acrylic paint on smooth surface

2021/05/21

Cheers, Will, Thank you so much for this easy to understand, step by step, instruction for painting with acrylic paints. Thanks in advance. We hope this helps. According to what I have read on your website, acrylic paint can create a hard shiny surface unsuitable for painting. Ive spent a lot of my Christmas hols watching your videos and absorbing everything like a spongewhich is a testament to the effort youve put in! Problem is untempered hardboard doesnt seem available in this country (or maybe it is called something different? Some brands of fluid acrylics may dry a little faster than the heavy body acrylics so you may have to work more quickly. How do you think illustration boards compare to all the supports you mentioned. It is much easier to get a smooth look with your paints if you buy either fluid acrylic paints or high-flow ones rather than use the heavy-bodied ones. Its very helpful for those who are trying to learn the art of acrylic painting, and brushstroke tips are a must-read if you want to improve your artwork. Thinning with water is very useful to paint details such as eyelashes and thin lines. (If you're in a hurry, leave it in a warm oven that's turned off for a few hours.) This Website may engage in affiliate marketing, which is done by embedding tracking links into the website. Im wondering what your thoughts are on using canvas paper by Daler Rowney. Cheers, Will. Thanks for sharing all this. An alternative would be to use a matte varnish (or some artists say no varnish) and place it under glass. Amazon Affiliate Program Participation As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Dont forget, acrylic paint is plastic-based, so if you paint the first layers too thickly, you can create a hard, shiny surface completely covering the tooth of canvas (see: What are your paints made from?). Reader Question:I am working in abstract on a 14 x 11" canvas. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. I use several cheap makeup brushes for blending because I find the bristles dont fall out nearly as often as they tend to with mop brushes. What would you do? So glad you are enjoying the tutorials. As you can see, the concerns around thinning with water can often be over stated, especially if using our Heavy Body or Fluid Acrylics and keeping the ratio to 1:1 or less. The thinner the paint application, the weaker the paint film. Do I just put gesso on any of those surfaces.

If you have thicker heavy-bodied paints that arent designed to flow you will need to thin them down to make them flow better. The GAC100 can be used to prevent discolouration coming from the support, in your case hardboard panel. Thank you so much for your help. To create an opaque surface on glass, apply a neutral or background color before painting the design. . I touched on blending before under tools. I follow this same practise with many of my acrylic paintings. If youre still not getting the desired effect you can try adding a few drops of flow enhancer to your water.

However, they are not designed for this; they are meant to act similar to oil paints. Cheers, Will. This stems from Classical Oil Painting where you build up layers of oil paint, known as fat over lean.

See my post on cleaning brushes to learn how to properly take care of your brushes.

Thanks! I dont have any trouble with paintings except for figures. Below is a general guide to the absorbency level of a few common painting surfaces. 2. Very helpful information. Ill be sure to try them out. Now its time to cover a few of the techniques you can use while painting to add to this to make your paint either look or be smooth.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'artpassiononline_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_14',124,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-artpassiononline_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0')}; Here I have given an explanation with some examples, however, some of these methods are whole subjects in themselves and need further study. I discovered your website at 11pm last night and it was 3am when I went to bed! When attempting to cover an area with acrylic, the early paint layers are well absorbed, and there is also good paint flow on the surface. To do this create a test piece with a similar surface that you want to test, then apply a few different colors both at full strength and then at 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 ratios of paint to water. Hi, Will.

