Step by step drawing with paints for beginners. Acrylic Painting Technique: The Basics

Discover creative watercolor painting ideas at Craftsy!

Ready to learn painting? Here are 7 watercolor ideas for both beginners and experienced painters.

1. Flowers

The translucent nature of flowers makes them a great subject for watercolor painting because watercolors allow you to start out with very light tones and build tints and shadows as you go. Watercolors are also fluid. If you work on this, you can achieve a smooth texture that closely mimics the texture of the flower petals. Plus, who doesn't love flowers?

Learn how to paint realistic flowers with the Craftsy Realistic Watercolors Step by Step class, or get started with our free tutorial on the blog.

2. Landscapes

Whether you want to try aerial painting or paint a complex, layered landscape, watercolor is the perfect tool for the job! Take advantage of the light properties of watercolors to paint the sky, clouds, water and snow.

Landscapes are a good solution for beginners. You don't have to be precise with shapes and lines. Landscapes will also help you portray consistently what you imagine in your mind! Want to try? Get started with this step-by-step landscape painting lesson.

3. Fruit

Watercolors are inherently refreshing, especially if you leave highlights here and there. This makes painting fruit with watercolors ideal. The fruit also has simple shapes, allowing you to practice creating highlights and shadows in a simple, straightforward way. Light and shadow are all contained in one form.

Aspiring artists can create a fruity still life using the contents of a homemade fruit bowl. More advanced artists can paint from nature photographs, including leaves and backgrounds.

4. Wildlife

It takes a little practice, but you can achieve many textures with watercolors. You can create soft, fuzzy strokes for fur; wide strokes for feathers; and paint stains for the scales. The possibilities are endless here. Draw your favorite animals, birds or insects using your arsenal of textures, and even create some new textures.

5. Architecture

Despite their complexity, buildings are good for watercolor painting because they allow you to easily convey the textures of wood, stone, and brick with simple strokes. Even the clean structures of the buildings create an amazing contrast to the muddy organic forms of the landscapes that surround them.

6. Still life

Objects made of glass or porcelain are still life painting subjects because they reflect or transmit light. Watercolors are great at depicting light, so play with reflections and have fun! Before you start, read about the three basic elements that every watercolor still life should include.

7. Portraits

For more advanced watercolorists, it is recommended to try your hand at watercolor portraits. They can be tricky, but they are also very rewarding. The expressive nature of watercolors allows you to show the personality of your objects. Start with portraits along with tutorials on our website.

Today on the Internet you can find a lot of different information about how, of course, the approach to work for each artist may differ from each other. And every drawing method will be correct!

Nevertheless, I decided to make my own tiny contribution to the "web of the Internet", as I work with this type of paint, along with traditionally oil and varnish stained glass paints. You can see my paintings in different techniques of execution in

The whole difficulty of writing with acrylic paints lies precisely in the details. The general principles of applying these paints and their combinations differ little from oil. But nevertheless, mixing, applying them to the surface, as well as transparent glazing are somewhat specific. I used to paint in painting.

For those who are just looking at acrylic and trying to draw for the first time, it is useful to take the first steps according to the proven method. Therefore, this article appeared: I will tell you in it how to paint with acrylic paints so as to take into account their main features. This is, of course, not an absolute rule, since any painting is a whole living world and accordingly, improvisation in art is only welcome.

Two sketches with acrylic paints

In the photo, I choose one of the sketches with acrylics for further work on canvas in oil.
In musical art, most likely, there would be no jazz, if not for the virtuoso musical improvisation of the musicians. By the way, did you know that many musicians have shown talent in the visual arts? Take an interest and see for yourself the talent

In the future, if you decide to continue working with them, you can already experiment with certain subtleties, improvising and creating your music on canvas! So let's go ...

Getting started: preparing a palette, brushes and paints

You can paint with acrylic paints on cardboard, on thick paper intended for acrylic, but it is better, of course, a suitable canvas is suitable for acrylic painting. Therefore, painting with acrylics on canvas will be the right decision!

If you are not ready to paint on canvas now, then start simple, with acrylic paper, with a canvas structure. You can later glue such work on thick cardboard, on hardboard or canvas. And as they say, in a frame and on the wall!

Accessories before starting to paint with acrylic

Already at the stage of preparation for work, you need to take into account the main features of acrylic paints.

First feature: they dry very quickly, both on a palette and on canvas. Therefore, for the preparation of paints, you must either use a special palette, or constantly keep them in a liquid state in the floor. If you decide to apply masks pasty or with a palette knife, then this feature will only help you.

How long does acrylic paint dry?

