1. Acrylic Painting
Tips and Techniques

2. Start with observation and a careful
sketch.
It is very difficult to change shape and placement
once painting begins, so take your time on this
step to get things exactly the way you want them.

3. Use a grid to help sketch difficult subjects.

4. All objects in your painting will have at least
three tones:
Highlight, Mid-tone, and Shadow

5. Observe your subject, note the colors you see!

6. Start with simplified shapes of tone:
Where are the highlights, mid-tones, and
shadows?

7. You can leave defined shapes of highlight,
mid-tone, and shadow, or you can blend them
together using a clean brush.

8. Always paint
large shapes of
color first!
Include your
highlights, mid-tones,
and shadows!
Wait until this layer
is dry, then add
small shapes and
details on the next
layer.

9. You may choose to tone your canvas with a sepia wash for a warmer look.
You can create a grisaille, or tonal study in sepia, before you add a local color layer.

10. Continue adding
highlights and shadows
to each shape of local
color...
...until you have
created a wide range of
tones and hues. Check
to make sure you have
areas that are bright
white, as well as deep,
dark shadows.

11. Use warm tones in highlights,
and cool tones in shadows.
This technique can be used with highly saturated colors,
like the painting on the left, or with subdued tones, like
the ones in the Lucien Freud painting on the right.

12. No two people will ever paint in exactly the same style!
These tips are suggestions and guidelines- you’ll find the process that works best for you!
Don’t worry if your painting looks quite different from your classmate’s work- it’s
natural-and that’s what makes your work unique!