If you're looking for oil paints that produce vibrant, quality paintings without spending as much money and time as oil paints, acrylic paints are the way to go. Painting with acrylic paints is a satisfying hobby and an excellent way to create art for your home and friends.
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Part 1 of 4: Setting Up the Right Equipment
Step 1. Choose acrylic paint
There are dozens of brands of acrylic paint in tubes or jars. Buying acrylic paint is something you don't do often or infrequently, so it's better to spend a little more money and choose an expensive brand. Cheap acrylic paints are not as dense as the more expensive brands, so you will need to paint 2-3 coats to get the vibrant color that expensive paints produce in one go.
- To get started, buy the basic colors: titanium white, mar s black, ultramarine e blue, alizarin crimson red, and orange yellow. Most of the paint colors you'll need can be made from a combination of these basic colors.
- Paint in tubes is preferred by beginners because you can buy them in small quantities. However, there is no difference in quality between acrylic paint in tubes and in jars.
Step 2. Select some brushes
Brushes have many types and are categorized into two based on the shape of the brush tip and the material of the bristles. There are three types of brush tips: flat, round and flat round. There are many materials used to make brush bristles, but the most common are synthetic bristles and wild boar bristles. Most beginner painters choose synthetic bristle brushes with several types of brush tip shapes.
- Go to an art supply store and get a taste of the different types of brushes so you can decide which one you want. Synthetic bristle brushes are smoother and easier to clean than real bristle brushes.
- If you don't intend to paint for a long time, don't spend too much money on brushes. While having a good quality brush can be beneficial, it is even more important to have good quality paint.
Step 3. Purchase pallets
You need a place to mix paint, and store paint between paints. If you want to save money, plastic or paper plates can be used as pallets. Anything that is wide, flat, and has a clean surface can be used as a pallet. However, because acrylic paint dries quickly, it is more profitable to buy a stay-wet palette, which is a palette that stays wet to keep the paint wet longer. This palette is a combination of a damp sponge and stay-wet paper that keeps your paint moisturised and can be used for several weeks at a time.
- Use plastic wrap or the like to keep paint on the palette you're not using.
- If you mix enough paint, it's more profitable to keep it in a small bowl between painting sessions. A sealed container will hold acrylic paint better than a plastic coated palette.
Step 4. Determine the painting medium
Acrylic paints are thick and heavy, so they can only be used on certain types of surfaces. The most common media used for painting acrylic paints are canvas board, drawing paper, or wood. You can paint successfully on a surface that is not slippery, greasy, or too porous.
If you're afraid to paint on expensive media, start with drawing paper and then transfer to canvas or wood when you're good at it
Step 5. Gather other small supplies
Once the main ingredients and tools are ready, you'll need a few items that you usually have at home. You will need 1-2 jars/bowls for water, a palette knife, an old rag or cloth, a spray bottle to fill the water, and soap to wash the brushes. These are all available at art supply stores if you don't have one, but they're not specifically for painting.
- Acrylic paints are notorious for drying quickly, so spray the painting/palette occasionally to keep the paint moist.
- Consider using upholstery or an apron or wearing old clothes when painting to avoid stains of acrylic paint staining the clothes.
- Some painters used to put old newsprint on the table so there wouldn't be a lot of paint splattered.
Part 2 of 4: Getting Started
Step 1. Find a good location
Like many things, painting is best done in natural light. Set up a painting area near an open window or a room that gets lots of natural light. You can find subtle nuances in your brush strokes and colors you won't find if you use light other than natural light.
Step 2. Arrange tools and materials
Each artist has their own way of arranging their tools, the best option is to arrange them the way you want them before you start painting. Fill the jar with water, remove the brush and paint you will be using, and place the palette in the most ideal location. You can also put on some old upholstery or clothes before you start.
Step 3. Determine the subject of the painting
As a beginner painter, you may already have an idea of a subject you are going to paint, or you may be looking for clues. Think about a possible subject or model for your first painting. This is easiest to do using a three-dimensional object or photo, rather than painting something in your mind. If you're not sure what you're painting, easy painting subjects for beginners include:
- A bowl of fruits
- Flowers in a vase
- Objects in the house
- Sunset or sunrise
Step 4. Make a rough sketch
If you're confident in your ability to paint what you see, maybe you can start painting right away. But most people need a line to be a guide for their brush to paint. Use a regular pencil to sketch the main shapes directly on the canvas; Don't worry about too many details or shadows.
