I am just beginning to paint...with acrylics............?

Question

What types/sizes of brushes do I need?
Also, I often find that I either mix too much of a color or not enough...any pointers on mixing?

Answer 1

use an extender and a drying delay medium. Maybe even modeling paste.
It's a great way to stretch you dollar and give a wide window to paint in.

They dry fast unless you add the delay medium. Then they work closer to oil.

brushes are like candy - get all that you want.

Acrylic is plastic, so it's hard to mess it up. You can use them like watercolor or thick body impasto. And you can build up many layers.

Have fun and experiment.

Thick or thin lends each way to a style , like watercolor looks great in landscapes and thick in modern art. It is like riding an elevator -each stop opens you to a new place to explore in a different way.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I've been doing this along time. Get at least three different sized rounds that you like, and at least four flats. 0-15 size, whatever you think you need. You don't "need" double digit number sized brushes, you will find them to be useful however. You need two hand fulls of brushes, then again, you probably also have two hands. I throw paint and make abstract art so I get a turkey baster and generic flats from the hardware store, you know the disposable ones. For priming canvas you need gesso and a good big flat brush, like for painting houses, or use a roller if you want, I like the big expensive house painting brush ($30-40) so I can really dig the paint into the tooth of the canvas. I use an edger for this right now because it's all I have, I used to use a big fat brush, I need to get one.

Answer 3

I only use watercolor so I can't give you specific acrylic tips, just some general ones on painting.
Don't get too technical at the beginning. If you're just starting, 2 brushes are enough (generic "small" and "large" one). Play a lot with the medium, see what works for you. This is really the most important thing, because no matter how much theory you absorb later on, what shapes your art is your own understanding of the media. So, experiment!

Also, check this out: http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/farp/acrylics/introduction.html It's a very detailed tutorial made by Stephanie Law ( http://www.shadowscapes.com/). A lot of reading, but I think it'll be worth it.

Answer 4

Brush sizes it good to have a whole range from size 2 very small to a 12 and even a funch (a small house painting brush.

for mixing colour start with more of the lighter colour like yellow and slowly add blue to make green.

I am an artist and some times I still mix more then I need some times you just can't tell.

Bright up your day and happy painting.

Answer 5

You could start out with a set of Loew Cornell Golden Taklon Brushes http://www.homecraftexpress.com/catalogbrushesloewcornellgolden.html

A basic set would include flats: No.s 4, 8,12. Rounds 4,6,8. A 10/0 liner. And a 3/4 wash brush.

These will get you started. Remember that you can only paint as well as your worse brush. So take care of them they are tools of the trade

Paint it cheap so don't worry about mixing up too much. It's just something you sort of have to learn how much etc.

Answer 6

Acrylics are essentially water colors. You should buy the very best brushes you can afford...and think water color. I like the almond shaped brushes that let you lay down slivers of light. About the mixing...LOL...that just comes with time. Do two pieces at once....so you can use the whole batch. Hugs, Gina C.