Saturday, December 23, 2017

Why Many Artists Prefer To Create Acrylic Portrait Paintings Instead Of Oil

By Patrick Gray


Having your family, yourself, or a beloved pet immortalized in a painted picture is a great gift to pass on to future generations. When you decide to take this step, you need to contact the most talented artist within your budget. You might assume that she will be working in oils, since that was the tradition for centuries. Instead, the artist you choose, might suggest that acrylic portrait paintings can be just as effective and easier to create.

A lot of artists like to use acrylics because they are fast drying. This is one of the reasons this medium has become so popular. If you are in the studio while the artist is working, you will probably see a spray bottle near the easel and palette. This is to keep the work wet enough to paint, mix colors, and make changes as necessary.

Acrylics are a very versatile medium. You can get a lot of looks from this paint. When you first meet with the artist, you might be asked if you have a preference as to the medium used. She might show some samples where she used acrylics mixed with a touch of water to create a watercolor or gouache effect. There are ink forms of acrylics that can be used to achieve the translucent look of a watercolor.

If you're set on an oil painting, and the artist loves to work in acrylics, there are ways to accommodate both of you. Acrylics are associated with bright colors, but a good artist can adjust the palette to reflect a more oil like aura. There are thickening agents that can be added to create a more textured canvas, and that will keep the paint wet longer. The technique that results might be one of an old master.

Not all works are painted on canvas. The surfaces that will work with oils is limited, but acrylic paintings can be created on many different kinds of surfaces. These can include wood, cloth, paper, and many others. You might get a really interesting portrait by allowing the artist to use an alternative surface.

The versatility of acrylics is one of the things that draw artists to the medium. Acrylic works can give the effect of oil or watercolor. It is easy to apply layers of paint to a work because, once dry, acrylics are permanent. Unlike water colors, which are not water resistant once they dry or oils, that can take weeks to dry completely, acrylics can be manipulated to dry quickly or thickened.

If you are concerned that acrylics aren't as durable as oil, there is no evidence that this medium will break down. It doesn't crack or yellow. Acrylics don't have a long history. They have only been commercially available for about sixty years, but the first acrylic works are still in great condition.

Formal photographs are great, but there is something timeless about painted portraits. There is a sense of permanence and richness about them that the camera can't really capture. They make dramatic additions to any room in the home.




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