Acrylic paints for painting combine the characteristics of watercolor and oil. Main feature of these paints is that the dried image takes on a film-like appearance and becomes protected from the effects of water and sun rays. Using this material is not difficult if you take into account several important points.
When working with acrylic paints, one of the most pressing questions that worries beginners is - what are acrylic paints made of? How to paint by numbers? Can acrylic paints be restored if they have dried out? If yes, then how to revive them? How to revive acrylic enamel if it has dried out? What brush should I use? How to paint with acrylic paints on canvas? How to paint water with acrylic paints?
Acrylic paints for painting combine the characteristics of watercolor and oil.
Acrylic paints are most often used for decorative painting and arts and crafts. This material has covering ability, that is, another can be applied to one dried layer without damaging the applied pattern or texture.
In order to master the skills of painting with acrylic paints, you will need a set of 6 colors and adherence to the following recommendations:
- As a basis for drawing, you can take wood, plastic, glass, paper, cardboard, canvas.
- During the drawing process, it is allowed to use synthetic and natural brushes. It is worth considering that with the help of synthetic brushes a thinner layer is applied than with natural ones.
- When working with acrylic, you can use a palette knife. This tool will allow you to apply textured, bright strokes.
- Paints are diluted with water or a special solvent on a palette. The material must be diluted carefully so that it does not become too liquid. To paint with glazes, it is necessary to dilute the material to a watercolor state, but alla prima does not need to be diluted. Undiluted paints are applied to the base only with synthetic brushes or a palette knife.
Acrylic paints are most often used for decorative painting and arts and crafts.
How to dilute acrylic paints?
Before diluting the material, you need to decide on the basis for drawing. To paint on walls, you can dilute the material with plain water. For decorating glass, ceramics, furniture, and other wooden bases, it is best to use specialized thinners.
When diluting the material with water, only use clean and cool liquid. Most often, acrylic is diluted with water in the following proportions: 1:1, 1:2, 1:5. Moreover, the use of each proportion gives the paint special properties:
- 1:1 – used to form initial layers. This application is due to the fact that the paint becomes more fluid and does not accumulate on the brush;
- 1:2 – used for secondary layers, since the brush is perfectly saturated with pigment and distributes it in an even layer;
- 1:5 - used in glaze technology, since this composition allows the pigment to penetrate into the pores and form a translucent layer. It is impossible to achieve this effect if you dilute the pigment with a special solution.
To obtain a gradient, the pigment is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15.
What to do if acrylic paints have dried out?
Acrylic can be used for painting even after drying. But to restore their consistency, you need to know a few tricks. It is worth considering that dissolving dried paint with cold or warm water will not work, since this material acquires a film structure and is not subject to destruction under the influence of low temperatures. Therefore, if the paints have dried, boiling water is used to dilute them. The pigment is returned to a liquid consistency according to the following instructions:
- The dried piece is crushed and placed in a bowl.
- Then the mass is poured with boiling water.
- As the fluid cools, it should be renewed.
- After all the crushed parts are saturated with water, the paint will be suitable for painting again.
It is worth considering that most experienced craftsmen do not dilute dried acrylic, since its properties will be somewhat different from fresh paints. For example, the main disadvantage of pigments diluted in this way is their heterogeneity, due to the fact that some lumps did not dissolve in boiling water.
How to paint with acrylic paints (video)
Acrylic paints for plastic and glass - is there a difference?
Most manufacturers produce various types acrylic, among which you can find material for painting glass and plastic. Acrylic for glass is designed specifically taking into account the characteristics of the material. Most often, this material is distinguished by a glossy shine and translucent pigment. Such features allow you to create a sparkling painting on a glass surface, imitating stained glass.
Most manufacturers produce various types of acrylic, among which you can find material for painting glass and plastic
Using acrylic for plastic to process glass is possible, but this material will not be able to maximally emphasize the elegance of light reflections in the product. Acrylic for painting on plastic surfaces and canvases has a rich opaque color that allows you to overlap the color of the previous layer. Using this feature of the material, you can create beautiful crafts, making the plastic more elegant by forming a layered texture on its surface.
