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Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Artworks By An Acrylic Paint Artist

By Karina Frost


Acrylics have not been around that long but have become very popular over the past century due to their versatility and flexibility. Their quick drying time is another benefit, reducing the amount time required to finish a painting, particularly when painting many layers. An acrylic paint artist can use an amazing variety of methods and techniques, allowing for great creativity and fresh approaches to their art.

Acrylics were originally used as house paints but it was not long before the art world began to take notice of their amazing qualities. As interest grew, so manufacturers focused on improving the quality of their products. Today there are many excellent products on the market, offering much greater quality than in the past. More tonality and richness is possible and the colors are vibrant and intense.

Artists have always experimented with painting on different surfaces and artists using acrylics are no different. There are those who use them to paint on glass, wood, stone and just about any other surface without a shine. However, stretched canvas and paper are still most commonly used.

Acrylics lend themselves to a variety of different styles. They can be mixed with water and used like water colors. If a thicker texture is desired, they are even applied straight from the tube. Some artists produce abstract works with lots of depth and texture whereas others create more traditional paintings. Subjects are very diverse and traditional landscapes, impressionistic landscapes, wildlife studies and portraits are just some of these.

The fact that they dry so quickly offers both advantages and disadvantages. The advantage is that layering is possible at a much quicker rate as there is no long drying period between layers such as when using oils. Once a layer is dry it is water resistant too so it is not affected at all by adding another layer. However, the fact that it dries so quickly can be problem when attempting to blend. However, retarders can be added when blending to increase drying time.

Many different techniques and methods are possible with acrylics as they are extremely versatile. Artists use different brushes and other tools to create the effect they are looking for. A sponge is often used to create an irregular pattern. Using a stiff, brittle brush and dabbing on the paint adds depth and texture. A small, pointed brush is suitable for adding detail and creating more definition.

There are numerous brands of acrylics being sold today. Every artist has a brand they prefer, largely dependent on style and method used. Some of these paints offer more saturated, intense colors. The drying time too varies from brand to brand. Consistency is also different with some offering more fluidity and others being like soft butter. All of these paints are long lasting and are not subject to fading, yellowing or becoming brittle as they age.

The works produced by artists using acrylics are sold at many galleries and online stores. This has made them far more accessible to the general public than ever before and enabled many more artists to actually make a living from what they are doing. Although certain galleries are still prejudiced against the use acrylics, still believing them to be inferior, this attitude is fast changing.




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