18.12.17

Why Many Artists Prefer To Create Acrylic Portrait Paintings Instead Of Oil

By Patrick Gray


Having your family, yourself, or a beloved pet immortalized in a painted picture is a great gift to pass on to future generations. When you decide to take this step, you need to contact the most talented artist within your budget. You might assume that she will be working in oils, since that was the tradition for centuries. Instead, the artist you choose, might suggest that acrylic portrait paintings can be just as effective and easier to create.

As the client, it may not matter to you, but artists love acrylics because they dry quickly. If you allow your artist to use acrylics for your portrait, you might notice that she uses a spray water bottle regularly to keep the painting moist. She may also spray the palette to keep the paint from drying and to avoid having to remix.

Acrylics are extremely versatile. When you are meeting with an artist to discuss what you are looking for in your picture, she might ask you to consider a picture that looks more like a watercolor. She can add a little water to the acrylics to give the effect of watercolor without the translucent look. If you decide you like the idea of a watercolor, the artist may use an ink form of acrylics.

When you are really set on the look of oil, your artist can still use acrylics to achieve it. Your artist can choose a color palette that is more aligned with oils than acrylics. There are agents that can be added to the paint to thicken it and increase the drying time. This allows the artist to use different techniques and can give your picture the look of an old masterpiece.

Canvas isn't the only surface artists paint on. Oils are limited to certain surfaces, but acrylics are much more flexible. You can choose to have your picture done on canvas if you like, but you can also consider other recommendations. Paper is an option, as is wood and cloth.

The versatility of acrylics allows artists to work with one set of paints and create work that has the look and feel of several others. This medium can be layered to create texture because previous layers dry quickly and, once dry, are permanently set. They are water resistant unlike watercolors. Unlike oil, which can take weeks to dry completely, acrylics will dry overnight, but can be thickened to be used like oil.

If you have concerns that works done in acrylic have a shorter lifespan than oils, your artist will probably tell you there is no evidence that acrylics will break down over time. Although they have only been commercially available for the last sixty years or so, even the oldest acrylic paintings are surviving very well.

Photographic portraits are great, but there is something special about painted portraits. They have a richness and drama that a camera lens can't compete with. If a painting is taken care of, no matter what the medium used to paint it, your likeness will be around for many generations.




About the Author: