Painting blog by Masha Eretnova
Alla Prima is not the first technique and let’s be honest, word, that comes to mind when you start painting with acrylics. But what is this and why is this technique really worth trying? (And it is, I promise!) Alla Prima in Italian means at first attempt or direct painting, and as a painting technique, it … Read more
Thinning acrylic paint for airbrushing is necessary to create a nice, smooth, and thin paint application. The two easy ways to prepare acrylic paint for airbrushing are to either add a professional airbrushing medium OR to use regular isopropyl alcohol. To thin acrylic paint for airbrushing you need to know: Thinning products for airbrushing come … Read more
I used to do pour painting with premixed pour paint – it means the brand already thinned the acrylic paint with a special medium for me. But if you want to be more professional about pouring and premixing any colors you want, you can’t rely only on pre-mixed paint. You should learn to thin acrylic … Read more
This Easter I wanted to paint something cute and easy, but not cartoon style and I still wanted it to be a good painting practice. I decided to do my best at painting a better Easter Bunny and make it a simple scene, like for a postcard or small painting, so I added a couple … Read more
Though Gouache is infamous for being similar to watercolor, reputable painters still used Gouache as their primary medium and iconic paintings were used with Gouache. Gouache may be similar to watercolor, but some artists prefer it over others. There’s no loss, and we understand because Gouache is very worth it, even for beginners. Many artists … Read more
It is a myth (beneficial for marketing people and brands) that to be successful in painting you need to buy a set of 48 colors. It is not true, there are basic colors and some variations of the basic acrylic paint palette that you can buy and paint absolutely anything. I’ve been painting with acrylics … Read more
I absolutely love purple color but sometimes it is hard to buy the right shade. Many brands have either purple which is way too dark or a pale violet which is not what I need. So I often resort to mixing my own paint. Yet, mixing specifically purple is quite challenging as the two colors … Read more
To varnish my acrylic painting and pourings I use liquid and spray varnishes. I trust professional brands and they never let me down or cause any milkiness or issues to my paint. Let me share with you what varnishes you can use for acrylic painting and how to choose the best fit for your needs. … Read more
You have probably seen Floetrol and especially Australian Floetrol prices lately…Not fun! Time to look for a good, reliable Floetrol alternative that can still give us a perfect liquid consistency and cells. Besides, Floetrol as a paint additive is not archival, which means it is not guaranteed to last for years without yellowing. *silent panic* … Read more
Slow-drying mediums can cost anywhere from $14 to $20 and what if we are not sure yet if that’s going to work? Better not to spend money on something we won’t use. Besides there are ways to make acrylic dry slower without such mediums or even a recipe for a homemade acrylic retarder I’m going … Read more