Composition of acrylic paints
Acrylic is made from acrylic resins. They are polymers that, when dried, form a structure that retains the pigments that are included in the paints as an additional component. Pigments for acrylic can be inorganic, natural or synthetic. Most often they come in the form of a dry powder that adds color to the base and makes it less transparent.
Acrylic is made from acrylic resins
The resulting film after drying is formed due to the presence of polyacrylates and polymethacryls in the paint composition. In addition to these components, fillers are also added to acrylic - large particles of pigment, a binder necessary for gluing solid particles.
The best acrylic paints for painting
There are many manufacturers who make acrylic paints for painting. However, not all acrylic products are distinguished by quality and reliability. For example, some manufacturers use low-quality raw materials in order to reduce the cost of their products. And such a move, in turn, affects the quality of the paint material; for example, many of them begin to crack or lose their brightness after drying. To avoid such problems, it is necessary to give preference to trusted manufacturers, the best of which are presented below:
- Acrylic color – produces products in tubes. The consistency of the material is quite liquid, so in most cases dilution with water is not required. This material does not allow the use of a palette knife for painting.
- Gamma is mid-price acrylic, suitable for beginners for painting. The consistency of the pigment is quite thick, so it can be further diluted with water or thinner. Allows you to paint with both a palette knife and a brush.
- Nevskaya Palitra and Ladoga – acrylic, improved quality. Used for drawing by professionals, students of art schools and universities. Form beautiful texture strokes, and also retain their color qualities and structural features.
Step-by-step acrylic painting: lesson (video)
If you are reading this article, then you have suffered the misfortune of all artists - dried paints. Before you start getting upset, you need to find out if it is really dry?
Today I will tell you how to distinguish dried acrylic paint from a set by numbers from a thickened one that can still be restored. I’ll tell you how to do it correctly, saving your nerves and money as much as possible.
By the way, some stores (for example, like) provide guarantees and provide free exchange.
Very thickened or dried out
In order to find out, you need to check to understand the density of acrylic paint:
1. If the brush is able to take this dense stroke of paint, which is homogeneous in composition and consistency similar to soft plasticine, then all is not lost. It can be "reanimated".
Add a couple of drops of solvent (or, if you don’t have it, you can replace it with plain warm water), mix the paint thoroughly, close the container tightly and leave it like that for several hours. During this time, the acrylic will soften and become suitable for painting again.
2. If the paint resembles a piece of an eraser or elastic plasticine, which is taken out of the jar in one large piece, you cannot pick it up with a brush, it means the paint has dried. But don’t be upset, maybe all is not lost!
How to restore dried paint
If the acrylic paint from the painting by numbers set has dried out, then ordinary water will not be able to help. It is necessary to carry out one last experiment that will put everything in its place: take the paint out of the container and run it over the paper. If there are traces left, then such paint can still be saved.
Restoring acrylic correctly:
1. Use a toothpick or needle to make as many holes as possible in the dried paint. The more there are, the better. This is necessary in order to break up the toughest lumps. Repeat the procedure several times.
2. Add a little solvent to the paint and leave it overnight. In the morning, mix thoroughly again.
Having done everything according to the instructions described above, you will receive paint with which you can paint. BUT! The original properties of the paint will still be lost; most likely, the acrylic will no longer paint the paint-by-number areas so well. You will have to do several layers of paint to paint the required area.
If the paints from a painting by numbers have dried out and cannot be restored, here’s what you can do:
1. Choose a color by mixing other paints.
2. Buy the required shade in a specialized store.
3. Contact the seller with a request to replace this paint with fresh one.
The online store sells only fresh paintings by numbers, supplied directly from the manufacturers, which allows you to preserve all the properties of acrylic paints, as well as make the prices for coloring books one of the lowest in Moscow and the Moscow region.
