Course Lessons

1 – Introduction

Welcome to the Acrylics Basics Class.
This video is just a quick little video from your Tutor Belinda to say  ‘Hi, Welcome!’ and explains what is covered in the class.

Video time: 2.5 mins
Password to watch is:  acrylics101

2 – Getting Started

To get started in acrylic painting you only need a few materials to get going, watch the video for more information and my tips on each of these. 

• Watercolour or Surface to work on
• Water / Water Jars
• Brushes
• Palette for mixing paint on
• Acrylic paint
• Paper towel or rag to wipe your brush

Notes for this lesson:

  Download this Video

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3 – Types of Acrylic Paints & Why you would use them.

In this lesson,  I cover 4 specific types of acrylic paints and why you would use some over the others. I also cover why you use Matte acrylic paints which are demonstrated in the next lesson. 

This lesson covers both cheaper acrylic paints as well as the more expensive artist’s acrylic paints. This lesson explains the difference as it can be so overwhelming when you go to the artshop so i have tried to keep it simple!!

I share tips on – How to go about buying paints – answering questions like:  What colours do I use?
As well as tips helping you chose a paint that is right for your project.

The video covers these points but I have also outlined these key points in the PDF you can download for this lesson.
Links below are some locations you can purchase these paints online but most of these can be purchased in most art stores.
There are no tasks for this lesson, this is an informative lesson.

I hope this lesson helps you to understand various types of acrylic paints and gives you some help when choosing some. Of course like I always say use what you have if you have some paints at home and are not sure what to use please send me a pic via the facebook group. Best thing to do is jump into the next lesson and let’s give them a whirl!

TESTERS: I had trouble with this video i think i need to reshoot this one!!! its an important one!! What do you think?

Notes for this lesson:

Refer to the Companion Book for more info. 

  Download this Video

Discuss this lesson in the group*>
Use #acrylicsbasics to talk about this in the group. *must be a member of the support group to do this.

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4 – Project – Have a play with your acrylics

Having a play is super important in art, we are essentially creating something from nothing, we don’t often know what the thing is before we start or how it will turn out,  it’s very essence of creativity is playing to see what comes.  I find that often we can often put so much pressure on ourselves to not only produce “something” but also produce something “good” that we can forget that just the “playing” and the process of getting to know our materials and how WE like to use them within ourselves is a big step in itself. Having a play something that I and many other artists I know do regularly, it doesn’t have to result in anything in the end other than a good time and this is all supposed to be fun right!! 

This exercise is really just about learning to play with your materials whether that be the materials you have already in your house or any new materials you have bought. Get them out put them on a surface and see how they go alone and see how they go when you mix them with other things. If you have mindset thought coming up about “wasting good materials” or fear about making something “good” try to let go of that and just put it aside for this session, you can’t enjoy something you don’t know how to use or if it sits in the cupboard!!

Watch the lesson video to see the steps of how I play with our 4 different types of paint, talked about in the previous lesson. 
Refer to the class companion book for further step by step instructions.

Exercise 1: Get your paints out

For this exercise, I have just used a sheet of canvas paper to work on but you may do this on anything you have. 

1. Choose 3 colours and white (good quality white if you can) then just simply paint in broad strokes with your brush across the whole page mixing colours as you go.
2. Just start to put down some paints on the page.
3. Get your white and put that down on the page next to your colours, start to blend your white into the colour you have down on the page with a dry brush.
4. If you have different brands of paints, put them down as well next to the others and FEEL how different they are going on and blending.
5. Just keep going until you fill your page. After your done with your play STOP. If you are starting to make a mess and you end up painting over the area over area STOP. Leave your work to dry and come back to it later, or put it aside and get another sheet out and have another play. This is like getting to know your tools, there is no pressure to make anything you are getting to know your paints so paint and paint and play 🙂 Note this can also be done in an art journal or over an old canvas if you wish. You can cover your palette with another sheet of foil to keep the paint wet and come back to it later.

TIPS

This exercise is great if you have different brands/types of paint and you can FEEL the difference of the paint and how they mix together.

Blend colours into one another by just dipping your brush from one colour to another don’t try cleaning your brush first. Then get the white and make one section lighter. Use a spray bottle with water on your palette and on the work if the paint is dry.

6. Once dry get your paints out again and let’s do more playing. Firstly take a minute to just look at your page and feel the paint notice any areas that need more paint of intensity or perhaps you feel the need to make them darker / light.  Go for it, just Paint dabs, lines, strokes across your page in a contrasting colour. Paint over an existing area with the same or a different colour and see what happens.

If your interest in mixed media once dry try using a coloured pencil in various areas of your painting just to see how the pencil is picked up by different textures and paint brands. 

Notes for this lesson:

  Download this video

Tasks for this lesson:

1. 1. Take out your paints and fill your paint with paint. See companion book for instructions. 

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5 – Project – Painting a Sky

Having fun with smooth painting techniques!

In this lesson, we learn how to paint using acrylics in a smooth painting technique. This exercise looks fairly simple but you will really gain alot if you give it a go so i urge you to give it a try. Lets jump in and get started. 

