Written by: LegitWriterMeg87
The world of acrylic painting may seem challenging, but once you master the basics, you’ll be well on your way to becoming the next Pablo Picasso – or at the very least, the next Bob Ross. Acrylic is one of many different painting styles, other notable choices being oil painting and watercolor painting. However, there are many reasons you may choose acrylic painting as you learn how to paint, and many reasons you may continue working with acrylic paint over the course of your artistic career.
The Origins of Acrylic Painting
People have been painting for well over 40,000 years, with some of the oldest known paintings located within caves in Western Europe and Indonesia. Over time, the materials, as well as the techniques, used in painting changed quite a bit and people transitioned from the use of natural pigments and their own hands to the oil paints and brushes used by Leonardo da Vinci. However, one of the biggest changes in painting came with the development of acrylic paints in the 1940s – paints that revolutionized the world of art with their fast-drying ability and vivid colors.
Acrylic Painting 101
Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint made of pigments suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion. Paints are available in tubes, jars, bottles, and even spray cans. They can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry. This means that once you’ve painted something with acrylics, it’s not going to smudge if it gets wet – all factors that make acrylic a little simpler to work with than some other forms of paint. In acrylic painting, there are three main things you need to do to create a successful work of art:
- Plan Your Composition: Whether done through a sketch or by way of mental preparation, it is important to have an idea of what you are going to place on the canvas and where you are going to place it.
- Mix the Colors Correctly: This is where acrylics shine – their ability to be easily mixed and combined, and with a little practice, you’ll be able to create any color you need for your painting from the darkest indigo to the lightest and brightest lemon-yellow.
- Choose the Right Brushes: Brushes are among the most important things you will use in the creation of your art, and having the correct brushes for the techniques you are going to use is absolutely necessary.
By keeping these three things in mind, you have a terrific starting point that you can use to get started with the creation of your next masterpiece.
What You Need to Get Started
As mentioned already, you’ll need to have the right brushes to get started with acrylic painting; this is in addition to numerous other supplies and accessories that will be needed, from the canvases you will be painting on to the paints themselves. Bearing this in mind, these are the items you will want to have as you get started.
Acrylic Brushes
There are many different types of brushes for acrylic painting, each of them giving you the ability to use different artistic techniques. A basic set of brushes used in acrylic painting will include:
- Round brushes
- Flat brushes
- Filbert brushes
- Angular brushes
- Fan brushes
Basic Colors for Acrylic Paints
One of the most notable things about acrylic paints is that they come in a huge variety of colors, hues, and shades. You can find just about any color you could possibly want, which gives you a lot of freedom when painting, though there are some colors that could be considered basics, such as:
- Titanium White
- Mars Black or Ivory Black
- Cadmium Red Medium
- Phthalo Blue or Ultramarine Blue
- Cadmium Yellow Medium
- Burnt Umber (a brown pigment)
There are other colors a painter may consider adding to their collection as well, especially if they are new to mixing colors, such as Cadmium Orange and Phthalo Green. However, once you get used to mixing colors, these paints can be convenient but they certainly aren’t necessary.
Other Necessary Supplies
In addition to your brushes and your paints, there are other supplies that can be helpful as you begin to explore the world of acrylic painting. Items to pick up include:
- Painter’s palette: This is where you will mix your colors.
- Canvases: Canvases come in a variety of sizes, with pre-stretched canvases being the most popular, though canvas panels and pads can be another good option as well as an affordable choice, especially for beginners.
- Easel: An easel is not required but can be helpful, especially if you plan on painting larger canvases.
Other basic supplies to keep around as you paint will include a container with water for cleaning your brushes along with paper towels and/or rags for taking care of your messes.
Getting Ideas for Acrylic Painting
Once you have all the supplies needed to get started, you’ll need to come up with a few ideas. But how do you get ideas for painting? Well, there are a few things you can do to help you start putting paint onto the canvas.
- Look at Existing Art: One way to get ideas for acrylic painting is to look at other artists’ work. By seeing how other artists have approached certain subjects or techniques, you can get new ideas and inspirations for your own work.
- Check Out Tutorials: You can also look online for tutorials on specific techniques or subjects, or watch videos of artists working in order to see how they tackle certain subjects.
- Reference Photos: Using reference photos is a great way to get ideas for paintings, especially if you’re interested in painting from life. You can use photographs that you’ve taken yourself, or you can find images online or in magazines.
Are There Different Types of Acrylic Paint?
Even within the world of acrylic paint, there are different types of acrylic paint. It’s also important to note that each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Fluid Paints
Fluid paints are perhaps the most popular type of acrylic paint. They’re thin and easy to work with, which makes them perfect for beginner painters. They’re also versatile and can be used for a variety of projects, though they don’t offer as much coverage as other types of acrylic paints.
Heavy Body Paints
Heavy body acrylic paints are perfect for more experienced painters because they offer great coverage and can be used for a variety of projects. However, they’re thicker than fluid paints, so they’re not as easy to work with, and they’re also more expensive than other types of acrylic paint.
Soft Body Paints
Soft body acrylic paints are the middle ground between fluid and heavy body paints. They’re thicker than fluid paints but thinner than heavy body paints, making them easier to work with than heavy body paints while still offering good coverage.
Is it Easier to Learn Acrylic Painting or Oil Painting?
Oil paints have been in use for centuries, being a type of paint that is made from pigments, oil, and a solvent, and they remain popular even today. However, they are not water-soluble, which can be a bit of a hassle for some painters as they require additional techniques to mix and get onto the canvas properly. This is in addition to the additional supplies needed for oil painting, such as paint thinner, which can be costly. Overall, while an experienced painter can do more with oil painting, it is typically best for beginners to get started with acrylic painting.
How Painting Can Benefit Your Health
If you’re considering acrylic painting, there are plenty of reasons to make the jump and to adopt it as your next hobby. Acrylic painting can have a profound impact on your health, both mental and physical.
Benefits to Your Mental Health
The simple act of sitting down and painting can help to lower your stress levels, improve your mood, and increase your overall sense of well-being. Acrylic painting can also help to boost your creativity and self-confidence, and by exploring new techniques and pushing yourself to try new things, you can build up a sense of achievement and satisfaction that doesn’t come with many other hobbies.
Benefits to Your Physical Health
In addition to the mental health benefits of acrylic painting, there are also physical benefits. Acrylic painting can also help to improve your physical health. The act of painting can help to strengthen your muscles and improve your coordination. In addition, the bright colors often used in acrylic paintings can help to stimulate your brain and increase your alertness. So why not give it a try?
Finishing Things Off
Getting started with any hobby can be a bit stressful, but acrylic painting is a great way to relax and to express your creative side. The most important tip for anyone who is just getting started is to just jump in and start painting. Once you pick up the basics, take the time to experiment with mixing different colors and using the different brushes at your disposal to try different painting techniques. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can become a proficient artist with a little practice.
