Hi Matt,

From thin watercolour washes to thick, heavy, impasto,you have the choice of both worlds using acrylics.

With the water colour technique you have to remember that washes (and indeed thick paint) become permanent `when dry'. This can be helpful to the novice but I would advise you build up the tones gradually, layer upon layer, until you get the desired result: That way; a)you can account for any tonal change as the paint dries (it always appears lighter) and; b) take advantage of the subtle variations you get this way.

My advice for using acrylics in an oil painting style is.... chuck it on and have fun! Corrections are easy (just use a scraper of some sort) and, unlike oils, you don't have to worry about building up the texture gradually, just go for it ...if you have enough paint, that is. But mind the carpet!!

Keep your brushes wet, don't let paint dry on them, they will be ruined.

Clingfilm placed over the paint on your palette (or dinner plate!) will help to stop it drying out

Hope this helps

Mick

Hi Matt

It takes a little longer to dry than watercolour but 1o minutes should suffice (for a thin wash): The thicker the paint, the longer it will take. To speed it up and be sure it is dry, use a hairdryer (useful for watercolours too).

You can also use many `standard' watercolour techniques, wash lift off ( when wet), splattering, salt graining (great for snow scenes)and the use of masking fluid etc.

Mick

When you layer the paint on, can you use other objects to get a different effect or is that just for oils?

Thanks for the tips so far, I think I'm going to have fun with all of these tips.

Cheers everyone.

i have been told you can use sand with acrylics to give texture, is that right? or am I being led up the garden path? I haven't tried it yet.

Re: Salt graining.

If you sprinkle coarse salt onto a wet wash (sky for instance)the salt soaks up the paint underneath and leaves a bare patch when dry: so if the wash was a sky, it would give the effect of snowflakes.

Mick