Acrylic Odds and Ends

 

Acrylic Odds & Ends
 
Dear Sir;
 
I am new to Acrylic painting and would like some guidance on blending colors in this medium. The reason
I decided to ask you is that I read your article on acrylic glazes and found it to be very helpful.
Any information would be appreciated.
 
Thank you, Daniel

Hi Daniel,

I am not sure what your concern is with regards to blending colors.  I will say that acrylics are the most flexible and forgiving of mediums.  They allow you to mix any and all possible combinations of colors without any problem, that is, from a technical viewpoint.  Unlike oils you don’t have to worry about the varying drying times of the different pigments when blending or layering colors. 

If you are looking for information on ways of mixing colors for creative purposes, like how to get an interesting variety of mixed greens, then I will steer you elsewhere. 

I will tell you that I rarely mix colors in my own work.  Go to the FCA website (artists.ca) and find my article called "Light Rules" in the Resources section.  It will give you some insight into my approach to mixing colors.  There are also a lot of books out there on color mixing and some excellent workshops through the FCA.

Hope that helps.  Let me know if you have a more specific question.  Cheers, David

Toxic Acrylics? 

 

Hello David,

I would like any information that you might have regarding the health hazards
of Liquitex Basics Acrylic Color.
 
Sincerest thanks, Gloria

Hi Gloria,

All artist's paints are toxic, including acrylics.  It is the pigment (color agent) not the medium (linseed oil, acrylic resin, etc) that is toxic.  Some colors (pigments) are more toxic than others. 

Don't eat them, bite your nails, chew on the end of your brush, or eat with paint on your hands. 

If you get them on your hands it is ok, just wash your hands with soap and water to remove the paint (from under the nails too) before eating...  I wear gloves sometimes so I don't have to worry about washing my hands too much.  But then, I'm a messy painter. 

Hope that helps.  Have fun, David

 

Hi David,

I have just finished an Acrylic painting that is 18X24 and would like to know how to put a final finish on it. I have Golden Soft Gel(Gloss), Golden MSA Varnish (Gloss & also Matte), plus some Liquitex Soluvar. I would appreciate the order of how you apply these and how you mix them, if you do.  I would also like to thank you for the Weekend of Mastering Acrylics 1.   I took this course a few years back and have since sold 4 paintings. I also use only a Transparent Palette now and it is wonderful how the colors can be made to glow through. I have also finally got up the nerve to enter a juried show.     Thank you for any help you can give me.
 
Yours truly, Patricia

Hi Patricia,

Congratulations on your successes.  Did you say you use ONLY a transparent palette?!  I love how transparent passages in the painting recede with depth and inner life while opaque patches sort of jump out at the eye but the dynamic created by the push and pull of each on the eye is awesome and can be a very effective compositional tool. 

 

 Many people mistakenly believe that acrylic paintings do not need a varnish so let’s review that again.  Here is how to varnish a dried acrylic painting; you have all the right stuff:

 

1.  Apply one or two coats of soft gel medium (gloss) mixed 1 part water to 2 parts soft gel medium.  Use a wide soft brush.  Allow to dry thoroughly (may take a couple of days).  You can also use Acrylic Gloss Medium but I find that the above mixture brushes on better and doesn’t foam or cloud up as easily.  Be sure to only use gloss mediums for this layer, matte mediums are not durable enough.  This layer is called the ISOLATION varnish because if ‘isolates’ the painting from coming into direct contact with the final picture varnish which can now be cleaned or even removed with a solvent without affecting your painting.  Acrylic paintings are sensitive to solvents. 

 

2.  Apply a coat of either the Golden MSA or Liquitex Soluvar with a soft brush.  You can mix gloss and matte in any combination.  I usually mix them 3-4 parts gloss to 1 part matte.  Read the instructions for the Golden MSA varnish as it needs to be diluted with a solvent (mineral spirits or turpentine).  Be sure to apply these varnishes in a well ventilated area.