Everything directly depends on the thickness of the stroke, the thinner it is, the faster the acrylic dries! If in acrylic painting the speed of drying confuses you, and you hesitate to try them in work because of this, then do not worry. Today on the Art-space appeared special means - drying retardants.

Retarders for acrylic painting

They dilute acrylic paint and it will not dry for hours on the palette, remaining in the desired consistency. It also dries on canvas with a noticeable slowdown.

Second feature: acrylic paints after drying darken slightly, fade by about a tone or two. Therefore, initially we select them so that in working form they are a tone or two lighter than we need in the picture. This is especially important if you finish writing where a smear has already been placed. That is, one smear on top of dry paint will be visible ... try it and you will understand for yourself.

Acrylic sketch

The photo above shows an example of a previously made sketch with acrylic paints. This sketch was prepared before the main work - painting on the wall. The drawing must be clear and correctly spelled out. Therefore, the image on the wall must correspond to the sketch, since there will be an exact repetition, only on a larger scale.

Pay attention to the transition from light to dark in the archway…. This effect can be achieved by glazing, as if transparently overlapping with one paint on top.

The painterly paint layer is the main thing in painting, so we start working with the choice of colors and shades of your future composition. As a rule, novice artists simply take those paint colors that are in their kit, that is, in tubes. And if you need colors that are not in the tube? Here the ability to mix paints comes to the rescue, to get a new shade. After all, it is through mixing that we get new interesting color variations!

A wealth of shades is obtained by mixing

Glazing with acrylic paints- a separate topic. If you are just mastering acrylic, then paint in independent, dense tones, just get used to the colors and their features. Once you've mastered the basics, you can play with creating translucent chalk layers.

Below in the photo from left to right: the usual method of applying paint, the second option is the postozny technique, the third is a light watercolor-lisserovanny.

Examples of paintings in different techniques of execution with acrylic

Important Feature: with each stroke, try to form the outlines that you want to see in the final version. Acrylic paints dry in just a few minutes and it may turn out that when you want to finalize the outline, it will already dry out and fade, and a new layer on top will contrast with it and prevent you from correctly evaluating the intermediate option.

It is desirable, of course, to immediately outline the contours of objects with contrasting edges. This will make it easier to draw each individual one.

Another nuance: the brush needs to be washed often, especially when drawing very fine details. For example, animal hair, grass, small stones require very fine brush strokes. If a large amount of paint adheres to the brush and it dries up, then the hairs stick together and the strokes become thicker and coarser. They fail to create the desired structure.

In one day or evening, it is desirable to complete one complete independent element, at least one of its layers. Then, after drying, the next day, you can start with a new element and not rack your brains over whether the part written today will contrast with the one you wrote yesterday.

Painting with acrylic paints on canvas

On a note

Remember that acrylic paints will hardly wash off clothes. Therefore, it is advisable to write with them in a durable apron or work gown.

This may be your first acrylic painting and doesn't have to be perfect. Its task is to make you understand how to work correctly with acrylic, how it fits on canvas or paper, how long it dries and what result is obtained when applied.

When you write it, you will already understand why certain shortcomings have arisen, and in the next works you can avoid these mistakes. That's why feel free to write, evaluate the result, draw conclusions and improve... Perhaps it is acrylic that will help you to fully unleash your creativity!

For those who want to improve and want to move forward, I offer a complete video course, a guide using the example of a painting in a modern style. Video is the most convenient way to learn, in my opinion. Lesson announcement 📌

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Ask your questions below in the comments, usually, I answer quickly to all questions

Recently, more and more special paints and pencils have appeared so that it is convenient for children to embody fantastic images on paper. But for beginners, acquaintance with the visual arts turns out to be most successful in the process of drawing with watercolors. Let's consider step by step some of the nuances of this process.

The union of water and color

Watercolors appeared in Europe in the 15th century, while in China an aqueous suspension of coloring pigment was used in painting as early as the 2nd century. Even then, painters valued paint for its ability to create stunningly subtle color transitions on canvas or paper. It is this property of watercolor that made it so popular not only in professional but also in amateur fine arts. Painting with watercolors is recommended for practice for very young creators. For children 2-5 years old and older, this paint is ideal, because:

• does not require special skills to get started - you only need to prepare water, brushes and paint;
• mixes well and allows you to achieve a wide palette of colors;
• easily washed off the body and washed off clothes, which is especially important in the case of babies;
• affordable, because usually young artists use material very uneconomically.

Types of paints and watercolor techniques

Before you start drawing, you need to decide on the idea and choose a watercolor. There are 5 types of paints:

• tiled solid;
• semi-solid;
• liquid;
• pencils, crayons;
• mother-of-pearl watercolor.

