Learn the ins and outs of this affordable, up-for-anything paint.

Acrylics: A Beginner's Guide{CREAT IVE INSP IRAT IONS FROM HOBBY LOBBY®}free

TWO FLAT BRUSHES:

TWO ROUND BRUSHES:

Acrylics aren't kind to natural fiber brushes. The paint will break animal hair down over time, so it's best to go with high-quality synthetics. These basic brushes should get you started:

Dry acrylic paint is nearly impossible to remove, which means that you should never let it dry on your brushes. Keep your brushes moist while in use, and always wash them with soap and water when you close up shop.

Use them for square shapes, thick lines and sharp edges—they're great for blending too.

Use them for stroke work, fine lines and details.

We recommend fluid colors for beginner artists. They're affordable, and they come in lots of colors. But when you have some experience under your belt, try experimenting with heavy-body pigments. The butter like consistency is fantastic for techniques that call for visible brushstrokes and rugged texture.

BRUSHES

PAINTS

2 Hobby Lobby Product Inspirations

PAINTING WITH ACRYLICS & MEDIUMS:Fluid Mediums: Fluid mediums thin the paint slightly, increase workability, and allow for a variety of effects and finishes. Note: Gloss and glazing mediums provide a shiny, reflective finish, while matte mediums give a flatter, more subtle finish.

Gel Mediums: Gel mediums are thicker than f luid mediums and allow for greater paint texture and adhesion. Gel mediums are the best option for impasto techniques, where you apply thick layers of paint and maintain visible brush or knife strokes. Gel mediums come in various finishes and textures, like heavy, opaque and matte.

PREPARING YOUR SURFACE:

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:

Gesso primer is not a medium, since you don’t mix it with your acrylic color. But you’ll want to prep your surface with gesso to give it more absorbency and tooth, and to help paints adhere. Simply cover your surface with thin layers of gesso until you’ve reached the texture and thickness you want, let it dry, and then paint.

Palette, Plastic Cup (for water), Paper Towels

Straight-from-the-tube artist acrylics work best on canvas, paper or Bristol board. You'll need to prep most other surfaces with gesso—or add an acrylic medium to the paint. You may want to stick to the basics while you're getting a feel for the paint. But when you're ready, you'll want to touch your brush to everything from the living room wall to your hand-me-down stemware.

Hobby Lobby Product Inspirations 3

SUPPORTS

FINISHING:Once your painting has dried, apply a finishing coat of varnish to protect it from sun damage, dust and general wear and tear.

You’ll want to apply varnish in layers of thin coats rather than in thick layers. Additionally, gloss and matte fluid mediums may be used as a varnish to give your painting a particular finish.

Retarder Mediums: Use retarder mediums to give acrylic paints a longer workable or “open time” before they dry. When mixed with retarder medium, acrylics will act more like oil paints, allowing you to blend and mix colors directly on your surface.

Modeling Paste: Modeling paste is even thicker than the gel mediums, allowing you to mold and build 3D texture or reliefs on your painting—once dry, it can be carved or sanded down to shape.

Tinting Medium: Mix iridescent tinting medium with your acrylic colors to give them pearlescent shimmer, or apply to completed painting for allover sheen.

Extender and Flow Aid Mediums: Extender medium prolongs the life and volume of your color. Flow aid mediums help to thin paint and increase workability for wash techniques or similar effects without compromising color strength.

DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO COMPLETE PROJECTS ALONE. ADULT SUPERVISION REQUIRED.

©2015 Hobby Lobby® • www.hobbylobby.com • • Art - 802207