Acrylic PaintingTips and Techniques

Start with observation and a careful sketch.

It is very difficult to change shape and placement once painting begins, so take your time on this

step to get things exactly the way you want them.

Use a grid to help sketch difficult subjects.

All objects in your painting will have at least three tones:

Highlight, Mid-tone, and Shadow

Observe your subject, note the colors you see!

Start with simplified shapes of tone: Where are the highlights, mid-tones, and

shadows?

You can leave defined shapes of highlight, mid-tone, and shadow, or you can blend them

together using a clean brush.

Always paint large shapes of

color first!Include your

highlights, mid-tones, and shadows!

Wait until this layer is dry, then add

small shapes and details on the next

layer.

You may choose to tone your canvas with a sepia wash for a warmer look.

You can create a grisaille, or tonal study in sepia, before you add a local color layer.

Continue adding highlights and shadows

to each shape of local color...

...until you have created a wide range of tones and hues. Check to make sure you have areas that are bright

white, as well as deep, dark shadows.

Use warm tones in highlights, and cool tones in shadows.

This technique can be used with highly saturated colors, like the painting on the left, or with subdued tones, like

the ones in the Lucien Freud painting on the right.

No two people will ever paint in exactly the same style!

These tips are suggestions and guidelines- you’ll find the process that works best for you!Don’t worry if your painting looks quite different from your classmate’s work- it’s

natural-and that’s what makes your work unique!