The first type is suitable for posters and drawings, but not suitable for children's creativity. But the rest of the types can be used depending on which texture it is easier for a person to cope with. In addition, the combination of liquid form and pencils or crayons brings the originality of the combination of painting and drawing to the finished work.

After choosing colors, you need to decide on the technique of execution:

• on a dry sheet (the drawing is bright, with clear contour lines);
• on a wet canvas (makes all transitions blurry, revealing a wealth of shades).

In the latter case, you can use either special watercolor paper, or put a damp cloth - flannel under the sheet.

What do you need to work with this type of paint?

To make working with paints enjoyable, you need to prepare everything you need for work in advance. In addition to watercolors and paper, which were mentioned above, you will need:

• shallow container with wide sides for mixing paints;
• paint brushes in sizes from 0000 to 6 of mixed fibers (it is most convenient for beginners to mix paints with a brush No. 3);
• a glass of water to graduate the washes;
• paper napkins to remove excess water or paint;
• hard and hard-soft simple pencils for sketching the outline of the drawing.

Be prepared that over time, a slightly tilted drawing board can come in handy, as well as masking fluid for areas of the painting that should not be paint.
How to draw flowers?

Acquaintance with drawing with watercolors for beginners should take place in stages. And flowers with semi-solid paint on a dry sheet in this case are a very convenient object for the image. It allows you to demonstrate all the richness of shades of color, but does not contain too small elements that will be quite difficult for a beginner to cope with. And, since watercolor painting involves drawing from life, it is advisable to put a vase or a separate flower in front of your eyes. It is better to choose tulips, irises, pansies, that is, rather large representatives of the flora.

Instructions:

1. We set the nature so that the light is concentrated on it. It is better if it is daytime rather than artificial.
2. We sketch out the contours using a simple pencil.
3. Show parts of the shadow.
4. Draw the back petals with paints.
5. We make a shadow. For this we use two shades of the main color - dark and light.
6. We proceed to the center of the composition, alternating with leaves and stem.
7. We tint the background with a translucent shade.

Landscape paintings are most effective in liquid paints, as they allow you to convey all the details of color. For landscapes, it is better to use the watercolor painting technique on a wet sheet. However, for beginners, this image method can be slightly simplified by gradually wetting the desired areas of the paper.

Instructions:

1. Making a sketch. On objects with a shadow, we make the pressure a little harder.
2. We moisten a section of paper under the sky, apply paint and let it flow.
3. For the bulk of the foliage, we also slightly saturate the paper with water and, after mixing the desired colors, apply paint so that white areas of the paper remain.
4. We draw large details of the image (mountains, cliffs, etc.).
5. We proceed to the foreground of the picture. We paint the grass, adding tones from dark to light.
6. Add shadows. Please note that the further from the foreground, the deeper, that is, darker, the shadow.
7. We draw the trunk of trees and branches.
8. Refine the contours of the foreground objects.
9. Remove paint stains, if any. To do this, press a paper napkin to the area of ​​the drawing, then drip water and blot again. Repeat until the stain disappears.
10. If necessary, add details. The drawing is ready.

Acrylic - it is plastic, but the drawing technique resembles watercolor. The only difference is that after drying, acrylic paints become waterproof. Let's consider some of the features of working with acrylic.

What to draw on?

Suitable for painting with acrylic:

• canvas;
• cardboard;
• plywood;
• board;
• glass;
• paper.

Also prepare long-handled brushes, a palette, and water.

What to draw?

It is not worth puzzling over the idea of ​​a drawing for a long time. If it is difficult to come up with something original, create a still life from improvised objects. You can also buy flowers or pick wild ones. A beautiful stone, a view from the window - everything can serve as a kind.

Drawing abstractions can also improve your skills. Draw a spot and think what it looks like. Develop an idea, add details. Gradually, you will learn to feel the colors.

1. Acrylic dries quickly, so keep a spray bottle handy to wet the paint on the palette.

2. Use paint in small quantities.

3. Acrylic squeezed out of the tube is opaque. Experiment with the transparency of the paints by adding water to them. A large amount of moisture will allow you to use a watercolor painting technique. But you cannot violate the 50/50 proportion, otherwise the acrylic will not be able to gain a foothold and will crumble.

4. Start painting with large patches of color using large brushes. Gradually move on to working out small details and take thin brushes.

5. When washing off paint from brushes, do not forget to blot them to remove water.

6. Reflection of work in the mirror will help you to notice mistakes.

7. Practice mixing colors with each other. It is not easy, but through practice it is possible to learn how to do it faster.

