Sunset, Acrylic 16 X 20.[/caption]

My acrylic painting workflow- top 8 tips. I have been painting and drawing my whole life and I thought I would share some of my workflows for painting with acrylics. My techniques have evolved over time.

 1. CAN I SEE YOUR REFERENCES PLEASE?

The first thing I do is pull out my thumbnail sketches and then I look at my canvas. Depending on what I am painting, I have my reference photos handy as well. Sometimes the painting is all in my head and I don’t work from a sketch or photo at all. A color scheme and composition pop in my head in a matter of seconds.

 

 

 

 

 

2. PREP THE PIECE

I prime the painting surface with matte white gesso if needed. It makes the paint go on smoother. I only use it mostly for blending and smooth out colors over a large surface. After the first layer of gesso is done I let it dry to see if I need a second coat. I usually apply two coats for my wood pallets.

3. FINISHING TOUCHES

I also make sure the sides and the back of the canvas/wood board has a coat applied as well. Whatever colors I use for the background I like to match the sides and back either with a complimentary color or some sort of pattern. It gives the buyer something to look at from all sides. Because in my opinion, the painting doesn’t end at the edges of the canvas.  It also gives it a more professional look to the pieces.

4. PAINTING SWAG

My style is in-between POP & Realism. I tend to paint loose broad strokes with a 2” brush when underpainting, a term used when painting in layers. I can explain further on underpainting in a new post if I get any requests.  But I am assuming that most readers know of this technique already. I like my paintings to be bold and bright, so I don’t over mix colors and avoid the use of muddy colors such as browns and blacks unless I’m painting realistic skin tones for portraits.

5. DID YOU SAY SEVEN LAYER DIP?

A common technique for most artists is painting in layers. I start with the background and work my way to the foreground using a large brush between 1-2 inches.  I continue to block out the main shapes of my composition but this time using a smaller size brush about 1” or smaller. By this time, I can see the foreground starting to take shape.

After many layers later I guess you can say it’s like making a 7 layer dip. Each layer I add detail highlights mid-tones and shadows which creates the 3d optical illusion of a great painting.

6. WHATS YOUR MEDIUM?

Another tip is using a medium. I use it for thinning out the paint without the look of translucent watercolor texture you would get from using water. It’s also good for increasing the flow of old paint that is starting to harden. It can be used to formulate your own paint blends as well. Liquitex has an awesome line of new mediums. I love using the iridescent colors/ink and Texture Gel blends for giving a painting a mixed media Regal Finish. Thanks, Liquitex. You Rock!

7. AM I DONE?

Sometimes I get painters block, I can’t decide if the painting is missing a color or an element. So, I put it aside and sleep on it or start a new painting. I wake up with a new perspective on the piece and I’m ready to continue. If you’re still not sure to reach out to some of your friends and use social media. This feedback helps out a lot.

8. ONE FOR THE INSTA AND ONE FOR CURATING

The last step is tightening up the composition with details. I always use a small liner brush at this stage. I keep my camera phone handy, so I can take pics of the WIP. This is also a great time to create content for your next blog post or websites. Feel free to check out my insta @clarkimages

This is the time where I break, step back, and look at the work from a distance and see what elements are missing and what adjustments need to be made. Sometimes it takes longer for a painting to come together. But in the end, it’s worth the wait to see the final masterpiece. Oh and please don’t forget to sign your work. So those are my Acrylic Painting Workflow – Top 8 Tips.

Well, kids, it’s not about technique, it’s more about planning the painting, or not. There is no wrong or right answer but it’s good to try another artist workflow then see what works for you. The point is to encourage a workflow the helps you churn out awesome Art!

For some inspiration view some of my acrylic work here!

Nameste’