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Demo
a
Demo b
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ACRYLIC
CLASS
Acrylics are a polymer (plastic in characteristics) and are therefore
so versatile they can be used to mimic either watercolours or oils!
Because of this there are so many ways in which this medium can
be applied to the support (canvas, paper, board, masonite, glass,
fabrics, plastics, concrete, drywall, cardboard, metal etc.) Because
they are a polymer they dry slightly darker (as compared to when
they are still wet) and dry to a rubbery texture and a thick layer
can be peeled off glass, plastic, rubber etc.
Polymers
can be thinned with water but should ideally be thinned with the
same carrier resin that carries the pigment, gel medium which comes
in glossy or matte.. To remove an errant passage of acrylics use
70% isopropyl (rubbing alcohol). All the blending techniques used
for watercolours can be applied to acrylics if the paints are used
very watered down and runny or oil blending techniques if used impasto,
but with a bit of water sprayed on the canvas first. If you find
that applying acrylic (or even oils, for that matter) a bit of a
"drag" on gessoed supports try adding a layer of acrylic
gel medium over the primed support before painting on it.
We will
paint the Red Deer River as shown on the home page in both arcylics
and oils. Start out with a hasty monochromatic using about 4 different
but distinct values. Remember YOU are the artist, you CAN and SHOULD
change a few things around the image if you think there is a design
problem using mother nature as is. Once your monochromatic is completed
start by laying in the deepest deeps. Then paint a spot or two of
mid tone value (colour is irrelevent, but VALUES are EVERYTHING!)
. Do not rush to paint in the sky yet. Start painting a few more
pasages in the dark to mid tone range then a spot or two of the
lightest values. Now paint in the sky (the lightest values may well
be somewhere in the sky. Now you will have a good scale by which
you can compare your values of each and every stroke of the brush.
You will be thinking: "lighter than..." or "darker
than...." Go ahead, put that paint on the tip of your brush
or the tiop of our palette knife and hold that up against the values
you are comparing. Squint often to "blur out " details,
painting only as much as you need to get your message cross.
During
the demos in class I will think out loud so that you can become
atuned to what you could be thinking about while painting....lighter
than, darker than, warmer than, straighter than, curvier than, cooler/warmer
than, more intense etc etc"...
<<Demo
a:Mix colours that will be used, in full intensities (no added whites).
Remember to mix as shown in class. It's a fool-proof method and
you will not be wasting paint nor ruining your brushes. So use your
palette knife as demoed in class. Remember to apply the paint as
shown, and cool down the colours into the distance, then start adding
blues for the far distance. Keep comparing values. Don't shy off
on the darks.
<<Demo b: Start at the foreground. start defining shapes
using darks for the values in the shadows.. Using that alla prima
grip on the brush lightly skim the surface to allow a layer of paint
to be deposited. Remember, a loose grip, not that death grip!
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