Acrylic
Acrylic paint is well-suited for detail, and is easy to use.
Depending on the technique used by the artist, acrylic can produce results that are like oil or watercolour.
Acrylics are water-based which means they can be cleaned from brushes more easily.
Acrylic dries quickly so should be kept moist on the palette to prevent drying out.
Brushes
Acrylics can be applied using the same brushes as for oil paints
Palette and painting knives
Acrylics often have a buttery consistency. Palette knives and painting knives are useful for mixing paints together into a consistent colour. They can also be used to apply thick, textured paint directly onto the canvas.
Painting surfaces
Canvas is a popular surface for painting with acrylics. Alternatives include:
- wood panels
- MDF
- paper
Canvas comes in primed or unprimed form. Primed canvas has already been coated with a primer, such as gesso. Unprimed canvas has not been coated.
Primed canvas accepts the paint more easily. Gesso and acrylic primer come in jars, tubes, squeezable bottles or spray cans. Different primers give canvases different surface textures:
- liquid gesso leaves a smooth surface
- thicker gesso gives a more textured surface
- super heavy gesso creates sculptural effects with a palette knife
Stretched canvas is the most popular and conventional form of painting on canvas. Using pre-stretched canvas is much easier than stretching your own.
Other tools and techniques
Highlights can be created using聽masking fluid. This is a latex liquid that can be painted over areas of a surface to form a waterproof coating that resists any watercolour or paint. It can then be peeled off or removed with an eraser.
Sponges can be used to lift out areas of paint. Using a moist or a dry sponge will change the textural effect.
Areas of dried paint can be scraped off using sandpaper or other abrasive surfaces. Scraping or rubbing in different directions can give different results.