Acrylic paints are very versatile.
Acrylic paints are relatively new on the art scene compared to traditional mediums like oil and watercolor. Many artists are discovering the versatility of acrylics, however. Acrylics can be thinned and used like watercolors or used in thick applications like oils without the long drying times. They work well in bold pop art styles as well as traditional naturalistic paintings.
Mediums
Acrylic mediums can create different effects.
Mediums are colorless. You add them to your paints to create the effects you want. Gel retarder slows down the drying time of acrylic paints so you can blend edges or use watercolor techniques. Gesso primes your painting surface to create an even texture and color. Glaze medium thins acrylic paint until it is transparent, allowing you to add more depth. Impasto gel makes the paint thick and buttery so you can create texture with your paint using your brush, palette knives or other tools. Varnishes are applied over the top of your painting to protect them from dust and pollution. They can be brushed on or sprayed.
Glazing
Glazes are used to create depth, to make your painting more realistic or to soften dark or bright images. You'll want to add a retarder to your glaze to slow down its drying time. A little water will smooth out brush strokes and make it easier to apply. Mix in a little bit of the paint you want, adding one part paint to ten parts glaze. The glaze should go on your painting in a very thin layer. Remove excess glaze from your brush before you apply it. After applying the glaze in the amount you want on your painting, take a soft cloth or paper towel to wipe off any excess. Don't add more until this layer is dry. Glazing takes a lot of practice, but once this technique is mastered, your paintings will come alive.
Painting Knives
Painting knives come in many shapes and sizes.
Painting palette knives come in many different shapes and styles. Trowels, scrapers, spatulas and knives all have special applications for blending, smoothing, applying texture and making sharp edges. Some knives have notched edges for making patterns or using scraffito methods to cut through multiple layers of paint. Scraffito is a style that lets you scratch through your paint to reveal what is underneath.
Sculpting
Paint can be sculpted to create 3D effects.
Because acrylics have a fast drying time, it is possible to sculpt 3D effects using acrylic heavy gel and acrylic modeling paste. Use a mixture of the two to sculpt the lines you want over your original drawing. After it dries, you can paint over the top of your sculpting, applying shadows, glazes and other techniques to get your final effect.
