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Painting With Acrylics Has Come A Long Way!

When painting with acrylics (or any paint for that matter!), you and I both know that scooping up a big glob of colour and pushing it across your canvas or paper, is somehow very fulfilling.

When you know a few tricks, or even if you are just starting out, painting with acrylics is an incredibly satisfying experience. Versatile and sophisticated, these days quality acrylic paint is arguably easier to use than oil paint. In many cases you can't tell the difference between them in a finished piece.

The things I love about painting with acrylics are:

  • Ease of clean up
  • Low toxicity
  • Versatility (particularly Atelier Interactive )
  • Clean, fresh colours
  • Fun! 

Ease of clean up. One word... Water! Cheap, accessible, and (hopefully!) not toxic. Those of you who have concerns about dealing with chemicals (probably most of us) and fumes, acrylic paints are a no-brainer. Whilst they do contain poisons or toxins, the amount of exposure you have when painting with acrylics is considerably less than that associated with oil paints (don't drink it though!).

Goopy, Gooey, Gloops of colorful fun!  Acrylic paints rule!

The versatile nature of modern acrylic paint makes the creative process easier. Even acrylic gesso has come ahead in leaps and bounds. Acrylic paints tend to dry quickly, which can be a plus (or not); it's a matter of understanding the paint's characteristics. When in doubt, there are many things you can do with an acrylic painting medium to help extend the drying time (or speed it up if you need to).

Newer generation acrylics means vibrant pigments. After a short time, you can paint a bright clean layer straight over the top of another, without muddying your colours. This is not always the case with oil painting. Acrylic and oil painting both have their pros and cons.

The fun to be had when painting with acrylics is endless. Fast drying time means any mistakes made can be quickly corrected, (or painted over). The paints can be laid out easily, with less fear of mess; and gets you in that fun painting zone, fast!




For more tips, special offers and quick wit (no, that's not half-wit), subscribe to our monthly e-zine, Acrylics Anonymous.

It’s fast, free, and we never send you junk.  As a valued subscriber, you can purchase our 3 pack of downloadable how to paint with Mark Waller DVDs for only $80, or our downloadable V-log “Coral Reef - Underneath” for only $12.  

See your subscription confirmation email for more details on these specials and more.

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Acrylic Painting Basics. Exciting First Steps
Have you always wanted to explore your potential for acrylic painting? Or are you new to the medium? Let's find out what we need to get you started, with the basics of acrylic painting.

Acrylic Painting Tips to Help Improve Your Painting Process
Acrylic painting tips to help you avoid some traps. Start to understand the personality behind acrylic paints.

Stuck for Painting Ideas? Let's Inspire You Into Action
Through observing your everyday world, fire up your imagination and turn your inspiring observations into new painting ideas.

Acrylic Gesso. More Than Just a Primer
Discover the ways acrylic gesso can be both a saviour and an inspiration. Explore its capabilities and bring some body to your work.

Discover the Acrylic Painting Medium Best Suited to Your Project
Why Use An Acrylic Painting Medium? Let's explore the Who, What, Where, When & Why.

Acrylic Painting on Paper - Discover the Untapped Potential
Your common problems explored and solved. Investigate various types of paper and what effects you can achieve when painting with acrylics on paper.

Acrylic Sealer. Where and When? Not Just a Final Coat
Know your acrylic sealer. Increase the longevity of your work, and support your painting processes. Find out how an acrylic sealer can make it easier and more fun.

Acrylic And Oil Painting. Understand The Capabilities And Limitations Of Both
Problems in the playground? Acrylics and oils can play together without supervision. Find out how.

Traveling With Acrylic Paints.  How To Avoid Disasters And Have Fun.

Simplify your kit.  Allow your spontaneous creativity to flourish when traveling with acrylic paints.

Interview with Colour In Your Life presenter and CEO Graeme Stevenson.

Learn from Graeme his future goals, what he would do differently and some feel good stories from his journey as the presenter and CEO of Colour In Your Life.

Interview with Joe Cornelius aka Mural Joe.

Come on an in-depth journey as Joe opens up his heart and mind in this candid and inspiring article.

Interview with Richard Robinson aka NZ Painter.

Richard opens up about his painting process, tips for capturing light in your own paintings and heaps more insights in this candid interview.

Will the Real Steve Harris Please Stand UP.

Dick Millott writes about Steve Harris - a real acrylic brush man and his process and progress.  A great read from the one and only Dickie M aka The Struggling Artist.

10 Questions with Linda MacAulay - Artist; "art is serious but I am not".

Find out what lights up Linda MacAuley artist, with our latest in depth interview.

Keeping A Visual Diary. Ideas and Inspiration.  A Library At Your Fingertips.

Discover how keeping a visual diary will help improve your painting process and your mental state as well.

10 Questions with Mark Waller - purveyor of fine art and bad jokes.

2016 - an intensely wacky year.  Mark, the indomitable founder of this site, provides a candid interview based on life, the universe and everything.

10 Questions with Janet Knight - Artist "art is life and life is love".

Our latest interview highlights Janet's passion and positivity for using varying mediums and subjects in her beautiful artwork.

10 Questions with John Magne Lisondra.  Prominent Youtube Tutor and self taught Artist.

Being from the Phillipines, John has grown up very differently from you and me, in that he has not had easy access to quality paint supplies, or even quality instruction at times!  So sit back and take in a little bit of John’s world :)

Working on Commission.  Pros, Cons, Strategy and Stereotypes.

Discover some pitfalls to avoid when working on commission, and some considerations to, well, consider.

10 Questions with Stay Creative's Ryan O'Rourke, master of 10 minute paintings.

Hello lovely people of the internet world.  You would've come across Ryan's tutorials on the tubes I'm sure.  Well so did we, and I asked him if he'd like to participate in a little info sharing with you guys.

10 Questions with Chuck Black - Wildlife Artist and Conservationist.

I felt very priveleged to interview Chuck recently.  He's so generous with his knowledge and honest and humble in his delivery.  Do yourself a favour and learn a little more about him here.

10 Questions with Adrian Reynolds - Ren Creative Works.

As a child of the '70's also, and someone who has dabbled in many different creative areas, I felt an instant kinship with Ren, and was very excited to have the opportunity to interview him. 



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