acrylic decorative paint
Painting with acrylic paint is very versatile. Paints are tube or jar acrylic or craft paint. These paints can be found at craft stores and/or art stores. Acrylic paints dry quickly and are easy to use. Brushes generally use synthetic hairs and are easily cleaned with soap and water.
Which brand of acrylic paint to use: Buy tubes, jars, or craft bottles at an art store or craft store like Michael’s.
What colors should be purchased? The most important thing is to buy the following: Cadmium Red Medium, Cadmium Yellow Phthalo Blue. These three colors will make up all the colors on the color wheel. Of course, having the colors already made is easier, but more expensive.
What brushes to buy – It is very important to have good brushes. If taken care of, they will last a reasonable amount of time depending on how much you paint and the type of paint. Brush sizes are as follows: flat brushes: # ¼”, 1/2″, 1″; flat #1″, liner #2 and assorted round brushes, # 1/4″, ½” and 1″ and large wash brushes for backgrounds.
Painting tips:
1. Put a small amount of paint (either a tube or a bottle) on your palette. A regular plastic palette or Sta-Wet palette works great with acrylic paints. Always have a spray bottle of water handy to lightly spray on the paint to keep the paint moist on your palette. Mist regularly.
2. Fill your container with water. As the water becomes cloudy, pour out the dirty water and refill the water container with fresh water often. Keep individual folded layers of paper towels to blot the wet brush on top of the paper towels. This will keep the brushes in good condition as the metal ferrule will stay dry.
3. Acrylic paint is very versatile. Paint can be used lightly or thicker with brushes and palette knives. Mix acrylic paints with a touch of white to make them more opaque. If the paint is diluted with enamel or water, the colors will become transparent like watercolors.
4. When painting acrylic gouache, the gouache is permanent and insoluble once dry. Subsequent coats of washes (drying between coats) add depth to sheer washes.
5. Clear acrylic enamels using a glazing medium should be layered between dry times. The more layers, the deeper the color depth will develop.
6. Mix a Slo-Dri Blending gel medium with acrylic paint to increase color fade.
7. Work quickly when mixing colors. It is important to keep the brush moist with a slow-drying medium gel. For added transparency, add a gel medium as needed.
8. When developing hard edges, use 1″ 3M Blue masking tape. Acrylic paint colors painted against the tape prevent paint from seeping under the edge of the tape. When dry, carefully remove the blue tape .
9. Surfaces that acrylic paint works well on are canvas/canvas boards, drywall, and wood paneling.
10. Plastic Palette or Stay-Wet Palette The palette helps keep the paint moist.
11. Acrylics can be mixed with water (best with a wet brush) or mediums such as retarders or glazing mediums.
12. Because acrylics dry quickly, wash your brushes as soon as you’ve completed the task at hand…otherwise the paint will start to dry on the ferrule (the metal part that holds the bristles together).