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Water Color And Paint Quick Tips

Water Color And Paint Quick Tips




Acrylic Paints

Acrylic paints are most often used in paper crafting on art journals. However, if you have heavy enough paper, you can try using them lightly on scrapbook pages. Because acrylic paint is a polymer, it is a quick-drying paint. That makes it perfect for paper use. You may want to consider using Gesso anywhere that the paper is thin or weak. Think of Gesso as a primer. It gives strength to the paper. It is smart to lay some gesso down anytime you are planning to use acrylics or watercolors

Acrylic Paint Quick Tips

  • Spray your palette with water to keep your acrylic paints wet
  • Use synthetic brushes. The paint will stay on the brushes. 
  • Thinner layers give a more even coat, so do not overload your brushes
  • Clean your brushes with soap and water. Lay them horizontally to dry.
  • Use wider strokes for larger areas and smaller strokes for smaller ones.
  • Use a mist of water if your paint seems dry. 
  • Use a palette knife to create texture especially on art journals and junk journals
  • Start with ten basic shades of color, then try mixing some of your colors to get more variations.
  • Always keep two water jars handy. One is for washing your brushes. The second is for thinning paints.
  • When you are working on a project, keep your brushes in water, so that the paint does not dry on the bristles. Will be much easier to clean later.
  • Thin acrylic paints with water or glazing medium to get a watercolor effect
  • Acrylic paint generally dries darker than you think. Keep this in mind when you select your colors
  • Add a drop of liquid soap to acrylic paints. It will prevent it from separating and beading





Tips For Using Acrylics On Paper

  1. Use a plastic palette or a recycled meat tray to hold your paints. Remember, acrylics dry quickly. So if you need to leave for a bit, cover the paint tightly with plastic wrap. 
  2. Because acrylic paint dries quickly, you want to clean your brushes as soon as possible. Soak them in soapy water in a jar till you can get to a sink to wash them.
  3. You can use cheap paints. They will work just fine for your art and junk journals
  4. Put some wax paper or parchment paper behind the pages you are working on. That way the paint will not get on other pages or the end of the book
  5. When the paint is all dry, you can give the page a light coat of baby powder. Then brush it off. It will keep the pages from sticking. Another alternative is to cut wax paper the size of the page and keep it there. 
  6. Prime thin pages with Gesso. This will keep your pages from ripping or tearing when the paint is applied


Watercolor Tips




  • You just need a few good brushes to get started
  • Use a clipboard as an inexpensive easel
  • If you want a smoother wash with less lines showing, paint the wash while it is wet. Wet on wet works best
  • Use a low-tack tape or washi tape to attach your watercolor paper to your work surface.
  • If you need to get your project dry, you can use a heat tool. Be careful how close you apply the heat, because you may burn the paper
  • You can flatten your paper if it curls by placing several books over the dry project. Leave the books on it overnight
  • You can erase small watercolor mistakes by painting over it with white or gouache. You can also dip a magic eraser in water and rubbing slightly over your mistake.
  • Always work from light to dark

Water Color Resist Technique


                                          Click on the picture to see the video


Water Color Techniques


Wet on dry-Applying wet paint on dry paper, or wet paint on an area of dry paint. It allows for more control and crisp, defined edges. The paint will only go where you take it.

Wet on wet-Wet paint is applied to wet paper, or added to a wash of fresh paint. There is less control with this technique. Lay down clean water to your watercolor paper. Then add watercolor paint to the wet areas. The paint will flow on the wet areas

Salt Technique-Paint one or two colors on your watercolor paper. Sprinkle sea salt on top of the paint. Allow the paint to dry. Brush the leftover salt away from the paper

Tissue Technique- Lay down a wash of several colors. Crinkle a piece of tissue and place it on top of the wet paint. Be careful to cover the entire area. Position the tissue over the wash and gently press it down onto the paper with the palms of your hand. Allow to dry slightly, but not completely. The tissue could become glued to the paper. Carefully lift the tissue from the paper.


                                    










Acrylic Paper Projects



Water Color Paper Projects




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