What technique you use and where you apply it depends on what look you aim to achieve. Sand between coats to get the best smoothness and wipe clean. The thicker the canvas the more absorbent because it can hold more water. Question on surfaces, (Im sure you have already covered it. This depends on what you are looking for, whether it be the whole painting looking smooth or individual parts where you want a smooth texture in your picture. I have not come across anything so clear and informative in any other book or tutorial. To be clear, watering down acrylics with water is not a problem if the surface absorbency level you choose to paint on is considered. As you can see in the YouTube example below blending helps with the overall smooth look of your paint on your canvas. This is really useful if you are painting on a large canvas. I am so happy to get the helpful information from your site. )The other use for an airbrush is to use it to lightly mist your painting with water to keep the acrylic paint wet and workable for longer. Masonite falls into this category and cannot split down the grain as it has none, so perfect for painting on. Really glad the website is helpful. I am a recreational painter..as a retired woman I have put my hand to painting miniature scenes on oyster shells. When you are finished you should have a completely smooth surface to paint on. Your choice of what to paint on can alter the working properties of the paint and give you a different painting experience but it neednt be a mystery if you follow a few simple rules. You have been a great help for beginners like me. Hope this helps, Great site ! I read somewhere that I need to apply GAC100 to avoid SID, so I bought this and was going to apply 2 coats, after sanding, prior to 3 coats of acrylic gesso. Usually, a Cotton Canvas that is 12oz in weight that I have primed with Acrylic Gesso making a nice absorbent base for the first layer of my painting a Coloured Ground. Blending is important with any medium but can be especially difficult with acrylics because of their fast drying time. You can also use a soft mop brush to smooth out any brush strokes to make the painting look smooth. It dramatically reduces the surface tension between the stain (paint/water) and the support. However, Ive since read that a shellac or polyurethane primer should be applied before the GAC100. Does that really help ? In addition to an existing section on blending, when blending color to color, tone to tint, etc, do not leave hard edges! hard edges are the most difficult to blend into. They are cheaper than canvas or other supports, take acrylics great, so what would be the reason for NOT using them? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'artpassiononline_com-box-3','ezslot_3',136,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-artpassiononline_com-box-3-0')}; There are several different ways to make your acrylic paint look smooth on your canvas. Is it the gesso? 2. mache paper mushroom waterproof garden waterproofing ultimatepapermache ultimate leakseal oleum rust coats several she diy Hi Tony, yes plywood would also work, depending on the type of framing youre going for it can be a consideration on the thickness of the board, I tend to go for a 6mm or 9mm, but smaller pieces on a 3mm will also work, you just have to be aware of the flex in the board. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'artpassiononline_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',123,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-artpassiononline_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0')}; For a smooth finish, I recommend that you get an acrylic medium rather than use water as when you use water it soaks into the canvas while the acrylic medium lets the paint on top. I am using acrylic paints, not good quality at this point. With smoother objects like glass or metal, the value (from dark to light) is much slower overall. I have read that people do apply like 3 coats of gesso , before they actually start painting. 2) Paint using thin coats. You can paint on decent weight watercolour paper with acrylics very successfully, it can take the watery washes and the thicker impasto brush marks too. Use water to thin your paint a little and improve the flow and glide of your paint. You can apply as many coats as you need to get the smoothness you want. Daniel Smith & M.Graham are both good brands. Will. I also want to write, but dont know how to do it either.I think I will benefit from the knowledge you will share in your courses!!! For example, Golden paints have two further levels of paint dilution down from heavy-body acrylics: If you want to paint thinly with heavy body acrylics when working vertically at an easel, you can add mediums to the diluted acrylics, here are some further suggestions from Sarah Sands: If wanting to thin the paint even further, try using GOLDEN Airbrush Transparent Extender which has a consistency close to water. They glide on more smoothly and can be blended more easily on your canvas. Good coverage of topics with detailed information . A great artist can paint a great picture on a small canvas. Charles Dudley Warner. Is it the brush I am using (natural bristle)? I appreciate the time and effort you spent in constructing your tips and will refer to them often as I move along. When you combine several simple techniques it all adds up to a smoother look when you have finished. I love the way that the plexiglass is super smooth so that once poured, any contours in my work are as a result of the paint itself and nothing else. Painting on Terra Cotta: Wash in warm soapy water and leave until thoroughly dry before painting. Hi Will. Thanks for your awesome and informative series! Certain supports are inherently water repelling in nature and require the use of such a surface-active agent to allow the stain to wet and penetrate into the support. Hope this helps. Wow. By using a larger brush you cover more of the surface of the canvas faster and in one go. document.