Acrylics are a lovely medium to work in and this is because they are fairly versatile and dry quickly in contrast to oil paints. They are wonderful to use as you can build your painting in layers however, acrylics also mix well with water making it an extremely diverse substance. Realistically, they have favourable attributes from both oil paints and watercolors so make a wonderful change to your traditional method of painting.

 

If you have a yearning to changing your artistic medium and would like to know more about how to start painting with acrylics then read the following points:

 

1. You can use acrylics on paper or on canvas so this is ideal if you have used either before and still have some supplies left over. It can also be used on painting boards which many artists favour.

 

2. Acrylics can be used direct from tubes and added to canvas with a palette knife but due to its unique diversity, it can also be mixed with water and used in a similar way to that of watercolor paints. This is fortunate as it means many of the previously acquired skills can still be used when painting in this new medium.

 

3. If the paints are drying too fast for you, then mix some acrylic media into the paint; note that there are also others that make the paints more transparent or thicker depending on your needs.

 

4.  If you wish to create a wash, add paint to your palette and then add sufficient water. Once the wash is ready, apply, and it will be dry within five minutes. This means that the next stage of your painting can begin. There is very little waiting time fortunately and this is kind to the creative processes.

 

5. Acrylic paints are also easy to mix and a variety of beautiful colours can be made as a result. Enjoy the sensation of mixing the paints as this is a wonderful way of learning how to achieve the colours you most need.