A Crash Course to Painting with Acrylics

I've been painting for as long as I can remember. I've experimented with several different types of mediums (oil paints, pastels, chalk, watercolors, etc), but my favorite by far is acrylic paint. Mixing the colors to create new colors is easy, and the drying time is very fast. Clean up is far easier than other paints or mediums, and far cheaper. Because acrylic paint has a water base, then all that is needed for clean up is water. There's no messy solvents to worry with, and it is possible to keep the brushes in better shape for longer. I also appreciate the control that acrylic paint allows me to have. When painting, acrylic paint is smooth and it is possible to thin the paint with water to get interesting effects on your painting. You can also use it to paint on different bases. You not only can paint on canvas and paper, but it is also an excellent medium to use on clay, wood, and rock.

Supplies

Before you begin painting, you'll need a few supplies. Of course you'll need some paint. For a beginner I wouldn't suggest going out and buying the most expensive sets of paints on the market. Inexpensive paints will most certainly do the job. You can get a set for as little as $12.00. You'll need your basic colors of yellow, green, red, blue, white, and black. You can mix these colors to achieve other colors, so a full palette isn't necessary. The next thing you'll need is at least one good paintbrush. You can actually get an inexpensive set of camel hair paintbrushes for as little $2 or $3. You don't need any specialty brushes, like fan brushes. You can actually purchase a beginning painter's kit for around $40.00 that contains almost everything you need. You'll also need canvas or thick paper designed for painting on. I always use canvas for painting because it is a fabric and holds up much better. You can purchase canvas that has been stretched across a frame, or canvas board, which is cheaper and tends to come in a bundle. Lastly, you'll need a Styrofoam plate for a mixing tray, and an old or disposable cup filled half way with water, and an old rag. You don't need an easel at this point, but it would be helpful. An inexpensive table easel can cost as little as $7.

Beginner Books

There are a wide range of beginner books available on the market to help you get started. Technically, you don't need a book to begin, but in order to learn different brush strokes or techniques, you'll find a good book very helpful. Of course, to cut down on costs, you can check out your local library to find a book to get started with. Because there are so many artist's books, you'll find that different artists use different techniques, and have strong feelings toward a different kind of paint, brush, canvas, etc. As a beginner, as I've stated, it isn't necessary to buy brand name items. As you get more involved with your painting, you can experiment with different brands and find one that best suits you.

Mixing Colors

You learned in grammar school that yellow and blue mixed together creates green. Well, that's still true. Red and blue mixed together makes violet (purple). White mixed with any color lightens the color, and black darkens. Mixing yellow with green makes a lighter green (or a darker yellow). When you mix colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, it makes a murky gray or brown. And, of course, white mixed with black makes gray, and red with yellow makes orange.

Now you have the basic colors. Bear in mind these facts, however. To get a different shade of purple, for example, you can add a bit more blue, or a bit more red. Looking at a box of crayons, you'll notice that some purples are more red or more blue than others. This is how they did that. It works the same for all colors. Also bear in mind that it only takes a very, very small amount of black to darken a color. Black is a very strong hue, and will overtake your color, making your color black if you aren't very careful.

You can actually mix the colors on the canvas as you're painting as well. This must be done while the paint is still wet. It works well when you are adding texture, say, to a tree, or to foliage. Many different brush strokes require the mixing of paints in this way for shading or depth, in fact.

When painting, it isn't necessary to fill the entire brush tip with paint. Try not to get any paint on the metal part of the brush, in fact. This can make your painting messy and end up on your clothing. All you need is to dip the tip of the brush in the paint. A little goes a long way. You'll also want to make sure that you don't press hard when you paint. Gentle, light strokes is all that is necessary. If you are too rough on the brush, you will change the shape of it, or cause the bristles to fall out making painting very difficult.

Clean Up

When you are finished using a specific color, you'll want to swish your paint brush around in your cup of water (bristle end, of course). When you've removed the paint from the bristles this way, gently run your brush over your rag to get rid of any extra water droplets. Now you can load your brush with a new color and not worry about a big mess. When you are done painting, clean your brush the same way, and store your brushes upside down (bristle end up) so that they can dry well. Make sure you get all of the paint out of the bristles before allowing to dry. When the paint dries it is virtually impossible to remove it. Also, make sure that all the lids are closed securely on your paints so that they don't dry up.

Now that you have the basics, you're ready to play.