Acrylic Basics & More

Drawing & Painting with Style and Confidence

Presented by

Anne Kullaf

Anne Kullaf © 2008

Acrylic Basics & More

Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More

Course premise…

• This course is designed to provide a basic primer for students new to painting with Acrylics. It will cover the technical aspects of working with the materials as well as general concepts of color, composition and design.


Course Overview…• During the 6 weeks that this course runs we will explore

the following topics:– Methods & Materials:

• Overview of materials • Working with water as a medium on paper• Working with gel mediums and drying retarders on canvas

– Color:• Working with complementary colors• Working with a limited palette

– Composition:• Creating balance with shape, value and color


Methods and Materials

Acrylics• Highly versatile: can

be uses similarly to watercolor or oils

• Rich color can be achieved with layering

• Fast drying: excellent medium for painting en plein air

Purple Passions, acrylic on canvasAnne Kullaf © 2007



• Surface preparation– If you choose to work in layers, similar to the

way you would approach an oil painting, you may work in acrylic on a variety of surfaces: stretched canvas or linen, canvas panels, cradled masonite, masonite panels,

– You may also choose to work with only water as a medium, in which case you will want to work on watercolor paper, or a paper designed for any water-based media


Methods and Materials• Supplies

Paints – start out with a limited palette if you are new to acrylics: cobalt blue or ultramarine; alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, burnt umber and titanium white. Other colors that are nice to have include dioxazine violet, bright crimson and sap green

Medium – again, you may choose to use just water as your medium or you may experiment with gel mediums that extend the drying time. This is particularly useful if you are working wet-into-wet.

Brush cleaner – there are several non-toxic varieties available. Be sure to clean brushes thoroughly when working with acrylics, as they may become very stiff and dry if not fully cleaned


Methods and Materials• Supplies (cont’d)

Palette – A plexiglass or disposal palette with a case and cover

Brushes – I prefer soft brushes in a flat or wedge shape, however you should work with whatever shape or stiffness works best for you. I often complete an entire painting using just one brush—my favorite is a ¾” flat brush with soft synthetic bristles

Painting rags – old flannel sheets cut into small 6” x 6” squares are great for this purpose, you can use them to wipe off your brush when changing colors, or to wipe out areas during your under painting phase (almost like drawing with them)


Methods and MaterialsTransparent Acrylics

with Water• Done on watercolor paper

or canvas pad• Layering and glazing• Excellent technique for

plein air• Loose brushwork, very

expressive• Great for producing

studies for larger worksPlein air study, acrylic on canvas padAnne Kullaf © 2008


Methods and MaterialsWorking in layers• Always begin with an under

painting (monochrome value study, medium = water)

• Map in color transparently (muted colors, medium = water)

• Begin adding medium and dark values with more opacity, finish with highlights and fine details (medium = gel medium with retarder to extend drying time)

Purple Passions, acrylic on canvasAnne Kullaf © 2007



Acrylics & Mixed Media

• Acrylics are wonderful for experimentation

• Try them in conjunction with pastel, drawing ink, charcoal or any other medium of your choice

• They are also excellent as an under painting layer for oils

Urban Landscape study, acrylic and pastel on watercolor paper, Anne Kullaf © 2008


Color


Color Basics• Colors that complement

one another should be used to create shadows and darks, in other words, colors that appear opposite one another on the color wheel

• Example: if you need show a shaded area on a lemon (yellow, primary color) use violet (secondary color)

• Mix your secondary colors whenever possible instead of using them directly from the tube


The Limited Palette• Try working with a limited palette of 3 primaries, one

dark neutral and one white. One of my favorites is:– Cobalt blue - Burnt umber – Alizarin crimson - Titanium white– Yellow ochre

• You may experiment with other colors you like, just remember to keep it to 3 primaries and one dark neutral plus white.

• If necessary, you can always add in a brighter primary for the areas in highlight—for example, I often will use a cadmium yellow in addition to the colors above when working on sunlit landscapes just to get that extra “glow” in my greens.


Composition


Composition Basics

• Composition refers to the way you arrange the elements/objects contained in your painting in order to create and maintain:– Balance– Harmony– Viewer interest

Study of Califon, acrylic on watercolor paper Anne Kullaf © 2008


Focal Point vs. Overall Movement• There are many approaches to composition, all are a

matter of personal preference and what you want to say with your painting

• For example, you may wish to have an overall sense of movement rather than a strong focal point—either one can work but each will convey a different mood and feeling in your finished work


• Look for things that repeat to keep your composition cohesive and to engage your viewer:– Shapes– Colors– Directional movement– Motion

Look for examples of the items listed above in the painting at right

Composition Basics

Blue Iris, acrylic on canvasAnne Kullaf © 2007


Tying it all together…


Tying it all together…• Painting with acrylics provides an artist with a lot of

options• You can work on many different surfaces, canvas pads

or watercolor paper are a great surface to practice on• You can work either in layers or wet-into-wet• Focus on shapes and values – sketch in charcoal first!• Experiment with larger brushes for looser, more painterly

brushwork• Use complementary colors for shading• Try working with a limited palette• Acrylics are excellent for painting en plein air• Acrylics are also good for mixed media projects, try them

in conjunction with pastel or ink

Education

Acrylic Basics & More