12/27/2017

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.

One of the reasons acrylics are so popular is because they dry quickly and permanently. You may notice while you are posing that your artist is using a spray water bottle occasionally on the painting's surface and on the color palette. This keeps the paint from drying too fast, which would force the artist to remix paints on the palette.

Acrylics are popular because of their versatility. Instead of a traditional looking portrait, you might decide you like the look of watercolor or gouache. By adding a little extra water, but not too much, the artist can give you the look of these mediums and still use acrylics. If you like a really translucent look, there are acrylics in ink form that replicate watercolors and are easier for some artists to use.

When you are really set on the look of oil, your artist can still use acrylics to achieve it. Your artist can choose a color palette that is more aligned with oils than acrylics. There are agents that can be added to the paint to thicken it and increase the drying time. This allows the artist to use different techniques and can give your picture the look of an old masterpiece.

Canvas isn't the only surface artists paint on. Oils are limited to certain surfaces, but acrylics are much more flexible. You can choose to have your picture done on canvas if you like, but you can also consider other recommendations. Paper is an option, as is wood and cloth.

The versatility of acrylics allows artists to work with one set of paints and create work that has the look and feel of several others. This medium can be layered to create texture because previous layers dry quickly and, once dry, are permanently set. They are water resistant unlike watercolors. Unlike oil, which can take weeks to dry completely, acrylics will dry overnight, but can be thickened to be used like oil.

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.

Photographic portraits are great, but there is something special about painted portraits. They have a richness and drama that a camera lens can't compete with. If a painting is taken care of, no matter what the medium used to paint it, your likeness will be around for many generations.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment