Acrylic Paints Are a Great Option for Budding Artists

Acrylic paints are quite a new medium in the world of art if you compare them to the likes of oil paints or watercolours. The paint itself has only been available on a commercial basis since the 1950's after the acrylic resin which forms the paint was invented by a Dr. Otto Rohm. The medium has been recurrently developed and refined ever since. Many new genres of art were developed after the paint was utilised by the likes of Andy Warhol, who set the standard for 'pop art' in the 1960's. This medium also adheres to attributes of other types of paint deeming it very versatile and perfect for anybody starting out. Art is all about experimentation after all.

Many reputable art suppliers will definitely stock acrylic paints, given their popularity, and they will often vary in price and quality. You can also purchase sets which offer a variety of colours and sometimes include acrylic brushes also, great as an initial starting point for the absolute beginner. It is very easy to manipulate this particular medium given its dexterous qualities. With the addition of water, acrylic paints can be thinned to a consistency that mimics watercolour paints. You can also layer very easily; allowing one layer to dry you can immediately add another on top of it. The only downside to using this particular technique is that unlike watercolours, the colours cannot be blended again once dry. Acrylic paints are water resistant once dry, great for stencils or block colours but not so flexible if you want to continuously blend colours together. As long as you keep it wet this should not be a problem.

This medium can also be utilised in crafts, not just simply canvas painting. One dry it is permanent, so it is perfect for small projects or painting miniature models and such. Many professionals who use it will have perfected techniques and methods which suit their painting style. As an amateur artist or student of art finding the right brand of acrylic paints and forming your technique and ideas is just as important. Another great attribute to this medium is the immensely quick drying time. A perfect quality for those who are new to arts and crafts, meaning you can work quickly and see the dry finished results straight away. Most sets available will offer a range of colours and of course the more you get used to the medium of acrylic paint, the more adventurous you can be.

iArtSupplies are established suppliers of high quality acrylic paints and other art materials.

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Acrylic Paints: A Great Medium for Beginners and Professionals

The 1950s was the decade in which acrylic paint first became available on a commercial basis. This innovative original paint and the techniques that developed from it gave rise to new forms of art being produced. This medium aided artists in producing work at a much faster rate and made artists like Andy Warhol for instance, rise to fame, with his outlandish new style known as 'pop art'. In contrast others were hesitant to utilise this new form of painting given that acrylic paints have very unique qualities that are quite different from say oil or watercolour paints.

Acrylic paints have a reduced drying time in comparison to other mediums making it popular amongst professionals and beginners alike. With mediums like oil paints, a large painting can actually take a few weeks to dry. They became popular given that you'd have a dry piece of artwork within 24 hours. For people experimenting with art this was a great quality. Acrylic paints are also resistant to water damage when they are fully dry. In the preservation of artwork this is a great quality, they don't have the tendency to fade and crack like other mediums. The only disadvantage with this really, is the fact that alterations cannot be made easily once the painting is dry.

Acrylic paints are nowadays widely available at any art suppliers that specialise in art materials. They are also very reasonably priced, and of course like anything you pay more for quality. If you are a beginner acrylic paint sets are available which cater for basic acrylic artwork and often come in a range of colours. The more professional artist will know what they want and will probably already have a brand in mind.

Another great quality is that the paint itself may be thinned by using water, in contrast to the turpentine and other toxins you may use with oil paints. This means brush cleaning is very simple and much less time consuming. This medium lends itself to many techniques, so if you are a budding artist it gives you the time to explore different techniques to find out what works well for you. Acrylic paints are great for block colour and work very well on canvas. Stencilling and simple designs are popular amongst beginners as you can often achieve successful results right away. Acrylic paints also adhere to qualities of watercolour and oil paint. They can be manipulated in similar ways so are a good starting point if you have just developed an interest in painting. They have a unique finish and if you do use them you will soon realise why they became such a popular paint. Of course, it comes down to preference in the end, so definitely experiment with the medium and find a style that suits you.

iArtSupplies are established suppliers of high quality acrylic paints and other art materials.