IN modern world advanced technologies, the comprehensive flourishing of chemistry, physics and related industries, various dyes with all kinds of purposes have become firmly rooted in people's lives. Nowadays, colorful shades are attached not only to holiday paraphernalia; bright colors can be found everywhere. In technology, fashion, and design, flashy ultratones are increasingly used. Thanks to its properties, acrylic paint is increasingly used not only by advertising artists, but also by masters of various fields.
Types of acrylic dyes and their areas of application
Organic compounds have been known to mankind for quite some time. Some of them are used in their original form, others are replaced by newer and safer substances. Acrylic paint has practically supplanted its predecessor, oil paint, from the sphere of construction and design due to its exceptional properties. Polymer water-soluble quick-drying dye without a pungent odor is used not only in painting, but also in external and internal finishing works Oh.
In turn, high art has long spread beyond the stuffy studios of unknown artists. Fearless master painters have gone out into the world and are applying their talents to various fields. Artistic painting These days you can see it not only on canvases or kitchen utensils. Phantasmagoric ornaments, heroes and scenes, executed by talented hands, are found in clothes, manicures, on the walls of houses and apartments; drawings adorn the shiny sides of new cars and designer furniture.
Everyone is their own master
Development affected not only science directly, but also people in general. There are more and more talented people who do not want to trust others to create masterpieces.
Parents paint the walls of children's rooms with their kids, desperate car enthusiasts draw bizarre shapes on metal parts their favorites, sleek young ladies with enviable tenacity practice applying ornaments to their perfect nails, young rebels, followers of Picasso and Dali, stealthily on dark nights decorate gray fences and walls of abandoned buildings with magnificent works of street painting.
Surely in almost every home there is acrylic paint, stored for certain needs. Sometimes it is forgotten due to unsuccessful application experience or simply as unnecessary. But at any moment, an artist who has long fallen asleep in the depths of his soul can awaken. Therefore, every artist needs to know how to apply leftovers or how to dilute acrylic paint if it has dried in order to continue creating.
Acrylic paint for painting
In the middle of the last century, mass production of acrylic paints began, and the first to use them were artists.
Among the most famous masters we can mention Frank Stell, an American painter who became a pioneer in the use of new coloring matter; Leonard Rosoman - an English artist whose works are full of realism; Paulo Rego, her works have become the standard of modern symbolism.
Many of today's fine arts practitioners use acrylic. For painting, a dye with a thick consistency is used, which dries quite quickly. If there is a need to revive old stock, you need to know how to dilute acrylic paint. Ordinary water is quite suitable for drawing, since the dye is produced precisely on its basis. When applying an image to a waterproof surface, you can use an ordinary household sprayer to moisten it. However, in some cases special solvents are required that change the properties of the paint. To choose the one you need, you should follow the recommendations of the acrylic gouache manufacturer.
Acrylic paint for walls
For interior finishing work, more liquid acrylic is used. This property of the paint allows it to be applied evenly over the entire work surface. Despite its consistency, the once liquid substance may, over time, lose its original moisture level and thicken. How to dilute acrylic wall paint? Again with water. Moreover, the dyes on acrylic base For finishing work, it can be diluted until transparent. This allows you not only to save money, but also to achieve the necessary smoothness of the surface.
Some unlucky craftsmen have a question: how to dilute acrylic paint if it has completely dried out? And in this option, water, or rather boiling water, is suitable. In order to recreate the previous consistency of the paint, it needs to be crushed. After this, pour boiling water over it, wait a little until the water cools, drain, then repeat the procedure. In a few minutes it will acquire its previous properties.
Acrylic paint for textiles
Using the popular polymer dye, you can not only paint pictures on canvas. It is also suitable for decorating clothes. Thanks to the exceptional properties of acrylic paints (after drying they acquire water-repellent properties), designs on clothes are preserved for a long time, even after many washes in automatic machines at temperatures up to 60 degrees Celsius. This has been used for a long time and quite successfully by many large and not very large manufacturers and designers of products in the fashion industry.