You can do some sketches on paper before making them on canvas, just make sure that you are confident with your sketch of the subject
Step 5. Mix the paint
The mistake that many make is mixing paint when you've painted, not before. Take your time and paint efficiently by mixing all the paints to get all the colors you need before you start painting. In this case, it's better to be safe than to regret mixing up too much paint than you need. You can save more paint for your next painting, but it's nearly impossible to mix and produce the exact same color twice.
- Use the color circle as a reference in mixing paints. All basic colors can be made by mixing primary colors (red, blue, and yellow), and more specific colors can be made by mixing primary colors with secondary colors.
- Remember, if you can't get the specific color you need out of the paint you have, you can buy almost any color mixed in a tube or jar at an art supply store.
Part 3 of 4: Painting
Step 1. Determine the light source
Colors can change according to the light hitting them, so, before you start painting your subject, determine the location of the primary light source. Keep this in mind during the painting process as you should use lighter colors for subjects that are near the light source and darker colors further away from the light source. This technique may be too basic, but determining the light source before starting to paint will keep the color arrangement of the painting as planned.
Step 2. Pay attention to the composition of the subject
Even if you paint only one object, there must be a surface or background. Pay attention to the subject and determine which is closest to you and which is furthest from you. Pay attention to aspects of overlap, discoloration, and texture. You'll be recreating all of that in the painting, so make sure you've considered everything before you start painting.
Step 3. Start by painting the background
When you paint, you'll be creating layers all the way to the front; hence, painting from behind is the easiest method. The easiest way is to start with a medium color, followed by the darkest color, then the lightest color.
Step 4. Add background details
Finish painting the basic colors, then add the background detail colors. If the color is solid, you'll need to add shadows and points of light. If the background is patterned or full of detail, add texture and movement with brush strokes to complete the layer.
Step 5. Paint the object
When starting to paint the subject, divide it into clear shapes then paint with a solid color. As you paint shapes and colors, your objects will start to appear. Work on small parts one at a time, so that the painting process doesn't feel too difficult.
- Some novice painters will find it easier to use a grid system to paint their subjects. Divide the canvas into sections using an imaginary grid, and paint one grid to completion before starting another.
- Remember to paint a medium color first, then a darker color, then a lighter color. It's hard to cover the dark colors with the light ones, so in this order it's going to be a lot easier to layer.
Step 6. Add details using different painting techniques
When you're done with the basic colors and shapes, you can add detail with a few different painting techniques. Focus by adding texture and movement through different brush strokes and colors.
- Draw paint dots by holding the brush vertically and pressing it against the paper. This method will work with a dry brush and a little paint, and will give the appearance of many small circles.
- Use a palette knife to create wide strokes of color. For a rough-looking painting, use paint with a palette knife. Coat the knife with heavy paint, and move it across the canvas to produce a thick, textured paint coat.
- Create a wash of color by thinning the paint with water. This method produces an effect similar to watercolor, where the paint slowly brightens on your canvas. This technique is great for producing a gradient effect.
Step 7. Finish the painting
Pay attention to the surface of the subject, adding any finishing details you think are necessary to perfect the painting. Often this is the final light and dark stroke, the outline you want to include, and the finish of the color stroke.
Part 4 of 4: Solution
Step 1. Add varnish to the painting
Although not required, many painters add a coat of varnish to cover their acrylic paint. This helps the paint chemically bond with the canvas, and protects it from damage.
Step 2. Clean the brushes and the place where you paint
You must clean the paint after you finish painting. Acrylic paints can damage and destroy brush bristles if allowed to dry in the brush. Wash the brush with cold water and soap until the water is clear (hot/warm water will harden the paint in the brush). Wipe the paint stains on the painting surface, and rinse the jars with water.
Step 3. Save unused paint
Acrylic paint will last for several months in an airtight container, so if you have more paint, save it for the next painting. Put the paint in a small container with a lid, or place it in a stay-wet palette and then close it.
Step 4. Leave your painting to dry
Place the painting in one place to dry in 1-2 days. Acrylic paint dries in a short time, but should be left in a distraction-free area to dry.
Step 5. Showcase your artwork
Art is meant to be shared, so show off your recently finished acrylic painting, so others can see your work. Frame it or hang it on your wall.
To keep your painting in good condition, you may need to figure out the best way to clean it
Tips
- Try more advanced techniques once you've practiced a lot. Add depth by giving textures, shadows, glow, and adding more and more details. Your painting will get better over time.
- Practice, practice, practice! You can start painting just by making lines, starting small! Then try painting a tree, or a flower. Don't be afraid to try painting in other ways or styles such as One Stroke Painting or Staffato.
- Pay attention to the details of your painting. Quality is more important than quantity, right?
