Thursday, December 21, 2017

Why Does The Artist You've Chosen Prefer Acrylic Portrait Paintings Over Oil And Watercolor

By Patrick Gray


Portraits are really dramatic additions to homes that everyone notices. If you have decided to sit for a personal or family picture, you need to talk to a professional portraitist. You have probably seen portraits in art galleries and museums and assume that oil is the only medium suited for a really lasting portrayal. The artist you choose may make a number of other suggestions that challenge your knowledge of traditional portraits. Acrylic portrait paintings, for example, are becoming more and more common.

A lot of artists like to use acrylics because they are fast drying. This is one of the reasons this medium has become so popular. If you are in the studio while the artist is working, you will probably see a spray bottle near the easel and palette. This is to keep the work wet enough to paint, mix colors, and make changes as necessary.

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.

If you're set on an oil painting, and the artist loves to work in acrylics, there are ways to accommodate both of you. Acrylics are associated with bright colors, but a good artist can adjust the palette to reflect a more oil like aura. There are thickening agents that can be added to create a more textured canvas, and that will keep the paint wet longer. The technique that results might be one of an old master.

Not all works are painted on canvas. The surfaces that will work with oils is limited, but acrylic paintings can be created on many different kinds of surfaces. These can include wood, cloth, paper, and many others. You might get a really interesting portrait by allowing the artist to use an alternative surface.

The versatility of acrylics is one of the things that draw artists to the medium. Acrylic works can give the effect of oil or watercolor. It is easy to apply layers of paint to a work because, once dry, acrylics are permanent. Unlike water colors, which are not water resistant once they dry or oils, that can take weeks to dry completely, acrylics can be manipulated to dry quickly or thickened.

You might be afraid your portrait will fade, yellow, or mildew if it is painted with acrylics. Although this medium doesn't have a long history, there is no evidence that it will fail over time. Acrylics don't seem to crack or deteriorate in obvious ways. Even the oldest works are, currently, still standing the test of time.

Formal photographs are great, but there is something timeless about painted portraits. There is a sense of permanence and richness about them that the camera can't really capture. They make dramatic additions to any room in the home.




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