Painting with Acrylics

Many artists choose acrylics as a painting medium. Painting with acrylics has a number of advantages and very effective works of art can be created by painting with acrylics.

Acrylics are water-based paints, though they don't have the transparency and fluidity of watercolor paints. Painting with acrylics presents the advantage of being water soluble, however, and can be thinned and manipulated using water. When painting with acrylics there are also thinning media which help the paints to flow and have a pleasant texture.

Artists painting with acrylics avoid the use of turpentines and turpenoids, as brushes are cleanable in water. When paintig with acrylics, paints dry faster, and can be overlaid or
corrected easily, as the quick drying time is an advantage over oil paints.

Any type of painting can be created by painting with acrylics. If you favor landscapes, great color and texture can be achieved when painting with acrylics. The same is true of still life painting. A bowl of fruit, a vase of beautiful flowers, a pitcher and candles...any type of still life can e effectively created when painting with acrylics.

Acrylics can also be used in interesting ways as a base for a picture finished with oil paints and oil glazes. For example, painting with acrylics, one can create several shades of a neutral color by mixing several levels of raw umber and white. Painting with acrylics, using these shades to create the objects being painted in shades of dark to light, one can create in effect a black and white painting. Carefully adding oil glazes can add the color for the finished art, which is begun by painting with acrylics. When painting with acrylics you cannot use acrylics over oils, but you can paint with oil over the piece you've created by painting with acrylics.

Painting with acrylics can also be fun when doing home decorating, such as painting furniture. Creative designs can be added by painting with acrylics.

Whether you are a beginning artist, painting simply as a part time hobby, or are a professional or student of serious art, painting with acrylics can be highly satisfactory. You can create paintings on canvas or board...even thin plywood...which will be exemplary pieces of art when you choose painting with acrylics. If you'd like to paint and haven't used the medium, try painting with acrylics.

< Back To Painting Next Previous