Aztec Dancer

[scouserl41]

I still struggle with acrylics, they dry much too fast for me. I've tried every slow drying medium out there and still can't blend they way I like to in oils.
In my own stubborn way I keep trying, thinking that practice, practice, practice may help.
This painting of an Aztec dancer we saw at a Native American Pow-Wow in Florida last year has been stewing at the back of my mind ever since. I did an acrylic under painting thinking I'd finish it in oils but yesterday as I was working on backgrounds for several flower paintings (I generally do backgrounds in acrylics and the actual flowers in oils), I decided that as the colors were mainly primaries I'd try finishing the whole painting in acrylics.
I'm quite happy with the results.

Details

Any tips for extending the wet life of acrylics on canvas? Or am I just using the wrong painting techniques for the medium??
Brian

[MaryAnne Long]

Brian,

This looks really good.   Colorful and tells a story.
 
I, too, have tried acrylics and find them difficult to work with.  Yet, I have friends who use them exclusively and do amazing work.

Are you back home yet?  Still planning the December trip to Hawaii?

aloha

mea

[Val]

Nicely done Brian. I only had a very brief foray into acrylics a while back. One thing I found even using a wet palette, was to keep spritzing them with a bit of water. Also the painting, helped keep it malleable a bit longer. I probably would have kept going with acrylics but for one thing.... all I could get at the time were fluorescent colours!       

Should I decide to have another go at acrylics....     I'd like to try the Atelier.

[scouserl41]

I've tried the wet pallet and spritzing but it still doesn't let me work the paint the way I want to. I wonder if I'm missing some technique like dry brushing that expert acrylic painters use? Maybe I better take some lessons, although the online lessons don't really seem to reveal any insights.
We have confirmed our cruise to Hawaii MEA so we are looking forward to meeting you face to face.

[dennis]

Brian, you get what is called an acrylic extender. It is a gel which you mix into the paint and that keeps it moist for a reasonable time.
Very lovely painting 

[scouserl41]

Thanks Dennis,
I've had extender and it didn't help much I thought. I tried higher quality paints and all kinds of things but I'm still not happy with it. Maybe next time I'm in the art store I'll try another brand of extender.
I appreciate your help.
Brian

[liz]

Aloha from Blue Hawaii, Brian!


 I work with acrylics a lot and they won't ever blend like oils do.  You did good with your costume design which didn't need much blending anyway.  But if you want to blend try working with 3 brushes as I often do.  I paint with the right hand brush; in my left hand I hold a clean brush for softening edges right away and get ready to add second color with 3rd brush; and blend edges with other clean brush. This means switching brushes  to your dominant hand, back and forth.  Use clean brush dry for blending or clean and damp for lifting paint.  I also use half medium and half water to moisten the paint, plus misting the whole palette once in a while which is parchment paper over a damp sponge cloth in a Masterson stay wet palette.  (I remove the glass used for oil).  The only advantage I see in acrylic is that it dries fast; the biggest difference is working with the color adjustments since acrylic will tend to dry darker.  This means I paint lighter and in layers, adding more color, adjusting values as needed or use glazes.  That way my acrylic paintings don't turn out very vivid intense colors. If I don't have a deadline, I rather paint with WSO. Cheers, ~Liz

[scouserl41]

Thanks Liz!
I will take all the advice I can get and try again. I've seen some truly amazing work done in acrylics so obviously it's possible, I just get really frustrated and turn back to my lovely oils! I was the same with watercolors until we went to Europe and that's all I took with me due to space and weight restrictions.
Hope I get to meet up with you in December when we get to Hawaii!
Brian

[MaryAnne Long]

Yes, Brian.  Planning it.  Set our art group Christmas party a week earlier so I would have the weekend free when you folks are here. Hope we can get Liz and Denise to join us.

aloha

mea

[linley.plester]

Brian, the only criticism I could offer is that perhaps the nose is a trifle too long? Brilliant subject and great colour! Nolan's first class on using acrylics is brilliant.I've never managed to do it (although I desperately need to!) But it was the quality of his instruction that first drew me to Paint Basket. He uses Atelier Interactive in that class, and constantly spritzes. Liz, I'm looking forward to trying your 3 brushes technique. I've been told that a big fluffy make-up mop is a good brush for blending acrylics. What brush do you use, Liz?

[linley.plester]

Actually, Brian, I take back what I said about the nose being too long. There is a light dot behind the tip of it that makes it look longer in some lights. This might only show up in the photo.

[scouserl41]

Thanks Linley,
The painting is only 8 x 10 so the picture is very zoomed in. But then again I think the nose IS too long but I already moved on to another set of sketches!!
Regards
Brian

[linley.plester]

Actually, I think the beaky nose emphasizes the character of the dancer, who looks a bit more mystical and witch-doctorish because of it.

[scouserl41]

It does add character doesn't it!
As my Dad used to say, "He's got a Roman nose. It's Roamin' all over his face"
Brian

[Happychappy]

    Lovely, lively painting Brian. Your Dad had a good sense of humour, it cracked me up.      Patricia