Experienced users claim that the miraculous polymer can be diluted with anything. Acrylic paint for fabric is usually marked with an appropriate inscription; this type of dye is more resistant to external influence and often does not have time to lose its properties. If it needs dilution, then water will help. Drawings on textiles are recommended to be dried well and treated with a hot iron. This will allow them to last longer.
Acrylic paint for manicure
Contrary to the modest hopes of the developers of acrylic resin-based dyes, the invention became extremely popular. Today its use is almost universal. Not only do they paint pictures with acrylic, fashionistas are passionate about it: they decorate clothes, accessories, nails and even bodies.
Manicure uses almost the same substance as painting. If you have a question about how to dilute it, acrylic nail paint, as well as for almost all other surfaces, can be diluted with water to obtain the desired consistency and used in a specific application technique.
It is important not to confuse paint with acrylic varnish. It requires a special thinner, which can be purchased at a supermarket or specialty store. The differences between varnish and paint are that the former is designed to apply one color evenly over the entire area nail plate, and the second, in turn, serves for the detailed application of miniature artistic elements, after which it is additionally coated with varnish or gel.
Acrylic paint for car
Despite the apparent simplicity of using acrylic paints in art, design and fashion, it is worth mentioning auto enamels, which are created on the basis of the same component, but their use is a more labor-intensive and complex process. Any part of the car must be durable and resistant to all climatic conditions. The same applies to appearance. Therefore, acrylic car enamels always consist of two components - the paint itself and the hardener, which as a result chemical reaction and dry in no way inferior in quality and durability to their alkyd resin-based counterparts.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to dilute acrylic car paint with anything after it has hardened precisely because of the additional component. It should be used immediately after mixing. Despite this, acrylic car enamels are the most popular precisely because of their ease of use and speed of drying.
How to dissolve acrylic?
The question of how to dilute acrylic paint is not always the most pressing. Often there is a need to remove it from the surface, that is, remove it. In this case, a suitable solvent is needed. Since acrylic paint becomes resistant to moisture and mechanical stress after drying, removing unwanted particles can be a problem. One of the methods was described above. If the surface of the material allows treatment with boiling water, then it is worth using it.
Paint can be scraped off mechanically from painted walls and other flat and dense surfaces. All you need to do is the right tool. In other cases, based on the properties of the painted surface, the quality and purpose of the acrylic dye and additional components, you need to use suitable solvent. The most acceptable and affordable is alcohol. In any case, you should consult with a representative of the paint manufacturer so as not to completely ruin the item.
Today on the Internet you can find a lot of different information about. Of course, each artist’s approach to work may differ from each other. And every way of drawing will be correct!
Nevertheless, I decided to make my tiny contribution to the “web of the Internet”, since I work with this type of paint, along with traditionally oil and varnish stained glass paints. You can view my paintings in different execution techniques at
The whole complexity of painting with acrylic paints lies in the details. General principles The application of these paints and their combinations differs little from oil. But nevertheless, mixing, applying them to the surface, as well as transparent glazing are somewhat specific. Previously I wrote in painting.
For those who are just looking at acrylic and trying to paint for the first time, it is useful to take the first steps using a proven method. That's why this article appeared: I will tell you in it how to paint with acrylic paints in such a way as to take into account their main features. This is, of course, not an absolute rule, since any painting is a whole living world and accordingly, improvisation in art is welcome.
Two sketches with acrylic paints
In the photo I choose one of the acrylic sketches for further work on canvas in oil.
There would most likely be no jazz in the art of music if it were not for the virtuosic musical improvisation of musicians. By the way, did you know that many musicians have shown talent in fine arts? Take an interest and see for yourself the talent
In the future, if you decide to continue working with them, you will be able to experiment with certain subtleties, improvising and creating your own music on canvas! So, let's go...
Getting started: preparing the palette, brushes and paints
You can paint with acrylic paints on cardboard, thick paper, intended for acrylic, but better, of course, a suitable canvas is suitable for acrylic painting. Therefore, painting with acrylic paints on canvas will be the right decision!
