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 The fascination of the almost-mesmeric effects of ever-changing, sparkling light patterns on water has intrigued artists for centuries. The subject could be pounding seas, a placid lake, a rampant river, or a wandering stream. Translating the feeling of the play of light on water to a two-dimensional painted surface is an engrossing artistic endeavor.

Watercolor and acrylic are two interesting mediums (among many) having unique characteristics when used to give the illusion of reflections on water. Handled differently, both are water-based paints, but are definitely diverse in their applications and results.

Different rendering methods are required for reflections of clouds, trees, bridges and boats on top of the water as well as earth and rocks under the water. Please refer to the author bio for the link to view these images.

Painting #1, Red Boats, will illustrate the usefulness of both the opacity and the transparency of acrylic in reflections.

The reflection of the sky was painted in a transparent, thin wash with lots of water and let dry. The reflections of the trees were then built up in many layers of opaque and darker, less intense colors, as reflections would appear in water. (Notice the darker red of the boat reflection in the foreground).

The colors of the sky and clouds, showing through between the tree branches, were added in opaque light blue and white. Shadows on the end of the bridge reflect in the water in transparent, washy layers.

Painting #2, Canal Crossing, is a watercolor example of rendering the bubbling, foamy water behind a paddling parade of canal ducks.

The reflection of the colorful underside of the bridge was painted first and let dry. Then the waterway passage underneath and behind the ducks was scrubbed out with clear water and a soft brush. Carefully done, this takes off the surface paint and exposes the white base of the watercolor board. After thoroughly dry, the board was then painted with horizontal strokes to create the illusion of moving water behind the swimming ducks. This method takes advantage of the non-permanence of the watercolor medium.

Painting #3, Shallows, illustrates how acrylic paint is utilized both opaquely and transparently in painting 1) pebbles and the ground when seen under water and 2) bridge railings reflections on the surface of the water.

1) The pebbled ground in the lower left foreground steps down under the water towards the middle of the canal. This part of the painting was done at the same time as the bank of pebbles on the right, but the detailing of submerged pebbles is slightly blurred, as it would be when seen under the water. Then, after it all was dry, a transparent water effect was painted over the area. Because of the permanency of the pigment, however, the image underneath remains perfectly intact.

2) The reflections of the bridge railings are opaque, wavy, abstract patterns looking almost like ribbons bobbing across the surface of the water and over the submerged stones.

Painting #4, The Yellow House, shows the multi-layering effect obtained using opaque acrylic paint in rendering reflections on water.

First, the opaque, blue-green pigment representing the sky reflection in the canal water was put on the canvas. Next the reflection of the dark fronds of the palm tree in the center was added. Over the top of the palm frond reflection, several shades of lighter blue-green ripples of water portray the surface movement of the canal water. Three layers of opaque paint create the illusion.

In acrylic, white pigment is added to a color to get a lighter value. In watercolor, a light value of a color is achieved by letting the white of the watercolor surface show through and darker values are achieved by laying down cumulative washes.

 

Beginners Tips For Decorative Acrylic Painting

 Acrylic painting offers many benefits such as quick drying time and the fact that it’s allergen- and odor-free. Acrylic paint is versatile and gives a lasting finish. If you’re just learning the art of decorative acrylic painting, use the tips below for a great start.

Acrylic Painting Supplies

You should have a variety of brush sizes so you can be flexible in your painting. Also, a palette or tray for painting will be useful. Other supplies include a palette knife, fan brushes, and toothbrushes. Be sure to include plenty of practice materials and papers for sketching.

Drying Time

Acrylics dry very fast, usually within only minutes, so it’s wise to keep the paint in the tube and only use a little at a time. If you prefer to use a palette, there are now palettes that will stay wet during use so your paint won’t dry out. Or, you can use a regular palette and keep it wet by spraying it with a small amount of water occasionally. This keeps your acrylic paint in a ready-to-use form.

Blending Acrylic Colors

With fast-drying acrylics, blending colors can be a trying task in itself. You can blend colors several ways. Colors can be mixed and stored in tubes or containers and then blended using a web palette. Also, you can use very small dots of different shades and overlap the colors to blend them. You can also layer shades instead of trying to blend them while wet.

Beware of Cheap Acrylic Paints

Avoid buying cheap acrylic paints unless you’re using them for practice only. These will often fade after exposure to the sunlight for a period of time, especially particular light shades such as pink and violet. Invest in artist-grade acrylics for lasting beauty in your art works.

Use Sketches as a Starting Point

It’s wise to use pre-drawn sketches as the starting point of your acrylic drawings. Trace or copy the sketch onto canvas or board. Then, use a thin layer of acrylic paint to prime the sketch. Be sure your sketch-work can still be seen through the thin layer. You can also prime the canvas or board first with white color and then copy your sketch onto the primed surface.

