Do you like to experiment and innovate? Then acrylic mediums are for you! For a few years now, the market has been booming.
New products appear every year on the shelves.These mediums are perfect for making mixed media paintings, for example, or for playing with the material and viscosity of the paint. There are almost no texture mediums for oil paint.
Acrylic has the advantage of being able to vary the effects with these products! For an acrylic painting, you can add impasto, have a very fluid paint, add a matte or glossy effect, have sandy effects, cracks, relief, creamy textures, delay the drying, make glazes, etc.
If you like mixed media painting, don’t hesitate to combine acrylic mediums and collages.
Vital elements for acrylic painting
It appeared in the 30s and was marketed in the 50s and 60s in the United States, then in Europe.
Today, it is used as much as oil paint.
The secret of its success? Acrylic paint is very easy to use.
What are the characteristics that make artists choose acrylic paint over other types of paint?
– It is simply diluted with water
– It dries very quickly, so you can paint quickly and layer upon layer
– Color mixes are easy to prepare
– It is very easy to apply on canvas
– It can cover many different types of surfaces
– It is odorless and not very toxic, compared to oil
– Fresh, it is easily cleaned with water
How is acrylic paint made?
Acrylic paint is an artificially created paint, using industrial products.
More precisely, acrylic is composed of two essential elements: pigments and binder.
– The pigments: they are similar to those used for oil paint; they are of organic, mineral, natural or synthetic origin.
– The binder: it is an emulsion composed of water and an acrylic resin; the acrylic-vinyl binder is a variant; the texture and fluidity vary from one manufacturer to another.
– The first acrylic paints were made for the automotive and construction industries.
Different types of acrylics appeared and the compositions evolved rapidly (previously, acrylics were diluted with turpentine), until they became the acrylic paints we use today, which are diluted with water.
The 3 types of acrylic paints
The acrylic paint study
There are 3 types of acrylic paint.
The entry-level paint is called “study”.
It is recognizable by its low price and its plastic tubes of paint. The prices are the same for a whole range of paints.
What is the advantage of the acrylic study paint? Its price!
To get started smoothly, without breaking the bank, it may be wise to start with an acrylic study painting.
Of course, being the cheapest on the market, the study paint is of lower quality than other types of paint.
It has a light pigmentation, the pigments are of low quality, and the resistance of the paint over the long term is not assured (aging, yellowing, alteration by light, etc.)
Fine acrylic paint
The fine acrylic paint is of medium range.
It is well suited to beginners or professionals who do not want to buy too expensive paint.
There are many brands that offer fine acrylic paint.
Why choose this range of paint?
Because it has a very good quality-price ratio, because it is present in all art shops and because there is a lot of choice!
The tubes are often made of plastic and the prices are the same for the whole range of paint.
What are the disadvantages of acrylic thin paint?
It is less pigmented and of lower quality than extra-fine, and paintings can be altered by weather, light and suffer minor deterioration due to the aging of the work.
Single pigment colors
Some colors contain one pigment, other a mix of two, three or four. A single pigment (or pure) color gives the best clear color purity. Mixing two single pigments gives the cleanest mixed colors, as it is just these two pigments combining rather than multiples. For example, when you mix single pigment colors Cadmium Red Light and Cerulean Blue, you’re only mixing two colors. There’s nothing else to muddy your paint. However, if you use multi-pigment colors, you are often mixing as many as six colors, since each color is made up of three pigments each. The more pigments that are being mixed together, the faster your color will turn brown and muddy. Examples of single pigments usually include cadmiums, cobalts, quinacridone and phthalocyanine colors – you’ll see the exact pigments listed on all our packaging.
These give you the benefit of pre-mixed, “custom” colors. Mixed pigment colors are brighter than you can mix in the studio and guarantee consistent results each time. Our muted collection colors are perfect examples of new pre-mixed multi-pigment colors that are hard to achieve yourself.
Opacity/transparency
Each pigment has its own personality and one of the key characteristics for any artist is how transparent it is. To help you choose, we communicate this clearly on our packaging so you can select a good color for clear glazes, or opaque colors for covering dark backgrounds. We group them into three categories:
- Opaque – these colors do not allow light to pass through the color layer and offer the best coverage or hiding power
- Semi-opaque – these allow for some light to pass through the color layer and sit between opaque and transparent colors
- Transparent – these colors offer the least coverage and allow light to pass through the color layer to the surface below. They are perfect for glazing and watercolor effects
Lightfastness
How long will it resist fading? Each pigment is rated on scale by the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM). Liquitex paints are all rated ASTM I (excellent) or II (very good) and considered permanent and lightfast for 50-100+ years in gallery conditions. Our metallic and fluorescent colors are naturally less lightfast.
Mastering Texture and Dimension with Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint
Art has the incredible power to captivate viewers and evoke emotions. Texture and dimension are crucial aspects that can elevate artworks to new heights.
This blog post will explore how Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint can be the key to mastering texture and dimension in your paintings. Let’s delve into the world of artistic possibilities.
Understanding Texture and Dimension
Texture and dimension play significant roles in creating visually engaging artwork. Texture refers to the tactile quality of a surface, while size adds depth and realism to a piece. Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint offers a versatile medium to enhance both texture and dimension in your paintings. By understanding its potential, you can unlock endless creative opportunities.
Impasto Painting: With Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint, you can achieve stunning Impasto effects using thick paint layers. This technique adds a sculptural quality to your artwork, creating raised texture that beckons viewers to touch the surface. To achieve this effect, apply generous amounts of Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint onto the canvas using a palette knife or a brush.
Dry Brushing: Create texture by employing the dry brushing technique. Using a partially dry brush, lightly skim the surface, allowing the paint to catch on the raised areas of the canvas. This method adds a subtle, textured effect to your artwork. Experiment with Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint’s various hues and explore the dynamic interplay of colours and textures.
Sgraffito: Unleash your creativity by scratching or scraping Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint to reveal underlying layers. This technique offers a fascinating way to incorporate texture into your artwork. Use a palette knife or a toothpick to etch intricate patterns, lines, or shapes on the painted surface, adding depth and intrigue.
Enhancing Dimension with Layering Techniques
Glazing: Layering transparent colours with Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint can create a sense of depth and luminosity in your paintings. Apply thin glazes of paint over previously dried layers, allowing the underlying colours to shine through. This technique adds richness and complexity to your artwork as each layer interacts with the ones beneath it.
Scumbling: Add a translucent Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint layer to create a subtle textured effect. You can achieve a delicate, ethereal quality by applying a thin layer of opaque or semi-opaque paint over a dried layer. Scumbling allows for the interplay of light and shadow, enhancing the dimensionality of your artwork.
Wet-on-Wet Blending: Blend colours directly on the canvas with Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint for a seamless transition of hues. This technique allows for smooth gradations and soft transitions, creating a sense of depth and dimension. Experiment with different colour combinations and explore the dynamic possibilities of wet-on-wet blending.
Conclusion:
Texture and dimension breathe life into artworks , engaging viewers and evoking emotions. With Chroma A2 Acrylic Paint, you have a powerful tool to master these essential elements of art. Embrace the techniques explored in this blog post, experiment with different approaches, and let your creativity flourish. If you want to purchase Atelier A2 Lightfast Heavy Body Acrylic, contact Art Supplies Australia. Call us today and embark on your artistic journey with confidence.
Remember, texture and dimension are the secrets to unlocking the true potential of your artwork. So, go forth, create, and mesmerize the world with your textured and dimensional masterpieces.
