Varvara Harmon - The Art of Painting Still Life in Acrylic: Master Techniques for Painting Stunning Still Lifes in Acrylic

2015 Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

Published by Walter Foster Publishing, a division of Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc.

All rights reserved. Walter Foster is a registered trademark.

Artwork on front cover (center) and pages (Color Temperature) Robert Moore.

Authors: Varvara Harmon, Elizabeth Mayville, Tracy Meola, and Janice Robertson

Project Editor: Elizabeth T. Gilbert

Page Layout: Britta Bonette

Digital edition: 978-1-63322-933-4

Softcover edition: 978-1-63322-087-4

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the copyright owners. All images in this book have been reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the artists concerned, and no responsibility is accepted by producer, publisher, or printer for any infringement of copyright or otherwise, arising from the contents of this publication. Every effort has been made to ensure that credits accurately comply with information supplied. We apologize for any inaccuracies that may have occurred and will resolve inaccurate or missing information in a subsequent reprinting of the book.

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This book has been produced to aid the aspiring artist. Reproduction of work for study or finished art is permissible. Any art produced or photomechanically reproduced from this publication for commercial purposes is forbidden without written consent from the publisher, Walter Foster Publishing.

A time-tested genre, still life painting focuses on the simple beauty of everyday scenes and objects. From gorgeous floral setups to cozy kitchen scenes, this book includes a range of lovely subjects to re-create in acrylic. Before you begin the step-by-step projects, its important to acquaint yourself with the materials and techniques youll be using. The following chapter covers everything from paints and brushes to color theory and basic drawing, giving you invaluable information as you lift your painting skills to the next level.

The vast array of art materials available to artists today can overwhelm beginning and experienced artists alike. The following pages will help you simplify the process of setting up an acrylic workspace. This versatile paint is water-based and nontoxic, so youll need only a small selection of materials.

ACRYLIC PAINT

Acrylic is a water-based paint consisting of pigment in a binder of acrylic polymer emulsion. It comes in tubes, tubs, jars, and squeeze bottles. Tubes are generally used for higher-quality, artist-grade paints. You can dilute acrylic with plain water (no solvents needed!), but once its dry, the paint is waterproof. You can apply the paint in thin or thick layers, imitating both watercolor and oil paint. But unlike oil, acrylic dries quickly so you dont have to wait long between layers.

MEDIUMS & ADDITIVES

To thin and clean up acrylic, water is the simplest medium. However, you can also find mediums and additives made specifically for acrylic. A range of gels, pastes, and additives allow artists to alter the behavior and properties of acrylic paint, such as extending the drying time or creating a coarse texture.

PALETTES

Palettes for acrylic paints are available in many different materialsfrom wood and ceramic to metal and glass. Plastic palettes are inexpensive, and they can be cleaned with soap and water.

BRUSHES

Synthetic brushes are the best choice for acrylic painting because their strong filaments can withstand the caustic nature of acrylic. Sable and soft-hair synthetic brushes are ideal for watercolor. A selection of hog bristle brushes is a staple for all oil painters. Build your starter set with small, medium, and large flat brushes; a few medium round brushes; a liner (or rigger) brush; a medium filbert brush; and a medium fan brush. Brushes are commonly sized with numbers, although the exact sizes vary between manufacturers. Generally #1 to #5 are small brushes, #6 to #10 are medium brushes, and #11 and up are large brushes. Flat brushes are often sized by the width of the ferrule (or brush base), such as 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, and 1-inch flat brushes.

SURFACES

Acrylic paint needs a toothy, porous, absorbent surface to which it can bind and adhere. For this reason, many surfaces need to be primed first to accept the paint. The most common primer is gesso, which prepares your surface to accept subsequent layers of paint. The most popular acrylic painting surfaces are pictured at right.

Traditional painting surfaces:

A. Canvas paper

B. Masonite or hardboard

C. Pre-primed canvas panels

D. Canvas

E. Watercolor paper

F. Primed mat board

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES

Some additional supplies youll want to have on hand include:

Paper, pencils, and a sharpener for drawing, sketching, and tracing

Jars of water, paper towels, and a spray bottle of water

Fixative to protect your initial sketches before you apply paint

Palette knife to mix large quantities of paint or to apply paint creatively to your surface.