Acrylic paints are water-soluble and can be used on paper, canvas or brickwork. They’re easy to work with and don’t require the use of solvents, making them simple for beginners to pick up and learn.
However, choosing the right acrylic paint is essential for achieving quality results. Different brands have various characteristics, such as color availability and consistency.
Colors
A good set of acrylic paints will give you the variety to create a wide range of colors. Beginners should consider a basic set that contains a mix of primary colors, a convenient secondary or two, some earth shades and of course Titanium White and Ivory Black.
Artist-quality acrylics have a high pigmentation and are often more permanent than student grades, which are cheaper and may contain fillers that reduce the strength of the color. If you are a beginner it is recommended to start with student-grade acrylics until you have gained experience and confidence.
If you don’t want to buy a set of all the colors there are many websites that offer free downloads of acrylic mixing charts for a large range of brands. This is a great way to learn, save time and money by experimenting with your mixes.
Consistency
The consistency of acrylic paint is important because it determines how it will flow on the canvas. You want the paint to be thick enough that it will retain its brush strokes, but not too thick that it becomes too difficult to work with.
Acrylic paints have a wide range of viscosities, from heavy body (also known as soft or hard) to fluid. Fluid acrylics are already diluted down during the manufacturing process and have a water or ink-like consistency.
Artists’ quality acrylics have a high concentration of superior pigments and are quick-drying. Student-grade paints, on the other hand, contain more filler and less pigment and may need multiple layers to achieve a vibrant finish. For this reason, many artists like to use a palette wetting spray or liquid to help keep the paint moist.
Lightfastness
A paint’s lightfastness or permanence is an important factor when choosing a medium. It’s important to know that not all pigments are created equal and a low lightfastness rating will cause colors to break down or fade over time.
Liquitex was one of the first art materials companies to standardize the way artists’ acrylics were formulated and rated for their lightfastness. Today we continue to offer a variety of pigments with high permanence ratings.
The best way to protect your paintings over the long term is to make sure they are framed with acid-free materials and kept out of direct sunlight or any UV light source. By following these simple tips, you can make sure your artwork will last for generations to come!
Adhesives
The type of acrylic paint you choose will affect how your paintings work on the surface. This includes the absorbency levels and the texture.
Acrylics are the most flexible of all painting mediums and can be used on a wide range of surfaces, including paper, canvas, wood, masonite, metal and cloth. However, it is always good practice to prime a raw surface with a gesso or other ground first, browse this site.
Some artists prefer to use a special acrylic pouring medium to create their paint/pouring mixes as this self-levels and expels bubbles much more easily than cheaper alternatives, which means you get less blemishes in your finished painting. Some artists also use a stay wet palette or spritz their brushes with a water-based primer spray to keep their acrylics moist, which can help to prevent blending problems as they paint.
Blending
Blending is a big part of the process that makes acrylic paint so appealing to many artists. However, it can be tricky to achieve smooth transitions between colors without the proper tools or knowledge.
Blending happens when you take two or more colors on your palette and work them into one another – it usually looks like a gradient. It can also happen on the painting surface, but it requires practice and skill to do it well.
Summary:
To help with blending, look for open acrylics that already have a retarder or wetting agent added. These slow the drying time down so you can keep working your paints. But always read the label before using it – some have specific directions for use.