How Can I Improve My Acrylic Painting?
Starting with acrylic painting can feel like a bit of a challenge, especially when you're transitioning from pencil to digital art. If you're anything like me, you might have looked at highly detailed, realistic acrylic pieces and wondered, How on earth do they get that smooth blending? Trust me, you’re not alone! When I first tried acrylics, I struggled with blending, the colors drying differently than expected, and how fast everything seemed to dry. But over time, I’ve learned and experimented with some tricks and techniques that have made the process a lot smoother—and a lot more enjoyable!
Let’s break things down a bit and explore how to make the most of your acrylics, especially if you're just starting out.
1. The Beauty of Acrylics: Why You’ll Love Them
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate about acrylics is how versatile they are. They’re fast-drying, which means you can work in layers and see your results more quickly than you would with oil paints. This can be both a blessing and a curse. The fast drying time can be tricky when you’re trying to blend, but it also means you can add layer after layer without having to wait forever for them to dry.
Another great thing? Acrylics can mimic other mediums like watercolors or oils depending on how you use them. For example, with just a bit of water or medium, you can thin the paint to create a wash, or you can build up thick layers, almost like oil painting, for rich textures and impasto effects.
2. Blending in Acrylics: It’s All About the Layers
Blending with acrylics can be a real challenge when you’re starting out, and honestly, it’s a technique that takes time to master. The tricky part is that acrylics dry so quickly, which doesn’t leave you much time to work on smooth transitions between colors.
Here’s the thing: layering is your friend. Instead of trying to get a perfect blend all at once, focus on building up layers of paint gradually. You can start with a thin, watered-down layer to establish your base and then add more layers as needed. This technique is especially useful when you want to achieve smooth gradients or soft transitions.
You can watch here some of my mistakes as I struggle to wait for the layers to dry.
3. The Color Shift: Why Acrylics Dry Darker (and How to Handle It)
If you’ve been surprised by the way your acrylic colors dry, you're not imagining it. Acrylics tend to dry a shade darker and sometimes even a little more saturated. This happens because the water in the paint evaporates as it dries, and the pigments become more concentrated.
A tip here: mix your colors a little lighter than you think you need. By doing so, you can account for that drying shift and get closer to the result you're hoping for. If you’re really particular about color accuracy, a slow-drying medium can help you work more slowly without worrying about the paint setting too soon.
4. Two Main Techniques: Alla Prima vs. Glazing
As a beginner, you’ll probably start with alla prima, which means painting directly onto the canvas without waiting for layers to dry. This is probably what you’re most familiar with, and it’s a technique where you mix colors on your palette and apply them directly to the canvas in one go. It can be done in a loose, expressive way or in a more controlled fashion. This style is great for beginners because it gives you instant results.
On the other hand, glazing involves layering thin, transparent washes of paint on top of a dry underpainting (typically in monochrome). It’s a slower process, but it’s the way old masters like Rembrandt created depth in their paintings. The great thing about glazing is that it lets you build up richness and complexity without losing transparency. If you’re interested in color theory and understanding how colors mix and develop, glazing is a perfect technique to explore.
5. How to Keep Acrylics Wet (and Why You Might Want To)
How to Keep Acrylics Wet (and Why You Might Want To)
Acrylics dry fast, and that can make blending tricky, especially if you’re used to the slow drying time of oils. But don’t worry—there are ways to keep your paint workable longer:
Water: It’s the simplest method. Just add a little water to your paint to keep it fluid and blendable. But be careful—too much water can break down the paint’s binder, causing the paint to lose adhesion.
Acrylic Medium or Retardant: These are products that slow down the drying time of acrylics without compromising the color. If you're working on a larger piece or need more time to blend, I highly recommend using a medium.
Spray Bottles: A fine mist of water on your palette and canvas can help keep the paint moist for longer periods, giving you more time to perfect your blends.
If you’re really pressed for time, a hair dryer or heat gun can help speed up the drying process when you're ready to move to your next layer.
6. Experiment and Have Fun with Your Materials
One thing I’ve learned along the way is that there’s no “perfect” way to use acrylics. You’ll want to experiment with different types of acrylics to see what works best for your style:
Heavy Body Acrylics: These are thick and creamy, great for impasto and building texture.
Fluid Acrylics: These are great for glazing and creating washes with transparent layers.
Soft Body Acrylics: These are somewhere in between and great for general use.
Different brands can feel and behave differently, so don’t be afraid to try a few out and see what works best for your approach to painting.
7. The Joy is in the Process, Not Just the Product
Acrylics are an exciting medium, and as a beginner, it’s easy to get caught up in the end result. But I’ve found that one of the best things about acrylics—and painting in general—is the process. The more you experiment, play with color, and just allow yourself to create freely, the more you’ll enjoy the experience.
