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Category: How to paint – BLOG

Misty Forest Paintng ZOOM Acrylic Painting Workshop, April 22, 2023- Tim Gagnon

Posted on by Tim Gagnon

REPLAY – Misty Forest Painting in Acrylic

On April 22, 2023 I conducted a live painting workshop via ZOOM. This type of interactive lesson is something that is a part of my membership program. I conduct two live painting workshops per month on a variety of subject matter. I paint in both oil and acrylic in these workshops.

JOIN THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM FOR UNLIMITED LIVE WORKSHOPS

I think you will have a lot of fun joining in on these live workshops, and hope to see you as a member after you watch the below video. As a member you get to join any of these workshops you would like, and you also get instant access to over 200 lessons that you can watch anytime on your schedule. Join the membership program here: https://www.timgagnon.com/shop/online-lessons/tim-gagnon-studio-membership/

If you prefer a monthly payment setup for the membership program, and get all the same benefits you can join here: https://www.timgagnon.com/shop/uncategorized/tim-gagnon-studio-membership-monthly-payment-plan/

Colors Used: Alizarin Crimson, Raw Umber, Titanium White, Camium Red Medium, Yellow Ochre

Canvas Size: 11 X 14 (inches)

Brushes Used: https://www.timgagnon.com/product-category/brushes/

Workshop Video Password: 634555

Finished Image: 

How To Paint in Acrylics – Making your acrylic paint look more like oil paint

Posted on by Tim Gagnon

Watch this video on some tips to make your acrylic paint look like oil paint

More tips to make your acrylics look like oils
Acrylic paints and oil paints have different properties and techniques that are used to create paintings. However, it is possible to make acrylic paints look like oil paints. Here are some tips that can help you achieve the oil painting effect with acrylic paints:

1. Use a slow-drying medium: Slow-drying mediums extend the drying time of acrylic paints, which will give you more time to blend and manipulate the paint on the canvas. You can find slow-drying mediums at art supply stores or online.

2. Build up the layers: One of the characteristics of oil paintings is the ability to build up thick layers of paint, which creates depth and texture. To achieve this look with acrylics, work on building up several thin layers of paint, instead of applying one thick layer.

3. Use a palette knife: Palette knives can be used to spread and mix the paint, which will create a more textured and impasto effect. When using a palette knife, make sure to apply the paint in thin layers, as thick layers can crack when they dry.

4. Experiment with glazing: Glazing is a technique that involves adding a transparent layer of paint over a dried layer of paint. This technique can create a rich and luminous effect, similar to oil paintings. Experiment with different colors and layering techniques to see what works best for your painting.

5. Practice blending: Blending is another technique that is commonly used in oil paintings. To blend acrylic paints, use a dry brush to lightly smooth out the edges and blend the colors together.

In conclusion, while acrylic paints and oil paints have different properties and techniques, you can still achieve a similar look with acrylic paints by following these tips. Practice, experimentation and patience are key to success in creating paintings that look like oil paintings with acrylics.

How to paint with oil paint – Creating Fat Over Lean Mediums

Posted on by Tim Gagnon

Watch this video that relates to this article:

Oil painting is a popular medium among artists due to its ability to create rich, luminous colors. However, one of the challenges of oil painting is controlling the drying time of the paint. A fat over lean medium can help regulate the drying time and prevent cracking in the paint.

A fat over lean medium is created by mixing linseed oil and odorless mineral spirits. The idea behind the fat over lean principle is that each layer of paint should have more oil in it than the previous one. This allows each layer to dry at the same rate, preventing cracking or other damage to the paint.

Here are the steps to create a fat over lean medium for oil painting:

Gather materials: You will need linseed oil, odorless mineral spirits, and a mixing container.

Mix the linseed oil and mineral spirits: Start by mixing equal parts of linseed oil and mineral spirits in the mixing container. Stir the mixture until it is well combined.

Adjust the consistency: Depending on your personal preference, you may want to add more linseed oil or mineral spirits to the mixture to make it thicker or thinner. A thicker medium will produce a more opaque paint, while a thinner medium will result in a more transparent paint.

Store the medium: Store the medium in an airtight container, away from light and heat. Be sure to label the container so you know what is inside.

Use the medium: When you are ready to start painting, mix a small amount of the medium into your paint to make it more fluid. Then, follow the fat over lean principle by applying each successive layer with a higher concentration of oil.

By following these steps, you can create a fat over lean medium that will help regulate the drying time of your oil paint, preventing cracking and other damage to your paintings.

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How To Paint – Painting Skies – Using saturation and value to create distance and depth in your oil and acrylic painting

Posted on by Tim Gagnon

Check out this video related to this article:

Creating the illusion of distance in oil paintings can be a challenging task, but with a few key elements, it is possible to achieve stunning results. In this blog, we will focus on using cool colors, value, and saturation to paint distance in oil paintings.

