Acrylics have changed.
The pigments in acrylics are almost the same as the pigments in watercolor or oils. Acrylic polymer emulsion is the special vehicle that makes acrylics. In watercolors, the vehicle is a gum arabic solution. In oils, the vehicle is linseed or poppy oil. Many artists used to complain about acrylics, mainly that they dried too fast, or that the colors were inferior. All of that has changed. According to artist and teacher Stephen Quiller, "Acrylic may not be for everyone, but it is used by more artists today than any other painting medium."
Instructions
Basics
1. Familiarize yourself with the types. There are the original quick-drying acrylics, now sometimes called heavy body acrylics, and there are fluid acrylics, which can be used in watercolor techniques, airbrushed or mixed into gels.
2. Note the differences between matte medium, gloss medium and gel. You would add one or the other of the first two to make the paint thinner or the colors more intense, and they can be mixed. Matte is like gloss medium but has a matting agent, which creates a matte (not shiny) finish. Use gel medium if you want more texture.
3. Make a chart on a 8-inch by 10-inch piece of canvas or canvas panel. Mark off two columns and three rows.
4. Mark columns Heavy Body Acrylics and Fluid Acrylics. Mark rows Gloss Medium, Matte Medium, and Gel Medium.
5. Pick a heavy body acrylic color and combine it with the various mediums in each category. Pick a fluid acrylic color and combine it with the various mediums. Note effects and drying times. Keep for future reference.
Personal color charts
6. Start a file of hand-painted colors on 3-inch by 5-inch swatches of canvas or watercolor paper. This is helpful when working out color combinations.
7. Write across the tops of the cards relevant information such as the name of the paint and the manufacturer.
8. Dilute the acrylic paint with water for the cards or use it straight from the tube like oils.
Informative websites
9. Investigate the wealth of information on acrylic painting on manufacturers' websites.
10. Sign up for manufacturers' newsletters.
11. Send for manufacturers' color charts or color mixing guides. They are usually free of charge or they ask for a nominal fee. If you don't have a computer you can get addresses from paint tubes or art supply stores.
