- 1). Brush the acrylic onto the surface using paint directly from the tube or your own color creation. This creates a base for the painting, called an underpainting.
- 2). Mix paints with water and/or mediums to create thinned-down layers of paint, called washes or glazes. Washes are mixed with only water, while glazes are mixed with mediums. Experiment with combining water and mediums to create the consistency you want, depending on the effect you wish to achieve.
- 3). Layer your acrylic paint by applying one layer of paint and allowing it to dry thoroughly. Apply a wash or glaze on top of the first layer. It will not dissolve the layer underneath but will show through and create subtle shades. Apply as many layers as you wish.
- 4). Mix impasto, which increases the thickness and consistency of acrylics. Some impastos add texture, such as lumpy, sandy or smooth, while some just thicken paint. Apply impasto to your acrylic painting.
- 5). Use texturing tools to add visual interest to your acrylic. Palette knives, artist combs, scrapers and even scratching tools will add dimension and depth to your painting.