Acrylic Painting for Beginners

The range of materials for acrylic painting is vast. Part of the versatility of the medium means that there are many options for artists to choose from. This can be confusing and expensive. However for this course and your learning I have kept the materials simple and cost effective. This is my approach to painting in general and it has served me very well. I want you to learn how to paint effectively so that you gain confidence. Keeping the materials simple is a great way to go.

If you are new to acrylics then you may have discovered how quickly your paints can dry. This can waste paint and ruin brushes. Needless to say this is frustrating and expensive. A simple yet effective method to avoid losing paint is to use this stay-wet-palette. It keeps my paints wet for days.

Acrylics will stick to anything that does not reject water. Be careful of getting onto your clothes because once dry that is it - it is there forever. On the plus side this means you can paint on many surfaces too. I use traditional canvas, panels, watercolor paper and matt board the most. Here we take a look at a few of these options.

It is satisfying to make your own painting panels. Easy too. Here is a quick demo of how you can make this versatile support for your acrylics and oils too.

Acrylic painters spend a lot of time talking about mediums. Too much in my view. But there is one medium that I like to use now and then - impasto gel medium. Here we take a closer look at how to use this medium.

Composition is so important that I have a lesson on this in every painting course. This quick step-by-step primer ticks off the main boxes you need to know about.

Many artists worry about their drawing skills. Perspective is one of those topics that gives trouble. But this is not necessary if you follow this approach. No need to worry about perspective again.

Acrylic paint and color can be handled in many different ways. Form a watercolor approach to opaque. We take a look at ways you can use color in this medium.

To see like an artist includes the ability to see the relationship between one color and the next. This is a critical skill to practice and apply.

The next step to color relationships is to understand how each color has a temperature in relation to other colors. Warmer or cooler. Use this knowledge to make color look real and communicate correctly to the viewer.

What do we mean when we talk about values? It is the light and dark mass shapes that form the foundation of powerful paintings. You need to see these mass shapes and know how to compose and use them to best effect. (Download the value scale in your Resources)

The start of this demonstration painting focuses on a strong light dark value arrangement. Then drawing that in a notan study before starting the painting demonstration.

We continue to develop this painting's shapes, but without losing the value arrangement.

We conclude the painting demonstration. Then it is your turn. Download the reference photo and have a go painting your version of this subject. Remember to do the notan study first.

You have chosen your subject, your acrylic paint is on the palette waiting, but now what? You need to act quickly, but you feel stuck about making the next move. This lesson gives you the things you need to observe and what you can do to get the first paint colors mixed and blocked in. Download the apple reference picture and try painting the values and color temperature as described in the video.

This demonstration builds on the skills already shown by adding a complementary color palette. Download the reference to try your own version.

I start the demonstration painting with a look at the reference photo and the composition.

With the composition established and the big shapes in it is time to refine shapes more. Assess each stage carefully. Stand back from the painting and look for problem areas. Even leave the painting until the next day to look at it with fresh eyes. Add where necessary and remove what is not. Always looking for light in direct form and indirect light. The interplay of light is always important to keep in mind.

Completing the overall harmony and adding the thick impasto to give added texture and punch.

Let us take a look at the final painting and discuss the completed painting.

The outline to this painting demonstration: Paint a loose style impression of flowers that is colorful, has texture and is interesting.

I am using primed matt board for this painting. A brief outline in ultramarine blue, block in the background and then start the bold shapes of the bunch of flowers.

Developing the shapes. Building the color layers and revising the overall appearance. This is what the middle stage of a painting goes through.

Re-establish some of the darks. Concluding marks and finish the background.

The completed painting framed and ready to assess the final result. 

You will learn about using high key color and loose brushwork to create a vibrant landscape painting.

Palette selection and the first stage of this colorful and expressive landscape.

A lot can happen in the middle stages of a painting. Especially when you paint quickly and expressively. There is an element of chance. So expect to make changes. Stand back often and look at the painting. Make decisions and go for it. You will see that I do take a few turns here and there. A section that must be scraped back or painted over perhaps. All part of developing your confidence.

Let us assess the painting in its frame and decide if I pulled this one off. The main thing I want to encourage is that you must take a risk. If this approach intimidates you then try it. If you want to push it further into bold abstract then do it. This is the idea behind acrylics. Push the limits and add multimedia if you want.

A variation on the expressive landscape is this more contemporary approach. Shapes are more simplified, bolder and more abstract in nature. In this video I show how to approach such a painting in simple terms. These paintings can be extremely complex in concept and you can push the idea with more multimedia too. This is an introduction for you to practice.

The conclusion of the painting and remarks on the final result.

This demonstration is about using the lessons covered to create a fun and loose acrylic painting. This subject and approach is my favorite way to spend time in the studio. It ticks all the boxes. Let's have a look at the subject first.

Start off with a toned panel in warm red acrylic. The panel is primed with gesso first. I'm using a 26cm x 36cm panel for this painting. Then block in the darks and middle values. A large size 8 brush keeps shapes simple and strong. A feature of his painting style.

Now to develop the shapes. I work in layers to build up to a rich and interesting painting. This takes some patience and experience. It is important to persist with adding color of warm and cool color and light and dark shapes. Only stop when you are happy.

The final hurdles: go over some of the darks, add a few details and highlights and its all over.

Take a look at the final result, framed and varnished.