Acrylic Painting Step by Step

Acrylic Techniques

There are an endless number of ways to apply and manipulate acrylic paint. The next four pages share some of the most common techniques and special effects—from drybrushing to spattering. Once you get the basics down, you’ll be able to decide which techniques work best for each of your subjects. And remember that, as you paint, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of spicing up your art with multiple techniques, which will help keep your painting process from becoming too repetitive or formulaic.

Flat Wash A wash is a thin mixture of paint that has been diluted with water. The most common type of wash—a flat wash—is used to ...