If you are not ready to paint on canvas now, then start simple, with acrylic paper, with a canvas structure. You can later glue such work onto thick cardboard, hardboard or canvas. And as they say, frame it and hang it on the wall!
Supplies before starting acrylic painting
Already at the stage of preparation for work, you need to take into account the main features of acrylic paints.
First feature: they dry very quickly, both on the palette and on the canvas. Therefore, to prepare paints, you need to either use a special palette or constantly maintain them in a semi-liquid state. If you decide to apply the masks impasto or with a palette knife, then this feature will only help you.
How long does acrylic paint take to dry?
Everything directly depends on the thickness of the stroke; the thinner it is, the faster the acrylic dries! If the drying speed in acrylic painting confuses you, and you are hesitant to try them in your work because of this, then don’t worry. Today on Art Space appeared special drying retardants.
Retarders for acrylic painting
They dilute acrylic paint and it will not dry on the palette for hours, remaining in the desired consistency. It also dries noticeably slower on canvas.
Second feature: Acrylic paints darken slightly after drying, dulling by about a tone or two. Consequently, initially we select them so that in their working form they are a tone or two lighter than we need in the picture. This is especially important if you are adding where a stroke has already been placed. That is, one stroke on top of dry paint will be visible... try it and you will understand for yourself.
Sketch with acrylic paints
The photo above shows an example of a previously made sketch with acrylic paints. This sketch was prepared before the main work - painting on the wall. The drawing must be clear and correctly written. Therefore, the image on the wall must correspond to the sketch, since there will be an exact repetition, only on a larger scale.
Notice the transition from light to dark in the arch opening.... This effect can be achieved by glazing, as if transparently covering it with one paint on top.
A picturesque layer of paint is the main thing in painting, so we begin work by choosing the colors and shades of your future composition. As a rule, beginning artists simply take the colors of paints that are in their kit, that is, in tubes. What if you need colors that are not in the tube? Here the ability to mix colors comes to the rescue, to get a new shade. After all, it is through mixing that we get new interesting color variations!
A wealth of shades is obtained by mixing
Glaze with acrylic paints- a separate topic. If you are just learning acrylic, then paint in independent, dense tones, just get used to the colors and their features. Once you've mastered the basics, you can start playing around with creating translucent foiling layers.
Below in the photo from left to right: the usual method of applying paint, the second option is a post-pose technique, the third is a light watercolor-lisser technique.
Examples of paintings in different acrylic techniques
Important Feature: with each stroke, try to form the contours that you want to see in final version. Acrylic paints dry in just a few minutes and it may happen that when you want to finalize the outline, it will already dry and fade, and the new layer on top will contrast with it and prevent you from correctly assessing the intermediate option.
It is advisable, of course, to immediately outline the contours of objects that have contrasting edges. This will make the task of drawing each individual one easier.
Another nuance: the brush needs to be washed often, especially when drawing very fine details. For example, animal hair, grass, small stones require very fine brush strokes. If it sticks to your brushes large number paint and it dries, the hairs stick together and the strokes become thicker and rougher. They fail to create the desired structure.
In one day or evening, it is advisable to complete one complete independent element, at least one layer of it. Then, after drying, the next day you can start with a new element and not worry about whether the part you completed today will contrast with the one you wrote yesterday.
Painting with acrylic paints on canvas
Note
Remember that acrylic paints practically cannot be washed off clothes. Therefore, it is advisable to write with them in a durable apron or work coat.
This may be your first acrylic painting and it doesn't have to be perfect. Its task is to let you understand how to work with acrylic correctly, how it lays on canvas or paper, how long it takes to dry and what result is obtained when applying it.
When you write it, you will already understand why certain shortcomings arose, and in your next works you will be able to avoid these mistakes. That's why write boldly, evaluate the result, draw conclusions and improve. Perhaps acrylic will help you fully unleash your creative potential!
