Drawing & Painting with Style and Confidence Presented by Anne Kullaf Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
May 14, 2015
Drawing & Painting with Style and Confidence
Presented by
Anne Kullaf
Anne Kullaf © 2008
Acrylic Basics & More
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Course premise…
• This course is designed to provide a basic primer for students new to painting with Acrylics. It will cover the technical aspects of working with the materials as well as general concepts of color, composition and design.
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Course Overview…• During the 6 weeks that this course runs we will explore
the following topics:– Methods & Materials:
• Overview of materials • Working with water as a medium on paper• Working with gel mediums and drying retarders on canvas
– Color:• Working with complementary colors• Working with a limited palette
– Composition:• Creating balance with shape, value and color
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Methods and Materials
Acrylics• Highly versatile: can
be uses similarly to watercolor or oils
• Rich color can be achieved with layering
• Fast drying: excellent medium for painting en plein air
Purple Passions, acrylic on canvasAnne Kullaf © 2007
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Methods and Materials
• Surface preparation– If you choose to work in layers, similar to the
way you would approach an oil painting, you may work in acrylic on a variety of surfaces: stretched canvas or linen, canvas panels, cradled masonite, masonite panels,
– You may also choose to work with only water as a medium, in which case you will want to work on watercolor paper, or a paper designed for any water-based media
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Methods and Materials• Supplies
Paints – start out with a limited palette if you are new to acrylics: cobalt blue or ultramarine; alizarin crimson, yellow ochre, cadmium yellow, burnt umber and titanium white. Other colors that are nice to have include dioxazine violet, bright crimson and sap green
Medium – again, you may choose to use just water as your medium or you may experiment with gel mediums that extend the drying time. This is particularly useful if you are working wet-into-wet.
Brush cleaner – there are several non-toxic varieties available. Be sure to clean brushes thoroughly when working with acrylics, as they may become very stiff and dry if not fully cleaned
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Methods and Materials• Supplies (cont’d)
Palette – A plexiglass or disposal palette with a case and cover
Brushes – I prefer soft brushes in a flat or wedge shape, however you should work with whatever shape or stiffness works best for you. I often complete an entire painting using just one brush—my favorite is a ¾” flat brush with soft synthetic bristles
Painting rags – old flannel sheets cut into small 6” x 6” squares are great for this purpose, you can use them to wipe off your brush when changing colors, or to wipe out areas during your under painting phase (almost like drawing with them)
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Methods and MaterialsTransparent Acrylics
with Water• Done on watercolor paper
or canvas pad• Layering and glazing• Excellent technique for
plein air• Loose brushwork, very
expressive• Great for producing
studies for larger worksPlein air study, acrylic on canvas padAnne Kullaf © 2008
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Methods and MaterialsWorking in layers• Always begin with an under
painting (monochrome value study, medium = water)
• Map in color transparently (muted colors, medium = water)
• Begin adding medium and dark values with more opacity, finish with highlights and fine details (medium = gel medium with retarder to extend drying time)
Purple Passions, acrylic on canvasAnne Kullaf © 2007
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Methods and Materials
Acrylics & Mixed Media
• Acrylics are wonderful for experimentation
• Try them in conjunction with pastel, drawing ink, charcoal or any other medium of your choice
• They are also excellent as an under painting layer for oils
Urban Landscape study, acrylic and pastel on watercolor paper, Anne Kullaf © 2008
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Color
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Color Basics• Colors that complement
one another should be used to create shadows and darks, in other words, colors that appear opposite one another on the color wheel
• Example: if you need show a shaded area on a lemon (yellow, primary color) use violet (secondary color)
• Mix your secondary colors whenever possible instead of using them directly from the tube
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
The Limited Palette• Try working with a limited palette of 3 primaries, one
dark neutral and one white. One of my favorites is:– Cobalt blue - Burnt umber – Alizarin crimson - Titanium white– Yellow ochre
• You may experiment with other colors you like, just remember to keep it to 3 primaries and one dark neutral plus white.
• If necessary, you can always add in a brighter primary for the areas in highlight—for example, I often will use a cadmium yellow in addition to the colors above when working on sunlit landscapes just to get that extra “glow” in my greens.
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Composition
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Composition Basics
• Composition refers to the way you arrange the elements/objects contained in your painting in order to create and maintain:– Balance– Harmony– Viewer interest
Study of Califon, acrylic on watercolor paper Anne Kullaf © 2008
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Focal Point vs. Overall Movement• There are many approaches to composition, all are a
matter of personal preference and what you want to say with your painting
• For example, you may wish to have an overall sense of movement rather than a strong focal point—either one can work but each will convey a different mood and feeling in your finished work
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
• Look for things that repeat to keep your composition cohesive and to engage your viewer:– Shapes– Colors– Directional movement– Motion
Look for examples of the items listed above in the painting at right
Composition Basics
Blue Iris, acrylic on canvasAnne Kullaf © 2007
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Tying it all together…
Anne Kullaf © 2008 Acrylic Basics & More
Tying it all together…• Painting with acrylics provides an artist with a lot of
options• You can work on many different surfaces, canvas pads
or watercolor paper are a great surface to practice on• You can work either in layers or wet-into-wet• Focus on shapes and values – sketch in charcoal first!• Experiment with larger brushes for looser, more painterly
brushwork• Use complementary colors for shading• Try working with a limited palette• Acrylics are excellent for painting en plein air• Acrylics are also good for mixed media projects, try them
in conjunction with pastel or ink