Acrylic Painting - article about Acrylic Painting

Acrylic Painting

Dabbling in the arts is fun, relaxes you and opens the doors of imagination. You needn't aspire to a show in a fancy New York gallery. It is quite likely your creations will be a hit with friends and family. Art makes a thoughtful and personalized gift. Let's explore just one painting medium that's especially flexible, acrylic painting.

Acrylic paints are versatile, forgiving of mistakes and are quick-drying. You can use acrylic paints on a variety of materials, including paper, canvas, wood and paper-maché. You can even use clay flowerpots for your acrylic painting project.

To begin, go to an art supply store or department store with a crafts section. Acrylic painting kits are very inexpensive, usually in packs of eight to twelve colors. Some come with brushes as well. If you buy brushes separately, be sure they are made for use with acrylic paint. Next, choose your painting surface. Heavy paper works fine, but for the beginner, small balsa wood boxes and clay flowerpots are an ideal choice.

There's something about painting a three-dimensional surface that sparks your imagination. You'll soon find a place to start. For example, the rim of the flowerpot just begs for a little lilac to match that African Violet that you'll plant in the finished work. Once you get going, you won't want to stop until every inch is covered. In the end, you'll also have a terrific gift for Grandma.

The virtues of acrylic painting are many. Acrylics dry quickly. You can layer one color over another within minutes. Stunning effects can be created in your acrylic painting by varying the transparency of each layer. You can dilute the paint with water or use special clear acrylic mediums which are available in glossy, matte or gel forms. These mediums retain the same body to your paint, whereas water thins the paint and makes it more transparent.

Another great trick in acrylic painting is using found objects, such as leaves, sand or yarn. Simply lay the object on your working surface and carefully paint it in place. The clear mediums work best here. Once dry, it's there forever as part of your art. Leaves maintain their original color, as the acrylic medium locks out oxygen that would normally cause deterioration.

Best of all, cleanup from your acrylic painting project is a snap. Soap and water is all it takes. Instead of watching TV, give this inexpensive hobby a try. Creating art is not just for the Picasso set.

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