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Make It Happen!
My best tip on learning about a product or a new technique is simply to DO IT! You'll never learn more about it than by hands on experience. Even if you "mess up" or your first few attempts aren't to your liking...these steps will improve your skills and give you the confidence that you can tackle anything, no matter how difficult it seems at first.
Stop "wishing & waiting" for your skills to improve. MAKE it happen by DOING IT!
Best Tip You'll Receive All Month! ToleFriend's is a free International Mailing List that anyone can join. Through fund raisers, they bring wonderful opportunities for members to learn more about various styles of decorative painting.
The current fund raiser is a CD, or a digital download if preferred, of which two of my projects are included. It also includes 21 other designs to paint by both top designers and new and upcoming designers.
The price is right and anyone can order this. The quality & instructions are superb and would make wonderful gifts for your painting friends. Check it out today at the above Tole Friend's Fundraiser link.
Using Retarder & Extender This medium has an abundance of uses and can enhance any acrylic project. See some of my "Still Life" designs. By applying a smooth application of this medium onto the surface after the initial shading / highlighting, color can be manipulated very much like oils. With just a little practice, most all acrylics can be turned into a piece of fine art.
While this medium can be used by itself, if you find the Retarder/Extender gives too much open time, simply mix thoroughly with a bit of water before application. If not enough open time, add a bit more of the medium.
After applying the medium to the surface, use a side loaded dry brush for color application allowing the clean side of the brush to mop and soften the color as you paint.
Do You T H I N K You're Learning Anything? Do you paint a project just following the instructions, or do you actually analyze it as you're painting it?
Do you think about why you're told to shade in one area and highlight in another, or do you just simply do as instructed?
Do you think about why certain colors are used for shading and highlighting or do you simply pull the paints and do it?
Do you think you're really learning anything other than just how to paint that specific project?
If you think Simple Shading & Highlighting When trying your hand at designing with your own colors, use these simple shading and highlighting tips for perfect color every time.
Mix a dark and a light color for your base coat, then float, (side load the same side of the brush) with that mix plus the darkest color for the first shading. You won't have to guess any longer about a shading color. For the second shading float, use just the darkest color by itself.
This same rule can apply for the highlight color as well; the medium mix plus the lightest color, then the lightest color by itself. This will keep all colors balanced while achieving a very soft and natural look at the same time.
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