Masking Fluid for Layering

Watercolor masking fluid works well for layering colors or saving areas of your painting to paint later. The masking fluid can be applied to keep an area of the painting clear. You must remove the masking fluid only after it has completely dried. It can be removed by rolling it with clean fingers. Also, be sure to use a brush specifically for masking fluid. Don’t use your regular painting brushes.

Learn from the Pros

Study after a few acrylic painting pros to get pointers and learn new techniques. Artists such as Donna Dewberry (One Stroke technique) and Priscilla Hauser (First Lady of Decorative Painting) offer many great tips. You can learn creative techniques such as Trompe L’oeil or create beautiful wall murals and other great works.

Acrylic painting can be both fun and rewarding. Use your imagination along with these tips to create decorative acrylic works of art that you and your friends can enjoy for years to come!

 

Acrylic Painting Techniques For Beginners

 The acrylic painting medium is a fairly new addition to the various painting mediums available to todays artists. It has been around since the 1950′s and has been continually under development and refinement ever since.

Acrylic paint is highly favored amongst artists because of its wonderful versatility. It can be applied thickly as an impasto having rich texture or in washes mimicking the characteristics of watercolor.

Another likable characteristic of acrylic paint is its permanence. Acrylic paint is not susceptible to yellowing or hardening with age. With acrylic paint, the artist does not need to be concerned with the order the paint is applied or other special techniques that ensure the paint film remains free from cracking. So it can be said that acrylic paint is much easier to use than oil paint.

Yet another characteristic that invites new artists to this medium is its fast drying time. Since acrylic paint dries so quickly, colors can be applied and overlaid quicker than with oil painting.

There are however a few downsides to the quick drying time of acrylic paints:

1) The paint will not remain workable for very long, so you have to work quickly.

2) The fast drying time of acrylics can also ruin brushes if the brushes are not cleaned immediately.

3) Acrylic paint is not the best medium for direct painting outdoors, especially on a bright sunny day. Whatever paint you put out on your palette will begin to dry quickly and form a skin over the surface of the paint making it very difficult to work with.

ACRYLIC PAINTING TECHNIQUES

Watercolor Effects

Acrylic paint works wonderfully as a transparent medium, similar to watercolor. Acrylics do have an advantage over watercolors. You can lay out a number of thin washes over one another without fear of disturbing the colors underneath. You must wait for one layer to dry completely before applying another of course. Once each layer dries it becomes insoluble in water. The only disadvantage to using acrylics as a watercolor medium is the difficulty in modifying the color. Once acrylic paint begins to dry it becomes rather difficult to work with. One of the biggest problems is the tendency for washes to dry with unwanted hard edges. You can avoid this problem in one of two ways. You can either dampen the paper before the paint is applied or you can use an additional brush dampened with water. Use one brush to apply the paint and immediately soften the edge with the other brush that has been dampened with the water.

Blending Opaque Colors

With watercolor effects, the acrylic paint is applied in transparent washes. With the opaque technique the paint layers are non-transparent. Blending opaque acrylic colors can be a bit tricky as you are kind of pressed for time. It is important therefore to only work on areas that you know you will have enough time to blend. To blend two colors, first paint a block of each color side by side on your support. Where the two colors join paint down that line with a clean damp brush to soften the edges. To blend the colors even further, move the blending brush from side to side or up and down, until the desired blending is achieved.

Sgraffito Technique

Sgraffito is a scratching technique. It got its name from the Italian word graffiare which literally means to scratch. Just as the name implies it involves scratching into the surface of the wet paint which reveals either the ground or layer of dry color underneath. There are a number of different tools that can be used for this technique. Tools like screwdrivers or the sharpened end of an old paintbrush handle should suffice. It really depends on the support you are using. For instance, a screwdriver may not be the best tool if you are using a panel as a support. The hard metal may damage the panel, so you would need to use a softer tool.

Using a Squeegee

A regular squeegee that you can purchase at any hardware or auto store can create some interesting effects when used with acrylic paint. First you would squeeze out some paint blobs directly along one edge of your support. You can layout whatever colors you wish. Then with one fluid motion you would drag the paint across the support with your squeegee, which will smear and mix the paint and create some very unique and interesting designs. You may need to alter your squeegee a bit as the rubber blade that comes with most squeegees may not be rigid enough to drag the paint. You can remove the rubber blade and in its place glue in a regular wooden ruler. This will give you a flat sturdy edge to manipulate the paint.

I hope you have enjoyed this article on acrylic painting techniques. Take some time today to experiment with these techniques and have fun. Happy Painting!

 

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