Special Subjects: Get Started Painting

Acrylic Painting Techniques

There are many ways to apply and manipulate acrylic paint. The next two 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. As you improve, you can spice up your art with multiple techniques!

LAYING WASHES

One of the most basic ways of applying acrylic paint is laying down a wash. In its simplest form, a wash is a flat coat of diluted color. There are four basic types of washes—flat, gradated, sponge, and variegated—which can be used to create dramatic skies, bodies of water, and multicolored backgrounds. Laying a flat wash is a simple way to cover a large area ...