| Acrylic painting offers many benefits such as | | | | and violet. Invest in artist-grade acrylics for lasting |
| quick drying time and the fact that it's allergen- | | | | beauty in your art works. |
| and odor-free. Acrylic paint is versatile and gives a | | | | Use Sketches as a Starting Point |
| lasting finish. If you're just learning the art of | | | | It's wise to use pre-drawn sketches as the |
| decorative acrylic painting, use the tips below for | | | | starting point of your acrylic drawings. Trace or |
| a great start. | | | | copy the sketch onto canvas or board. Then, use |
| Acrylic Painting Supplies | | | | a thin layer of acrylic paint to prime the sketch. |
| You should have a variety of brush sizes so you | | | | Be sure your sketch-work can still be seen |
| can be flexible in your painting. Also, a palette or | | | | through the thin layer. You can also prime the |
| tray for painting will be useful. Other supplies | | | | canvas or board first with white color and then |
| include a palette knife, fan brushes, and | | | | copy your sketch onto the primed surface. |
| toothbrushes. Be sure to include plenty of practice | | | | Masking Fluid for Layering |
| materials and papers for sketching. | | | | Watercolor masking fluid works well for layering |
| Drying Time | | | | colors or saving areas of your painting to paint |
| Acrylics dry very fast, usually within only minutes, | | | | later. The masking fluid can be applied to keep an |
| so it's wise to keep the paint in the tube and only | | | | area of the painting clear. You must remove the |
| use a little at a time. If you prefer to use a | | | | masking fluid only after it has completely dried. It |
| palette, there are now palettes that will stay wet | | | | can be removed by rolling it with clean fingers. |
| during use so your paint won't dry out. Or, you | | | | Also, be sure to use a brush specifically for |
| can use a regular palette and keep it wet by | | | | masking fluid. Don't use your regular painting |
| spraying it with a small amount of water | | | | brushes. |
| occasionally. This keeps your acrylic paint in a | | | | Learn from the Pros |
| ready-to-use form. | | | | Study after a few acrylic painting pros to get |
| Blending Acrylic Colors | | | | pointers and learn new techniques. Artists such as |
| With fast-drying acrylics, blending colors can be a | | | | Donna Dewberry (One Stroke technique) and |
| trying task in itself. You can blend colors several | | | | Priscilla Hauser (First Lady of Decorative Painting) |
| ways. Colors can be mixed and stored in tubes or | | | | offer many great tips. You can learn creative |
| containers and then blended using a web palette. | | | | techniques such as Trompe L'oeil or create |
| Also, you can use very small dots of different | | | | beautiful wall murals and other great works. |
| shades and overlap the colors to blend them. You | | | | Acrylic painting can be both fun and rewarding. |
| can also layer shades instead of trying to blend | | | | Use your imagination along with these tips to |
| them while wet. | | | | create decorative acrylic works of art that you |
| Beware of Cheap Acrylic Paints | | | | and your friends can enjoy for years to come! |
| Avoid buying cheap acrylic paints unless you're | | | | Want to find out about chihuahua health problems, |
| using them for practice only. These will often fade | | | | dotson puppies and other information? Get tips |
| after exposure to the sunlight for a period of | | | | from the Small Breed Dogs website. |
| time, especially particular light shades such as pink | | | | |