Blending acrylic paints is an effective way to seamlessly blend different colors into one painting. This will make the painting look professional and nice. Here are a few ways to use this technique in your own paintings.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Blending Paint Using the Wet-on-Wet Method
Step 1. Apply a coat of primer
Use a damp brush (don't get wet, just damp) to apply a generous amount of the base coat.
- For example, if you want to paint a unified sky, apply a solid medium blue background.
- For this method, you must work quickly and complete all steps before the background paint begins to dry.
Step 2. Start blending the colors
Take another color you want to blend into the background and brush it over the pre-painted background.
- You can use any type of brush stroke (swiping horizontally or using a color softening technique, etc.), depending on the final result you want.
- For this step, you don't need to clean the brush when you change the paint color, as any remaining paint on the brush will add a nice blending effect.
Step 3. Add more colors
Use the brush to add more color and make the painting blend seamlessly.
- For the sky, for example, add dark blue on the top of the sky, and white (or maybe yellow) on the bottom. This technique will result in a darker sky at the top, blending in with a lighter sky at the bottom.
- But remember, you'll need to finish all of the coloring before the paint starts to dry.
Step 4. Let the paint dry
Once dry, you will get a paint that blends well.
Method 2 of 3: Blending Paint with Liquid Glass Acrylic
Step 1. Paint a coat of primer
Allow the base coat to dry completely.
- If you want to paint a graded sky, for example, apply a medium blue paint to the background and allow it to dry completely.
- This method is better than the wet-on-wet method because you don't have to rush to work. Liquid glass acrylic does not dry as fast as paint. So you have more time to blend the paint perfectly.
- However, once this liquid glass acrylic dries, you can no longer paint on it and will have to wait until the paint is completely dry to start again if you need to mix other paints.
Step 2. Use liquid glass acrylic
Dip the brush into the color you want to blend, then drip a large amount of liquid glass acrylic onto the brush.
Step 3. Apply paint and liquid glass acrylic to the canvas
On top of the dry base coat, brush back and forth to blend the color with the liquid glass acrylic.
For example for the sky, add liquid glass acrylic and dark blue paint to the upper sky, and white paint with liquid glass acrylic to the lower sky. That way, you'll get a nice mix of dark to light colors throughout the sky
Step 4. Add more color and more liquid glass acrylic
Keep adding paints (with different colors) and molten glass acrylic. Repeat this step as many times as needed to get the look you want.
Step 5. Let the liquid glass paint and acrylic dry
Once everything is dry, you will get a painting with perfect color gradations.
Method 3 of 3: Blending Paint Using the Wet-on-Dry Method
Step 1. Apply a coat of primer
Apply the base coat and allow it to dry completely. The color should be darker than the color you want to mix on top of. For example black as a base layer to be combined with gray.
Swipe the brush horizontally to create a coat of primer
Step 2. Wait for the base coat to dry
The black base coat should dry completely before you can proceed.
Step 3. Start blending the lighter colors
With a damp brush, apply a light gray line to the part of the painting that you want to lighten.
Step 4. Use another brush to blend the paint
Take another brush and dip it in water to make it damp.
You can also use the same brush to add a blending effect if you don't mind the previous color blending in with the current color
Step 5. Blend the colors
Carefully brush a little gray paint over the black paint so that the two blend together. Do it in a controlled way. The end result will be a gradient from gray to dark gray to black.
Step 6. Let the paint dry
After drying, you will get a beautiful painting that is graded from dark to light.
Tips
- Do not rush.
- You may have to repair any missing or unpainted areas.
Warning
- This method takes practice and time; do not be discouraged.
- Paint can stain clothes, so be careful.