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What Oil Paints Should Be Used In Painting?

This article concentrates on producing images using oil paints. There are a great variety of makes of oil paints to choose from and a corresponding range of price and quality. When beginning to paint, there is an understandable tendency to go for the cheapest. Why spend a lot of money on paints one might subsequently not use again?

BUY CHEAP, BUT...
OK! So buy the cheapest and have a go. But there is a big "but". In fact, one or two big buts. So if you are going to go cheapest, do so partly by purchasing the smallest tubes of paint you can find - because as soon as you get "hucked" on oil painting, you will need to be severe with yourself and throw the low quality stuff all away.

Probably the smallest size tube you will find is 21ml. After that come 38ml, 75ml etc. Certainly the larger sizes ought to be left until later. One possibility is that you may by large tube sizes for colours which, as you develop, will be used very infrequently.

Likewise with supports (the things like framed canvass which you put the paint on). Not much point in putting cheap paint on expensive supports. Don't begin by purchasing large sizes: try, say, around 12" X 10".

Brushes...? Well, cheap brushes will not last very long anyway, and in all probability, you will be happy to get rid of (hopefully) the few you have bought. And really cheap ones can be had almost anywhere. If you are starting off with small pictures, you will need small brushes. The main types are: round, flat and filbert (flat but with the corners rounded). You can usually get this in sets.

GETTING WHAT YOU PAY FOR
This is a great economic truth (most of the time). It certainly applies to artist's materials, the main reason being that good materials cost more than cheap ones - and as soon as you develop an enthusiasm for oil painting, you will want to upgrade everything you are using. But you can only upgrade by getting rid of any temptation to downgrade by resorting to the cheap stuff you began with. So buy cheap to start, but then...

EARLY STAGES
In the early stages of learning to paint you may not be aware of the differences between alternative qualities of paint. (The differences in brushes will be much more apparent). But they are real, and trying different ones will later bring an awareness of this. So when you sense the commitment to painting is growing, try some more expensive ones.

TYPES OF OIL TO START WITH
Many artists use competitively priced oil paints as are available in most stores or on line. These come in various types but, moving on, ignore the cheaper student type. One of the most important determinants of price is the cost of pigments that produce the colour. There are several companies around that provide a high quality at reasonable prices by using alternative pigments, which are cheaper than traditional ones, and they come in an adequate range of colours. As with other types of oil paint, they can be bought in sets with, say, six smaller sized tubes of 21ml. This provides a limited pallet (or range of colours), which is a good thing for beginners since it allows one to get to know what can be achieved by mixing, say, two or three basic colours.

Daler-Rowney Georgian oils are another relatively economic range, which aims to attain a high standard. Tube sizes are 38ml, 75ml and 225ml, but start with the smaller ones. Again, sets are available, including starter kits.

Daler-Rowney and Winsor & Newton Artists oils are of a professional quality and cost around twice as much as those previously discussed. But it is the quality one is paying for: much better pigment (which affects the appearance of the paint, how long its colour last, etc) superior handling and so forth.

AND LATER...
As you progress, there are several makes of oil paint which offer even more superior qualities but, of course, that old economics principle means that the price goes up (and for some, up and up!). Among these are Michael Harding (which the painter David Hockney rates as "excellent" and "first quality") and Rembrandt (which claims especial brilliance. So there is much you can progress to.

AUTHOR: A K Whitehead
This article is copyright but may be reproduced providing that all this information is included.
Web site: http://www.paintingsinoil.co.uk/

These are provided with free frames. Free delivery is also included in the UK but a small additional charge may be made for delivery outside the UK. All oil paintings can be obtained directly from http://www.paintingsinoil.co.uk/gallery.html where full information is available.

A K Whitehead paints in a traditional manner, making especial use of glazing and impasto techniques. His work covers landscapes, waterscapes, snowscapes and seascapes. He is a member of the Association of All Artists. Original images are for sale at realistic prices that include frames and delivery.

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