8. Adding thinner will help slow the drying of the acrylic.

9. For a perfect straight line, use duct tape.

10. To lighten the color, mix the paint with whitewash. Do this gently and little by little, kneading thoroughly.

11. Mixing paint with black will make it darker.

12. Dried paints appear darker.

13. For safety, the work can be varnished.

How to paint with acrylics on canvas or paper?

1. You need to choose a base for drawing. You can draw on paper, canvas or blackboard. You need to choose the basis on which acrylic can easily gain a foothold.

2. Gather all the materials you need. For drawing, you may need items such as: 1-2 cups of water, an old rag (you can use a cloth), a palette knife, soap for washing brushes, a spray bottle for water.

• Acrylic paints dry very quickly, so you need to spray the palette with water to keep the paints wet.
• Use newspapers or unnecessary desk papers so you don't have a lot of clutter.
• You can wear a work gown to keep your clothes clean.

3. Choose a good location. Many professionals recommend painting in natural light. A place near an open window is good, as well as a normal room with good natural light.

4. Prepare materials. Bring cups of water, brushes, paints, palette. Put on an old robe and cover your work area with newspapers.

5. Idea for drawing. It is difficult for aspiring artists to decide what to paint. Think maybe you want to draw a specific object or 3-D object. What can be painted with acrylic paints:

• Photo;
• a vase of flowers;
• a bowl of fruit;
• sunrise / sunset;
• items from your home;
• something from your memory.

6. Sketch with a pencil. Use a regular pencil to roughly sketch out the main shapes of the drawing on the canvas.

7. Mix paints. Prepare all the colors you need to work with the drawing.

8. Analyze your composition. Lay the item down so it has some kind of nice backdrop. Pay attention to all the details. As you work, you will have to recreate everything that is needed for your drawing.

9. Draw the background. First of all, you need to start painting the background. Drawing from the background to the foreground is one of the easiest ways to create a beautiful drawing. Throw in the middle tones first, then the dark ones, and then the brightest ones to make the task easier.

10. Spend time on minor details. Draw in all the basic details of the background. Add shadows, highlights, small unnoticed details, add texture, etc.

11. Draw the main object. Draw it in solid colors, break the object into simple shapes or parts. Once you've worked out the basic shapes and parts, your drawing will start to look great.

• Remember how the tones are applied, first medium, then dark, and then light.
• Apply the paint with a dotted line, hold the brush vertically and knock it on the paper.
• Use a palette knife to smudge broad strokes of color.
• To create a blur of color, you need to dilute the paint with water. This will gradually lighten the paint on the canvas. In this way, you can create a good color gradation effect.

12. Cover your painting with a layer of varnish. When the picture is covered with a layer of varnish, it is protected from various damages.

13. Clean brushes, objects and work area.

14. Leave the painting for a while to dry. Usually the painting dries in 1-2 days.

How to paint with Acrylic paints in stages - video

How to use acrylic paints correctly? This science is simple, but it has many significant nuances. There is practically no need to learn how to apply them correctly on the chosen base - painting with acrylic does not require special techniques. Rather, on the contrary - you can work with these paints in any style and on any surface. Acrylic is perfect for working with a palette knife and ordinary art brushes. The structure of the paints allows you to draw thin graceful lines and wide strokes on a picture with equal success.

Today we will look at what is the best way to paint with acrylic paints.

Canvas - this is the ideal base for acrylic, because on it reveals the best qualities of this paint. Among them are:

• water resistance - acrylic, in essence , it is a liquid plastic, which is why, after drying, it is completely waterproof, and it is at least very difficult to damage it in conditions of high humidity;
• the transparency of the paint can vary depending on your wishes. It is very simple to do this - it is enough to dilute it with water (however, not more than 20%);
• mixing. In order to get the desired shade, darken or slightly lighten the tone of acrylic, just mix a few of the desired colors.

Thus, to the question: "Is it possible to do acrylic painting?", The answer will be unambiguous - of course, yes. Moreover, you can work in absolutely any technique, since acrylic is ready for any challenge.

If you paint on canvas with acrylics, then you need to adhere to the following rules:

• Make sure the paints are in good condition before you start painting. Keep in mind that acrylic dries quickly, and the drier it is, the more difficult it is to work with it. Therefore, do not forget to periodically moisten the palette with water.
• Start by painting large details, change large brushes to thinner ones. Consider: you may find it more convenient to paint over large areas with a more transparent tone, and make details bright.
• Blot brushes periodically with a clean cloth.
• Don't be afraid to mix different colors and mix the paint with water in the correct proportion (no more than 20 percent water).

