Skyblue Art Classes

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So if you are thinking of buying acrylics, which ones are suitable?

 

• On the tube it may say 'artist quality' this means you get lots of pigment and less fillers for your money

• Heavy Body? This means the acrylic is thick and buttery, comes in a tube and gives some great texture if you need it.

• Hue? This means that the original, expensive pigment has been replaced with a synthetic one and has had more fillers added to the paint (making it cheaper)

• Can you mix colours? Yes

• Which size tube? 60ml is a great size to start, be careful they dont dry out by leaving the cap off. Also leave them in a warm but not hot or cold environment they could solidify or separate. Buy a bigger tube of white: Titanium white is good by Jacksons

 

A super online artist supply website click here  Jacksons Art Supplies

click on the link to go straight to Jacksons Acrylics

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• If you are starting out try Jacksons own brand  and buy a set of acrylics, you get value for money and they are good quality

 

 

• If you are adding to a collection already bought why not try one or two colours to add to your palette? Try the top of the range Golden Acrylics 'Heavy' Body' such as lovely Phthalo Blue. They are pricier but you get a lot of pigment and value. 

 

 

• Economy range: starting out and not sure if you will like them? Try Daler Rowney such as this one 'Burnt Sienna' 60ml

• Fluid Acrylics: although expensive, these wonderful, Golden liquid acrylics come in small bottles to try, great if you have had a go with other acrylics and want to try something different. They provide a fantastic 'wet in wet' effect, normally only achieved with watercolour

 

 

TIPS

 

• Keep all tops and lids on securely with acrylic paints they will dry out otherwise

• Keep your paints away from very cold, this can affect them

• To revive a splayed brush run under very hot water, smooth the tip after with your fingertips and store upright to dry.

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ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT:

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1. Matt Medium:- comes in a pot and should say Matt Medium or Gloss Medium, note: it isn't a varnish. You add it to paint to increase viscosity

2. Stay-wet Palette: we are cleaning up our act with waste and for acrylics encourage everyone to use a stay-wet palette to avoid any paints going down the drain - The

3. Works or Hobbycraft have them and acrylics are easier to mix on this surface​

4. Rags and kitchen roll - plenty of them, also note that acrylics are hard to wash out of clothes so an apron is useful!

5. Water jar with lid, taking your acrylic water home with you helps the centre and their sink!

 

Brushes?

 

You can use brushes labelled oil or acrylic, they come in all shapes and sizes. Bear in mind that acrylics can clog a brush and need to be kept wet at all times when paint is around. Rinse the brush regularly when colour changing and ensure that all of the paint is rinsed out when you are finished by running under a warm tap with a bit of soap.

 

For value for money and great brushes see Rosemary & Co Brushes  or try Jacksons own brand for any of their range

 

Sizes: this depends on what you are painting, if you want small details, small brush with a point would be good. Large areas, large brush etc. Do you want a particular shape left on the painting by the brush? Choose a filbert (with a rounded end)

 

Suppliers: as well as Jacksons Art we love Rosemary & Co brushes, a small family run business that make their own brushes!