Basic Acrylic Painting Techniques for Beginners, by Jennifer Funnell on YouTube. 4 min 48 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 48 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Lay out your paper, paints, two brushes, water cup and paper towels. Squeeze small blobs of blue, yellow, red and white onto a palette or a spare plate.
Load the big utility brush with water and paint a thin, even coat across the paper. This is a wash, and it gives the surface a base tone.
Let the wash dry fully before painting over it. Wet on dry means you paint onto a dry surface, so edges stay sharp and colours stay strong.
For wet on wet, brush clean water onto the paper first, then drop paint into the damp area. The paint spreads and softens on its own.
Mix your first colours on the palette: blue plus yellow makes green, red plus yellow makes orange, red plus blue makes violet. Add white to lighten a mix.
To blend, paint two colours next to each other while both are still wet, then drag the flat brush back and forth across the join. Work quickly before the paint dries.
For a crisp edge, let the first colour dry completely, then paint the second colour right up to it with a lightly loaded flat brush.
Rinse the brush in water and blot it on a paper towel between colour changes so you do not muddy your mixes.
Tips and common mistakes
Acrylic dries fast, so keep a spray bottle or a damp paper towel handy to stop your palette blobs from skinning over.
Do not add too much water to the paint or it turns thin and patchy; a few drops are enough.
Test every mix on a scrap of paper before you put it on your painting.
Clean brushes with water straight after use, because dried acrylic can ruin the bristles.
Questions
What is the difference between wet on dry and wet on wet?
Wet on dry means painting onto a dry surface, which gives sharp edges and solid colour. Wet on wet means painting into a damp surface, which gives soft, blended edges.
Can I use water instead of glazing medium?
Yes. Water works fine for thinning paint and making a wash. Glazing medium keeps the paint stronger and more transparent, but it is optional.
Do I need special acrylic paper?
Cold press watercolour paper works well and handles the water in a wash. Canvas or acrylic paper also work if that is what you have.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
