Blending acrylics

[MargeB]

How do you do this? Is it glaze work? I refer to the below. It's acrylics. I think.

http://tinypic.com/4r49k3

[ursula62]

Some painters use retarders to stop the paint drying so quickly and work "wet in wet" to blend like oil paints. Others put on a base colour (either a dark or a light) and give the effect of blending by using glazes.

The trouble with retarders is that if you use too much the paint will never dry properly (always be slightly tacky) and they may also (depending on brand) affect the long term colour stability of the paint.

[MargeB]

Awesome thanks urs. I'm a very naturally talented painter, so I simply apply the paint and let the brush flow in easy strokes, then I look at what I've done and realize I'm not naturally talented at all and it needs the application of technique and skill! I've tried wetting down with water but there are problems with variable absorbency over the gesso or pre laid acrylics. I guess maybe I should switch to a watercolour brush. Maybe a move to retarders is the name of the game. Cheers.

[ursula62]

you're welcome Marge.  If you want to learn more about painting in all media, why not join wetcanvas http://www.wetcanvas.com

They have forums for all types of painting, sorted by style (e.g. landscape, miniatures) techniques (composition etc) or media (acrylics, oil) as well as general discussion forums. They also do monthly projects and classrooms. What's really good is you can post your work and other members give positive criticism, often manipulating a copy of your photo digitally to explain what they mean.

[MargeB]

oh goody, that's great thanks. After a lot of effort I seem to be getting somewhere with my blending (I'll post some results). Will check that site now. Thanks a lot.