HOW TO BLEND ACRYLIC PAINT on Canvas for Beginners 🎨

Summary

In this video, the artist shares essential do's and don'ts for blending acrylic paint to create seamless gradients. They demonstrate the correct paint consistency, the importance of keeping the brush damp but not dripping, and how to avoid streaks and see-through effects. The video also offers tips on blending dark and light colors, managing paintbrush pressure, and using slow-dry products. A time-lapse of a sunset on a lake painting illustrates the techniques, and the artist emphasizes the importance of preparing more paint than needed to avoid running out mid-blend.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Use the right paint consistency for blending: not too thick like pudding, not too thin like soup, but like thick gravy.
• 💧 Avoid using too much water as it can make the paint see-through and create streaks.
• 🖌️ Keep the paintbrush damp but not dripping wet to facilitate blending without creating droplets.
• 🧽 Have a rag or sponge handy to blot the paint and remove excess water.
• 🚫 Position water jars to the side to minimize the chance of droplets falling onto the canvas.
• 🖉 Choose a softer brush for easier blending and to avoid streaks caused by stiff bristles.
• 🌑 When blending light and dark colors, start with the light color and gradually add the dark to prevent it from overpowering.
• 🧼 Clean the brush often and thoroughly when blending to avoid mixing unwanted colors.
• 🖼️ Pay attention to the pressure applied by the paintbrush to create a seamless gradient.
• 🕒 Use products like 'slow dry' to extend the drying time of acrylic paint for more blending time.
• 📦 Always prepare more paint than you think you'll need to avoid running out and having to redo sections.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video script?

The main topic of the video script is blending acrylic paint, focusing on techniques to avoid common mistakes and achieve seamless gradients.

What is the first 'don't' mentioned in the script regarding blending acrylic paint?

The first 'don't' mentioned is using too much water, as it can make the paint see-through and create streaks.

What is the ideal paint consistency for blending according to the script?

The ideal paint consistency for blending is like a thick gravy, not too thick like pudding nor too thin like soup.

Why is keeping the paintbrush damp recommended in the script?

Keeping the paintbrush damp helps with blending colors into each other, but not too wet to avoid creating droplets and streaks.

What should one do if a droplet falls onto the canvas during blending?

If a droplet falls onto the canvas, one should gently blot it right away and work the area specifically to make it seamless.

Why is it advised to keep water jars on the side of the painting instead of in front in the script?

Keeping water jars on the side of the painting reduces the chances of water droplets falling onto the canvas.

What type of brush is recommended for blending acrylic paint according to the script?

A softer brush is recommended for blending acrylic paint as it's easier to achieve a seamless background effect with softer bristles.

Why is it better to bring a light color into a dark color when creating a gradient?

It's better to bring a light color into a dark color to create a gradient because dark colors are overpowering and can quickly make a light color too dark.

What is the importance of pressure when blending with a paintbrush as mentioned in the script?

The importance of pressure when blending with a paintbrush is that it requires adjusting between heavier and lighter pressure to work the colors into each other without creating streaks.

What product is suggested in the script to help with blending when painting realistic subjects?

The product suggested in the script to help with blending when painting realistic subjects is 'slow dry' by Liquitex, which extends the drying time of the paint.

What is the simple but important tip shared at the end of the script regarding blending acrylic paint?

The simple but important tip shared at the end of the script is to always make more paint than needed to avoid running out and having to redo areas of the painting.