Comments on: Artmakr on Acrylics http://www.artmakr.com/artmakr-on-acrylics/ making art simple through tips tutorials and articles on art and living the artist life Wed, 07 Jan 2009 10:04:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Rafi Stern http://www.artmakr.com/artmakr-on-acrylics/#comment-452 Rafi Stern Sun, 10 Feb 2008 07:35:43 +0000 http://www.artmakr.com/artmakr-on-acrylics/#comment-452 I paint in acrylics for a few reasons. Firstly I learnt in acrylics and I am very happy with them. Secondly I like the way they dry fast and allow me to layer quickly. I like the flexibility of diluting with water or spreading neat. Finally I can't imagine myself mucking around with smelly oils. I paint part-time on the dining table in the corner of my living room and I wouldn't want to have to start dealing with oils and spirits. I know that people look down on acrylics but I'm happy and it suits my style. I paint in acrylics for a few reasons. Firstly I learnt in acrylics and I am very happy with them. Secondly I like the way they dry fast and allow me to layer quickly. I like the flexibility of diluting with water or spreading neat. Finally I can’t imagine myself mucking around with smelly oils. I paint part-time on the dining table in the corner of my living room and I wouldn’t want to have to start dealing with oils and spirits.

I know that people look down on acrylics but I’m happy and it suits my style.

]]> By: Alisha K. Ard http://www.artmakr.com/artmakr-on-acrylics/#comment-448 Alisha K. Ard Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:38:13 +0000 http://www.artmakr.com/artmakr-on-acrylics/#comment-448 Thank you for featuring my painting, "Dance Slippers" with this article about acrylics. As an artist, I choose to work with acrylics primarily for health concerns. I have two small children that I do not wish to expose to turpentines and leads that are an issue when working with oil paints. (The fast drying time is also a big plus!)I find acrylics also handle well for all of the fine detail and appearance of texture that are part of my painting style. So far, the biggest complaint I have heard from other artists who have attempted acrylics and abandoned them rather quickly is that it is "too plastic" and that the colors do not blend well at all. I disagree and my technique shows that acrylics can, in fact, be blended well. My technique is to blend the colors on my palette rather than the canvas itself, then finish with a thin wash for a final smooth blend. Upon asking these artists who don't like acrylics to critique my artwork, the overwhelming response was, "Well, your work is different - you handle acrylic like oil." The statement is yet another example that emphasizes the point that comparisons will be made before distinctions. The irony is that I have never painted with oils in my life, nor do I make it my objective to imitate oils - this is just how I paint. Great article - I look forward to reading the upcoming posts :-) Thank you for featuring my painting, “Dance Slippers” with this article about acrylics.

As an artist, I choose to work with acrylics primarily for health concerns. I have two small children that I do not wish to expose to turpentines and leads that are an issue when working with oil paints. (The fast drying time is also a big plus!)I find acrylics also handle well for all of the fine detail and appearance of texture that are part of my painting style.

So far, the biggest complaint I have heard from other artists who have attempted acrylics and abandoned them rather quickly is that it is “too plastic” and that the colors do not blend well at all. I disagree and my technique shows that acrylics can, in fact, be blended well. My technique is to blend the colors on my palette rather than the canvas itself, then finish with a thin wash for a final smooth blend.

Upon asking these artists who don’t like acrylics to critique my artwork, the overwhelming response was, “Well, your work is different - you handle acrylic like oil.” The statement is yet another example that emphasizes the point that comparisons will be made before distinctions. The irony is that I have never painted with oils in my life, nor do I make it my objective to imitate oils - this is just how I paint.

Great article - I look forward to reading the upcoming posts :-)

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