WET-ON-WET ART TUTORIAL and DEMO
Easy Beginner Art Wet-On-Wet Acrylics Tutorial
How to paint a simple, easy wet-on-wet abstract with layered acrylics.
This artwork, LICORICE HEART, is something you can create in an afternoon.
By assembling your materials – a MUST when working wet-on-wet with acrylics, you can have everything you need to create this or a similar art painting.
The finishing step is done AFTER the painting is fully dry, so that can be done the next day.
This post contains several links, some of which are product affiliate links to items I use and recommend. I only provide links to items I feel are useful for this and other paintings/artworks/creations. Thank you so much!
WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/RjxYROIoV2Y
MATERIALS NEEDED:
Surface – I used a stretched canvas 8″ x 10″ – you can purchase them in a pack for a little better deal
Acrylic Paint: I used reds, pink, Titanium White, Black
Cadmium Red Medium – this maintain a mid-range red tone
Cadmium Red Light – this blends into a coral/red tone (love this color!)
Pyrrole Red – another great option for this – a slightly more pinkish-red
Magenta – a full-on deep pink
Black – liquid acrylic paint
Titanium White – soft body
*Optional: Black Acrylic Ink
The paints were soft body acrylics and the black was a liquid acrylic, but you could also create a similar look using a black acrylic ink
Acrylic medium – Flow medium or similar – I use a flow-aid medium like this one
The final step was a gloss medium – medium or heavy weight
The brush I used was a small to medium flat brush – this is a great set (cheap) of brushes for this style of painting
Mop brush to soften and blend – use a DRY fluffy mop for this –
NOTE on MOP BRUSHES:
Use a good -quality mop brush. If you use a cheap brush, they tend to leave lots of hairs in your painting (SHED!) Purchase a quality mop brush for this.
The palette knife was a wide plastic palette knife – this is the set I have
NOTE:
These are what I used; you can use what you have on hand, other colors, etc.
Start with a PREPPED CANVAS:
Prep your canvas with a coat or two of Titanium White or Gesso.
Let it dry thoroughly before you start painting (at least 24 hours).
This will give you a smooth, more professional finish to your art!
TUTORIAL STEPS:
- Mist your prepped and dry canvas with water – lightly.
- Lay down a LIGHT layer of FLOW AID acrylic medium.
- Then you can apply a dab of reds, pink and some white, as shown in the photo.
Use a little to start; you can always add more!
Work with your flat brush to blend the colors together.
>> NOTE: Avoid the white at this point.
After your colors are roughly blended, you can start to incorporate the white.
Work a little in to your colors and create a softer hue.
Work over the entire canvas QUICKLY while paints are wet. Incorporate the white slowly, as shown.
Watch video to see it in action.
Use a flat brush for this.
Blend until softened edges, but do no over-blend!
While still wet, add a drop of the black liquid or ink to the center of your canvas.
Keep your palette knife flat while doing this.
Using your large palette knife, lay it flat onto the black and lightly work in half-circles to create the pattern you like.
After doing that 3-4 times, you can use your flat brush again to soften the edges, leaving a vivid black portion – do NOT soften the whole thing or it will just blur out completely.
Using a DRY fluffy mop brush, you can now soften the black edges into the background.
WORK QUICKLY WHILE PAINT IS WET.
You can use the mop to blend any of the background (reds) and also the black center, but be careful and do not over blend!
LET DRY COMPLETELY – 24 HOURS
Now you can create a unique oil-like finish with either a heavy gel or gloss medium.
I mixed a little of each together and used a palette knife.
Apply a thick layer of this. It will look white, but dry CLEAR.
You can work it around with your palette knife and/or clean, dry flat brush.
It will look like this when wet.
IT WILL DRY CLEAR.
Don’t worry, because it will dry clear and leave a beautiful, lustrous finish!
Finish the sides. I used a black to “frame” this painting.
Let dry thoroughly!
Example framed – SEE MORE ART AT www.abstractart.live
LEARN TO PAINT LIKE A PRO!
See my guided art tutorials
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