… and Google!
I Google anything a Grade 5 and 8 student expect their mother with ‘all her life experience’ should know. I Google stains out of carpets, I Google dinner ideas, I Googled (if there is such a word)our first summer vacation in Canada; coming from South Africa, who knows what Canadians do in two months of no school and a lot of sun hours! Why not Google yourself to be a better artist. I Google the history of art, modern art, techniques and what ever is needed for me to learn more.
When my husband gave me my easel 2 Christmases ago, I Googled Acrylic Painting Tips for Beginners and this was the beginning of my Art Education.
Painting Tip 1:
Keeping Acrylic Paints Workable Because acrylics dry so fast, squeeze only a little paint out of a tube. If you’re using a ‘normal’ plastic palette invest in a spray bottle so you can spray a fine mist over the paint regularly to keep it moist. ‘Stay-wet’ palettes – where the paint sits on a sheet of wax paper place on top of a damp piece of watercolour paper – eliminate the need to do this, but generally don’t have a hole for your thumb so are more awkward to hold in your hand.
Painting Tip 2:
Blot your Brushes Keep a piece of paper towel or cloth next to your water jar and get into the habit of wiping your brushes on it after you rise them. This prevents water drops running down the ferrule and onto your painting, making blotches.
Painting Tip 3:
Opaque or Transparent If applied thickly – either straight from the tube or with very little water added – or if mixed with a little white, all acrylic colours can be opaque. If diluted, they can be used like watercolours or for airbrushing.
Painting Tip 4:
Acrylic vs Watercolour Washes When an acrylic wash dries, it’s permanent and, unlike a watercolour wash, is insoluble and can be over-painted without fear of disturbing the existing wash. The colours of subsequent washes mix optically with the earlier ones. A watercolour glaze can be lifted out using water and a cloth.
Painting Tip 5:
Think Thin When Thinking Glazes If you want transparent glazes, these should be built up in thin layers; a heavy layer will produce a glossy surface.
Painting Tip 6:
Improve Flow Without Losing Colour To increase the flow of a colour with minimal loss of colour strength, use flow-improver medium rather than just water.
Painting Tip 7:
Blending Acrylic Paints Because acrylics dry rapidly, you need to work fast if you wish to blend colours. If you’re working on paper, dampening the paper will increase your working time.
Painting Tip 8:
Hard Edges Masking tape can be put onto and removed from dried acrylic paint without damaging an existing layer. This makes it easy to produce a hard or sharp edge. Make sure the edges of the tape are stuck down firmly and don’t paint too thickly on the edges, otherwise you won’t get a clean line when you lift it.
Painting Tip 9:
Washing-up Liquid with Masking Fluid Masking fluid can be used with acrylics washes, as well as watercolours. Once masking fluid has dried in a brush, it’s nearly impossible to remove. Dipping a brush into some washing-up liquid first makes it easier to wash masking fluid out of a brush.
Painting Tip 10:
Using Acrylic Paint as a Glue for Collage Provided it’s used fairly thickly and the item to be stuck isn’t too heavy, acrylic paint will work as a glue in a collage.
All you need is enthusiasm and Google, the rest will follow.
freda
This from http://painting.about.com/od/acrylicpainting/a/10tips_acrylics.htm thank you Google! 