For you Acrylic Lovers
I have done some research, asked the finest acrylic, Plein air painters out there painting, and this is what I would suggest for you to have in your Plein Air kit.
Golden Heavy Body acrylics and Utrecht acrylics (available at Dick Blick). Buy the large 8oz. tubes and don’t be afraid to use paint. Always choose a quality heavy body Titanium White. The student brands are just to watered down. You are worth it! Your art is worth it. Spend the extra$ and don’t be afraid to use the paint.
Start with these colors and add as you see fit:
Utrecht Ultramarine, Burnt Sienna (must), Lemmon Yellow (must), Titanium White (quality heavy body Titanium White), and Permanent Red.
In the field use glazing medium instead of water to thin the paints. This slows the drying time down to about 30 seconds.
Mister Water Bottle Sprayer- you know you need one.
$1 empty mister water sprayers from Walmart (about 3” tall and clear) are perfect for producing a fine mist. You’ll find them in the travel section bins near the hair spray and deodorants.
Store paints in a plastic compartmentalized container, like the kind hobby stores sell for storing jewelry parts. The paint in each compartment comes into less contact with air, so it dries more slowly. Outdoors with proper misting, working with wet paints for two to four hours is not a problem. And with the lid closed, the paints stay wet for a few days. Consider the vitamin, med storage containers as well.
Acrylic paint must be put on the palette in large clumps to slow the evaporation down. Don’t be afraid to put the paint out. Your art is worth it! You are worth it!! Also, shelter the acrylics from direct sun, heat, or wind.
When trying to blend a large area like the sky, dampen the canvas and paint fast.