How to paint with acrylics on nails?

The water resistance and vapor resistance of acrylic have attracted the attention of manicurists as well. They did not even doubt whether it was possible to paint with this paint on their nails, because it greatly expanded their possibilities. One tube of this wonderful decorating material could serve as a base coat, translucent tonic and modeling paste at the same time. It also has another very attractive property - it can be mixed with different solid particles, such as glitter and modulators. There are a lot of master classes on the Internet that will help you learn how to make graceful drawings with acrylic paints on gel polish step by step.

Of course, discussions about whether it is possible to paint with acrylic on nails coated with gel polish do not subside, because many still consider this material too toxic for such close contact. However, we hasten to reassure you - artistic high-quality paint does not pose any threat to health.

Can this paint be used to paint paper sheets, and on what paper is it better to do it? This is a fairly common question for those who use acrylic for the first time. And this is not surprising, because for this coloring material the correct base is very important. Rather dense structure of paints and some features of their use do not allow working with thin and smooth leaves. Therefore, if you want them to fit the base correctly, opt for thick embossed paper or cardboard. This rule will answer you another very important question: is it possible to paint with acrylic on wallpaper? This technique of artistic painting on walls is often used in designer renovations. And all because a small drawing made by the hand of a master can completely transform a room.

What wallpaper can I paint on? The answer to this is not so simple. On the one hand, the chemical characteristics of acrylic make it absolutely compatible with any material, on the other hand, it is quite difficult to paint embossed textured wallpaper (but at the same time it is real). Thus, when deciding on painting finishing materials, first of all be guided by the complexity of the drawing and your skill level.

How to paint with acrylics on fabric?

As mentioned earlier, acrylic is absolutely compatible with any base material, so the answer to the question of whether it can be painted on silk or on any other fabric is unambiguous. Of course you can. However, before you start working on clothes, pay attention to the material of its manufacture. Natural fabric dyed with synthetic dye is more resistant to frequent washings and constant mechanical stress than synthetic fabric. Therefore, it is the composition of the material that will first of all determine whether something can be drawn on clothes, and on which thing it is better to do it.

To apply an acrylic pattern to the fabric, use step-by-step painting or ready-made stencils (this will not particularly affect the overall result). If you are working with such dyes for the first time, then there is a reason to first practice on an old T-shirt. This will help you determine the exact number of the brush you need, as well as the desired paint thickness.

What can you paint on with acrylics?

As you already understood, the amount of materials with which acrylic is compatible is truly amazing. You can use them to paint on almost any surface, without fear of possible consequences. Only the question is in doubt: is it possible to make drawings on the face? There is no doubt about the excellent quality of the picture, but whether you can wash it off later , it is questionable. However, the Internet is replete with ideas for painting with acrylics on leather (or rather, products from it).

You can talk a lot about the versatility of acrylic paints - they can be drawn with equal success on felt boots, on ceramics and on a concrete wall. They are even used on an industrial scale, making drawings on factory utensils or painting jewelry.

For drawing on wood, it is worth remembering that this material should not be painted without a primer - the material will absorb too much paint, and the drawing will turn out to be uneven. This rule applies exclusively to natural unpainted wood. When applying a pattern to an already painted surface, no primer is needed. However, when drawing it is still worth applying an adhesive layer on plywood - it will provide a reliable adhesion of the decorating material and a smooth base.

How to paint flowers with acrylic paints

The technique of drawing a rose or tulip step by step with acrylic is no different from that used when working with oil paints, watercolors or gouache. This is often referred to when restoring furniture, accessories and jewelry. The new material will be able to replace other types of dyes, besides, it is also much stronger than them.

Acrylic coloring pigments are widely used in toy refurbishment. With their help, you can correct or redraw the eyes and lips of the doll, or even completely redraw her face.

You can also paint abstract paintings with acrylic, use abstraction to decorate a vintage box, or transfer it onto an old T-shirt. Honestly, there is much difference in what to draw with this material , no (winter, clouds, and a tree are equally good).

There are no special secrets on how to learn how to paint with acrylic from scratch. However, it is worth knowing some of the tricks for working with acrylic.

First, you need to ensure that the paint is always wet - acrylic dries very quickly.

Secondly, always work in overalls - then it will be almost impossible to wash off the coloring pigment.

Third, watch the quality of the paint. The thing is that unscrupulous manufacturers often use harmful and toxic ingredients. That is why it is so difficult to answer the question of whether it is possible for pregnant women and young children to paint with such paints. This can be done if you completely trust the manufacturer and use well-ventilated rooms for work.