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2012-2022 Will Kemp Art School | All rights reserved |. We cannot, of course, comment about other manufacturers products, where performance can differ. I dont like pouring on canvas, as I dont like the woven texture it provides. How to Repair a Dent in Your Car With Filler, How to Paint Motorcycle Parts for Restoration, Acrylic Painting Mediums for Thickening Paint, Get a Great Finish on Your RC Body with Spray Paint. Too much flow improver can cause issues with your paint sticking or not drying at all. Do I glue canvas or linen to a substrate. Neat edges, no seapage, give it a go! If you compare fur or tree bark with glass, enamel, or metal you can see a big difference in the way the light falls. thank you so much. document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The paint dries out very quickly and it is quite frustrating. The advantages and disadvantages of acrylic paint are the speed at which it dries. It also means that your paint is less likely to dry allowing you to smooth out your acrylic paint better and avoid brush drag which is a pain. Do I take the same approach to painting with acrylic on paper as on canvas? I havent bought canvas but just a simple sketchbook with some thicker paper. However, even with this, the paper will warp if excess water is used unless it is quite thick, and this might not be appropriate for your book. Will. That little bit of water also helps to soften up the bristles and make blending easier. Thanks Will! Cheers, Will, Hi Will! So if you think about how diluted youre going to be applying the acrylics and then choose or prepare your surface sympathetically to that style of painting. Cheers Mansoor, hope the website helps with your journey into painting. If you want to paint on ordinary craft paper, consider the thickness and robustness and adjust your dilution level of the acrylics accordingly. Hello Will, thank you for this opportunity, cant wait to get started!!! The most common questions I receive on this subject are from students fearful that watered-down acrylics will harm their paintings in the long run, usually thinking the painting will flake and fall off. Cheers, Will, Thanks for the reply. If you want to paint really thinly with Acrylics, its best to use an Acrylic that has already been diluted in the paint manufacturing process. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'artpassiononline_com-leader-1','ezslot_7',138,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-artpassiononline_com-leader-1-0')};As a general guide, the more fluid acrylic paints come in bottles rather than tubes. ), Hi Tony, I often paint on MDF board. This is an advantage if you are going for a smooth finish. Hope this helps. Thanks for the message, really pleased that you have been learning lots on the site. GOLDEN Acrylic Flow Release is a surfactant. (There is a huge range of Watercolour papers see: How to choose Watercolour Paper). Clean your brushes well after each painting session to keep them in good shape. A well cleaned perfume or body spay bottle has the right type of spray to get just a light mist. I cant seem to produce smooth transitions from the light colors to the darker ones (e.g., shadows). Hi Will, Thanks for all the great info. A light touch helps to glide the paint onto the surface in a smooth blending motion. Yes thanks Will, that is very helpful. Any particular reason for MDF or can you get many different surfaces for boards? Adding small amounts (approx. Thanks very much Lea, very kind of you to say so! I am always worried that the paint will dry out on the brush, so I keep inserting my brush in water. I am a beginner. Read the instructions on the bottle for the mixing ratio because each manufacturer has a different ratio. Hi Kyra, Painting on a canvas is definitely a different experience than working on paper, personally, I would create a few more practice pieces on paper or board and then I would invest in a small canvas (under 5) and give it a go, this really is the only way to really experience the difference. These are more likely to leave texture and brush marks. You dont necessarily need to use all of these techniques all of the time. Use a mister rather than a spray bottle to avoid large water drops on you painting. Most beginners pick up a ready-made canvas board from their local craft/art store because theyre small and relatively inexpensive. It would be advisable to try with some watercolour paper, as this is designed to absorb the water. By using the thinner paints you wont need to thin them down as much, if at all depending on what paint you use. Scrubbing your paint into the canvas will leave streaks and ridges as well as damage your brush. However, because every application can be unique, one can always do an easy test to make sure there are no problems. impressions kansai nerolac yellowed tub plastic surround whiten