For those who want to improve and want to move forward, I offer a complete video course, a guide using the example of a painting in modern style. The video is the most convenient way learning, in my opinion. Lesson announcement 📌
Friends, so that the article does not get lost among many similar ones, save it to your bookmarks. It will always be at your fingertips at the right time.
Ask your questions below in the comments, I usually answer all questions quickly
In this article, we’ll look at a few simple tricks that will help make the process of coloring pictures by numbers even more enjoyable and exciting!
Care for brushes
For comfortable work with brushes throughout the entire process of creating your masterpiece, adhere to the following rules:
What absolutely, absolutely should not be done with brushes:
- Leave brushes in dirty water(in pure form, by the way, it’s also not advisable)
- Dry the brush with a hairdryer, iron, steam, etc. (there were such options too)
- Wash the brush with “Mr. Muscle for the Kitchen” and any similar products
The most favorite of all newbies:
- DO NOT mix the paint in the jar with brushes. They will get “fluffy” and you simply won’t be able to work with them anymore.
- Remove dried paint with your nails (save the manicure)
If for some reason you cannot continue painting the picture by numbers with the brushes from the kit,
don't be upset! You can purchase similar brushes at any office supply store. The main thing is to choose the right one
width of the pile and continue painting the coloring by numbers.
All about paints for Painting by numbers
First and most important!!!
- Once you open the paints and air gets into them, they expire. shelf life becomes limited and paints begin to dry. Therefore, we do not recommend starting a painting before a vacation, renovation, or other long-term events. On average, paints can last from 2 weeks to 2 months after opening.
- When you have just opened the paints, you need to mix them thoroughly. As stated earlier, it is best to use a match or a toothpick.
How can you tell if the paint is too thick?
Do the simplest test:
- mix the paint with a toothpick/match
- remove the toothpick/match from the paint can
- did a small drop roll down the toothpick/match? If yes, then the consistency of your paints is excellent and there is no need to dilute anything.
What to do if the paints from the Paint by Numbers set have dried out?
If you still encounter such a problem, then you have three main options for solving the problem:
thickened slightly
, it can be diluted with plain water room temperature. You need no more than 1-2 drops per jar of paint. After you add water, mix the paint thoroughly and leave for 5-10 minutes. Please note that the jar must be left closed. Only after 10 minutes, if the paints are still thick, you can add 1-2 more drops. The procedure can be repeated many times, the main thing is not to pour a lot of water at once.
If the paint is in your paint-by-numbers kit has the consistency of soft plasticine or eraser.
The action plan is as follows: with an ordinary toothpick you need to make a lot of holes in the paint and pour boiling water over it and immediately drain the water. You need to repeat this procedure 2-3 times - pour it in and immediately drain it. Next, pour boiling water over the paint; the water should completely cover the surface of the dried paint. WITHOUT STIRING, leave for 12-16 hours. After the time has elapsed, you need to drain the water, use a toothpick to mix the paint, adding drops of boiling water. Do not try to vigorously shake the paint; it will come out in clumps. Slowly and smoothly stir in a small amount of boiling water (drop by drop). Also at this stage, any professional thinners for ACRYLIC paints can save your situation. The procedure for restoring paints with professional products should be carried out according to the instructions for this product.
If the paint is removed from the jar in one piece
– then unfortunately, nothing can be done. You can try using the point above, but unfortunately there are no guarantees
If the paint is in your kit has the consistency of cottage cheese (lumps).
You need to add 1-2 drops to this paint hot water, mix well and close the jar tightly. After 12-16 hours, open the jar and check the consistency of the paints. If the required result is not obtained, the procedure must be repeated. On average, 2-3 procedures are needed for an ideal result. Therefore, be patient and you will definitely succeed!
How to prevent paints from drying out if you need to take a break from working?
If you still haven’t calculated it and you need to take a long break during work, then you need to do the following:
- Add a couple of drops of water on top of the paint and NOT mix
- Put the paints in a cool place (pantry, basement, closet, etc.)
This simple method will help preserve your paints until your next creative impulse.
We wish you a wonderful time and really hope that “painting by numbers” will become your new hobby!!!