In this video, I show you

 How using a your brush in specific ways can help you to achieve a smooth look

 How to mixing my paint on the surface rather than on the palette using a dry brush technique

 How you can just a couple of colours & balancing your water and drying your brush to paint in general

 Step 1 in painting any acrylic painting by doing the first layer and then allowing it to dry.

There are two parts to this lesson Part A & Part B – Instructions are in the video but you can also check the companion book for more info. 

Part A 

Notes for this lesson:

  Download the Reference Beach Photo

  Refer to the PDF

  Download this video – Part A

  Download this video – Part B

Tasks for this lesson:

1. 1. Download the Reference Photo
   2. Get out some white and some blue paint
   3. Paint your sky using long strokes and watch the video for tips on how to get your colours to blend smoothly.
   4. Refer to the PDF for step by step instructions. 

  Discuss this lesson in the group*>
Use #acrylicsbasics to talk about this in the group.

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6 – Apple

Lets paint an Apple – Impasto Style!

In this lesson, I show you a bit of a different way of working with Acrylics than the previous lesson this is working Impasto style.

Impasto: is a technique used in painting, where paint is laid on an area of the surface in very thick layers, usually thick enough that the brush or painting-knife strokes are visible. – Wikipedia

So we use lots of thick paint and use lots of dabs to work in this style. If you have done acrylic painting before but haven’t painted in this way before this is a great way to freshen up a different way of using these techniques. If you are new you may find you enjoy one way of working more than another this is all about having a go and seeing what works for you.

You will need:

• A canvas board
• Paint, Brushes, Water, Cloth for wiping your brush
• Download the Apple Photo in the resources & lets go.

Step by step instructions in more detail are also included in the PDF, please check there for paint references.

TIP: You are welcome to work from life for this technique if you prefer or to use your own subject in a similar style, please take a look at the private resources page and you can use any of the photos for your practicing in there.

Just remember this is a techniques exercise so if you do decide to give this a go with another reference photo, don’t try anything too detailed, or out of your depth, here we are just playing with learning techniques not trying to do a masterpiece. If you love working this way you can can also move onto another painting in this style next time. 

There are two parts to this lesson PART A, is where we lay the foundations and the beginning stages of the painting. We work quite wet here and i talk you through my process and thoughts that you can adapt through to your own painting & subject.

PART B – Is the next session of this painting. Ofcourse with acrylic painting there are many session you can have to get your painting right. As i mention in the video, I am all about showing you the ropes, getting you started and you ofcourse can take as many sessions as you like but i reccommend

In this video, I show you

 How using a your brush in specific ways can help you to achieve a smooth look

 How to mixing my paint on the surface rather than on the palette using a dry brush technique

 How you can just a couple of colours & balancing your water and drying your brush to paint in general

 Step 1 in painting any acrylic painting by doing a first layer and then allowing it to dry.

Please post your questions in the facebook group if you are a member and give it a go!

Notes for this lesson:

  Download the Reference Apple

  Refer to the PDF

  Download this video – Part A
  Download this video – Part B

Tasks for this lesson:

1. 1. Get out your canvas board, paints, brushes, water & rag for wiping
   2. Sketch out your apple on the board with a pencil
   3. Start with 2 background colours white & either mix a colour (see notes) or out of a tube.
   4. Once the background is down, start to get the dark shadows of the background the shadows of the apple in.
   5. Keep going backwards and forwards to get the foundation layer of your painting in. 

 Share your work in the facebook group and ask any questions >

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7 – Summary

That’s a wrap.

I hope you have enjoyed this Acrylics Basics Class. Of course, this is just the starter class of Acrylics, there are so many other areas that you can discover further like using mediums with acrylic paints, working in mixed media and so many different ways of working.

The best thing you can do now is to do play and have fun, whether that be on paper or canvas board or you splurge out and buy a canvas. Keep in mind not to complicate things too much and work your way up to larger and more complex pieces. Try another piece of fruit or a simple object to start with and then build up to more as you progress.

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE? 5 Tips on how to continue your art journey.

1. Head on over the TT General resources page download a new reference image and paint that. Don’t overthink it just choose a subject you are drawn to.

2. Start with a colour you love this might be from a magazine or on a painting you love. Have a colour play in an abstract style or find a subject that is of this colour and do another mini painting of this.  If you have a photo of a subject it can be easier when your just getting started.

3. Search google for acrylic paintings and finding artists you love.  Have a look at their style have a go at painting in their style.
Note: This is the way many artists learn, don’t be afraid of being inspired by another artist when you are at a beginning stage in your artistic journey. It’s considered to be an appropriate way of learning (even the old masters did this). It’s only a bad thing if you start replicating an artist’s paintings and selling them. If you’re just practising techniques and is only for your personal use at home, learn its fine to be inspired by other artists ways of painting. 

4. Join or check in on the facebook group, I know I keep harping on about it but as I said I want to help you in your journey and I will be posting further lessons in this group to keep you motivated and on your toes to inspire and extend what you have learnt in this class. 

5. If you have a limited time remember to keep it small, work up to a more complex or larger piece.

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