use paintbrushes to apply the acrylic paint to the canvas or art board. Load the brush so it is full but not dripping with paint. Apply the paint to your project, reloading often with more paint to cover the area you are working on. Use the other water container to clean your brushes as you work. Keep a container of clean water nearby, in case you need to add more water to thick paint.
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Create a three-dimensional impasto effect by using a painting knife. Use an angled painting knife and scoop up a small amount onto one side of the knife. Lay the paint onto your work surface by slightly pressing the paint into the canvas and pulling the knife in the direction you want to the paint to go. Reload the knife frequently with more paint to cover more surface area.
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Allow your finished work to dry for 24 hours before moving.
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Tips & Warnings
Work in a well-ventilated area to prevent chemical inhalation.
Cover mixed paints with plastic wrap to protect them from drying out for short periods of time.
Thoroughly wash your brushes and palettes with soap and water when you are finished painting to lengthen the life of your tools.
Avoid using student grade acrylic paint. These often contain more filler and less pigment than higher quality paints, resulting in duller hues when the paint dries.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
