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Painting an abstract sunrise with acrylics and mediums
How to paint with acrylics – and make them look like oils
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This video demo is a speed painting of me creating a blended abstract in warm tones. I called it SUNRISER because it looks like a sunrise on a warm fall day…to me, anyway!
This painting has acrylics and a few tools used to create it.
- Prepped canvas with a coat of Titanium White – let dry thoroughly
- On dry canvas, I put a light mist of water and a generous amount of medium. This helps the acrylics dry more slowly and blend easier.
- Then working quickly I laid down the colors and manipulated them with the tools.
–Follow along with the video–
Naples Yellow – flat brush
Raw Sienna – flat brush
Add a dot of the Napthol Red Light – or an orange hue in center.
Blend everything well with my mop brush.
Then a layer of Burnt Sienna. More blending.
Titanium White – palette knife
Then Raw Sienna
Catalyst tools
More Napthol Red Light – or orange hute
Blend with palette knife, then a brush for final softness.
Let dry thorough – at least 24 hours.
Apply a final Satin glaze – optional.
Let dry 48 hours (minimum).
Apply varnish.
Dry!
If you are interested in what I used, here is a materials list:
MATERIALS USED:
Small stretched canvas / 12″ x 12″ canvas
Acrylic Paints:
- Titanium white
- Napthol Red Light – I love this red because it has warm undertone that can look orange.
- Raw Sienna
- Burnt Sienna – https://amzn.to/2QwsiGo
- Naples Yellow – https://amzn.to/3d1kVOP
- Yellow Oxide
Tools
- Flat brush
- Palette knife
- Catalyst
- Mop blending brush
How I created it:
Mediums:
I love to have this on-hand! It really helps slow the drying time of acrylics so I can blend them. It also give them a little bit more luster when they are dry.
SLOW DRY MEDIUMS:
These are great options. I’ve used both and I can recommend them. For this tutorial, I used the Liquitex Slow Dry Blending Medium, but I have both of them in my artist tool kit!
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LEARN TO PAINT! For more tutorial and classes, visit my ABSTRACT ART SCHOOL. I teach fully guided step-by-step classes: https://abstract-art-painting.teachable.com/
Step-by-Step Acrylic Painting Tutorials- see all the classes
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