motivate me - acrylic paint on canvas

[PimpMySittingRoom]

Hey

I've not used acrylic paint since secondary school (some time ago). But I bought some paint, brushes and a canvas a few weeks ago which has been gathering dust ever since.

Truth be told I haven't a clue what to do or where to start. If I don't write this post I doubt I'll ever do anything at all.

Do I need to draw on the canvas in pencil first or just go for it?

What type of scenes are best in acrylic?

Do I use water to mix the colours?

Any other tips for a total Novice?

help!

I typed 'acrylic painting on canvas' into Google and that was one of hundreds of paintings that came up. I loved it straight away as the woman just feels so relaxed and carefree floating among the fish. Plus I wouldn't have to attempt a face, which I know I'm rubbish at

well you need to buy more canvases and keep going!

I definitely intend to! Just got to wait until pay day. Don't have a pot to piss in at the moment

What a brilliant start Pimp!

Thanks. I always had a flare for painting but haven't done it in over 20 years!

hi OP.

I really like this piece - love the way the light playing on the water is reflected onto her torso.

Go You!

Thank you Arty! I loved doing it. I'll definitely be doing more. Thanks to you and everyone who posted to give me advice, encouragement and a boot up the backside!

That is amazing - WOW! Feel bit embarrassed about my circle suggestion what with you being a professional and all

Haha Jimmy! Thank you.

Honestly I haven't done anything arty since secondary school. I was quite surprised at the outcome myself. You know when you kinda know you've got it in you but it's been so long you don't know anymore? That was me.

I do feel confident now that I can do it and have a little flare for it. So glad I posted on here.

Did you do your painting?

I have recently become obsessed with discovered YouTube films about how to use acrylics. There are so many different films on there and some can be very inspirational - a particular guy called Sam Durkin I think gives lovely demonstrations of abstract landscape type things and different techniques etc. I am obsessed with it all at the moment and would rather be painting than doing anything else at the moment.

My current attempt...

Buttocks, that's fantastic

love the way the light is coming through the leaves on the left.

I just went into my overdraft buying a selection of blank canvas! Just want to get into it again now.

If anyone wants to share their creations please come back and post!

Thank you! Still got some work to do on the path and the dapples... (Just been watching another demo on YouTube)

ooh, been out for the afternoon to meet some friends whilst scoffing cake and come back to your piece Fantastic. I really admire anyone who has the patience to sit and paint landscapes of any kind - I just can't do it.
I love all the varying shades of green you've used there, and the way the trees arch over. Is this an actual place you know, or an image you've created in your mind?

Thanks! Yes it is a beautiful path near my home. That gap at the end looks out onto the sea. I took some photos and used this one as inspiration.

Pimp, go girl go. Great start. Excellent advice above. The County Bookshop sell cheap canvases. Otherwise, use cardboard, wood, practically anything! The other day I saw a craft group painting designs on wooden bird houses. They had bought them in Wilkos for a fiver each. You can paint flower pots, not the plastic type. I do agree about using your own photos, sketches or if possible something from life. Good luck.

Thank you Happy!

It didn't occur to me to use anything other than canvas, so cheers for the tip.

I have a landscape in mind for my next one. I have a photo of it but it's possible for me to go out and paint it outdoors at the actual site. Is it better to do it outside or from a photo? I imagine doing it outside to be difficult, won't I need an easel, or a table? The idea of painting a scene outside is lovely but is it practical? I'll probably forget some essential tools, such as brushes or paint !

Take a sketch book and a camera. The sketch is the best reference as your eye sees things differently from a camera. Have you ever seen a wonderful scene, photographed it and then been disappointed at the result?
Sketches with colour notes and written impressions in note form are good to work from. They allow your memory, imagination and your collected information to work together in the privacy of your home. Also, you won't excite interest from passers-by! However, a small box of watercolours could also add pleasure and info. Of course you will need a small bottle of water, brush and paper thick enough to stop the paint buckling the paper. A small watercolour pad would be good but all this adds expense so perhaps start off simply

(Sorry text froze). It's good that you have a scene in mind. Remember, it's the feeling that this gives you that you should aim to convey. You don't need to put everything in. That is why sketches work. You will work from what takes your attention. Good luck and if the weather isn't great sketch the clouds as well. Skies are important.

Ah. Good call. I remember using this technique at school.

Go out and sketch the scene (and enjoy drawing outdoors) and back indoors to paint.

Resurrecting this thread to show you something I did in acrylics this afternoon...

Any comments/opinions welcome

That is a stunning piece of work Fantastic

The colours are beautiful.

I always thought that I was terrible at art and Ds1 is living through the hell of still life drawing in secondary. He can't wait to drop the subject.

I made Harry Potter wands for Christmas using bamboo chopsticks, hot glue and acrylic paints after seeing it on Pinterest. And I recently saw a canvas that I liked but it was £70 in Next. So for a laugh I thought I would copy the style of it. I watched lots of videos on YouTube about abstract art and then experimented with a brush, an old plastic loyalty card and a glue spatula plus a water spray bottle.

The two paintings now hang in my dining room and I now love art. Ds1 has leant to love it too, because I sat next to him whilst he did his homework and suggested how he could improve his painting. He was incredibly proud of it in the end. Then of course they go back to school and he has to draw a chilli pepper in pencil with shading.

Thank you so much! Was feeling a bit as I'd put the pic up and it's such an old thread, thought maybe no one would see it. So thank you

I'm going to bug you with some questions on your technique now

Do you just use brushes? Or some sort of wide blade thing? I love the depth of your work and the light in the sky. The way it flows.

This is exactly the sort of thing I would love to paint and recreate. Do you build layers into it and do it over time?

I used my dining table as a make shift art studio so had to clear the table to eat dinner. So it went onto the floor, then back on the table for more "work" on it. I am thinking of ripping paper and sticking that to the canvas to add depth and dimension to it. What do you think?

Theunwilling - that one was done by putting paint directly onto the canvas and moving it around with a palette knife. No brushes. I do use brushes though, and sponges, and kitchen paper....just didn't in that painting.

Thank you VERY much for the things you said about my pic, they have made me very happy!