Use Cool Colors
When it comes to painting distance in oil paintings, the use of cool colors is essential. Cool colors, such as blue, green, and purple, are known for their calming and receding effect, which can help to create the illusion of distance. To achieve this effect, choose cool colors for the background and reserve warm colors for the foreground elements of your painting.

Pay Attention to Value
Since your entire sky will consist of cooler colors you’ll need to focus on value and saturation. Value refers to the lightness or darkness of a color and plays an important role in creating the illusion of depth in oil paintings. To achieve this effect, use cool colors with a light value in the background and gradually increase the value as you move to the foreground elements. This will help to create the illusion of depth and distance, as the eye naturally perceives lighter values as receding and darker values as coming forward.

Experiment with Saturation
Saturation refers to the intensity or purity of a color. By using cool colors with varying levels of saturation, you can create depth and distance in your oil painting. For example, you can use highly saturated cool colors in the foreground and gradually decrease the saturation as you move to the background. This will help to create a sense of depth and distance, as the eye perceives more intense colors as closer and less intense colors as farther away.

In conclusion, by combining the use of cool colors, value, and saturation, you can create stunning oil paintings that capture the depth and beauty of the world around you. Remember, the key is to experiment and find what works best for you and your artistic style. So, grab your brushes and paints and get started on your next masterpiece!

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How to paint clouds in oil – Glazing in highlights and shadows for depth.

Posted on by Tim Gagnon

Watch this video on glazing techniques:

Glazing Techniques for Painting Highlights and Shadows on Clouds in Oil

Oil painting provides artists with a range of techniques to create beautiful and realistic clouds with depth and luminosity. One of the most effective techniques is glazing, which involves layering thin transparent coats of color over one another. In this article, we will focus on how to paint highlights and shadows on clouds using glazing techniques in oil.

1. Start with oiling in. Before you begin painting, prepare your painting by oiling in the surface. This means applying a thin coat of painting medium (50/50 mix) to the canvas to provide a surface for your paint to adhere to and allow the paint to go smoothly.

2. Add the first layer of glaze. To paint the highlights on the clouds, start by mixing titanium white with a medium, such as linseed oil, to create a thin and transparent glaze. Apply this to the areas of the clouds where you want the highlights to be.

3. Build up the highlights. As you apply additional layers of the white glaze, build up the highlights by adding more paint to the areas where you want the highlights to be more prominent. Make sure each layer is thin and transparent, so that the previous layers show through.

4. Add shadows with glazing. To create contrast and give the clouds more dimension, you can add shadows using glazing techniques. Start by mixing a dark color, such as ultramarine blue and raw umber, or cerulean blue with raw umber and a touch of alizarin, with a medium to create a thin and transparent glaze. Apply this to the areas of the clouds where you want the shadows to be.

5. Blend the layers. After each layer has dried, use a blending tool, such as a soft brush or a blending knife, to soften and blend the layers together. This will create a smooth and cohesive look, with subtle variations in color and tone that add depth and luminosity to the clouds.

In conclusion, painting highlights and shadows on clouds using glazing techniques in oil is a great way to create depth and luminosity in your paintings. By oiling in the canvas, adding thin layers of white for highlights, and using glazing to add shadows, you can increase contrast and create stunning and realistic clouds in your paintings.

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How To Paint – Tips to keep your acrylic paint from drying too fast

Posted on by Tim Gagnon

Keeping your acrylic paint from drying to fast

Acrylic paint is known for its fast-drying time, which can be both a blessing and a curse for artists. While the fast-drying time allows you to complete your paintings quickly, it can also make it difficult to blend and manipulate the paint as you work. If you’re struggling with your acrylic paint drying too fast, here are some tips to help you slow it down:

1. Use a Retarder: Retarders are specifically designed to slow down the drying time of acrylic paint. Simply add a small amount of retarder to your paint before you start painting and it will stay wet for a longer period of time, giving you more time to work with it.

2. Mist Your Paint with Water: A light mist of water can help to slow down the drying time of acrylic paint. Simply use a spray bottle to mist your paint with water before you start painting, or as you work. Just be careful not to add too much water, as this can cause the paint to become too thin and runny.

3. Paint on a Moist Surface: Painting on a surface that is slightly moist can also help to slow down the drying time of acrylic paint. Simply dampen the surface before you start painting and the paint will take longer to dry.

4. Cover Your Paint: Covering your paint with a damp cloth or plastic wrap can help to slow down the drying time as well. This method is particularly useful if you need to take a break from your painting and don’t want the paint to dry out while you’re gone.

5. Use Slow-Drying Mediums: Adding a slow-drying medium to your paint can also help to slow down its drying time. Slow-drying mediums are specifically designed to extend the working time of acrylic paint and can be found at most art supply stores.

6. Dampen your brushes with water before you start painting. Just put them in water for a few minutes and then wipe out the excess water, leaving the bristles slightly damp.

In conclusion, there are several ways to prevent your acrylic paint from drying too fast. From using a retarder to misting your paint with water, there are plenty of options available to help you extend the working time of your acrylic paint and create beautiful, detailed paintings.

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How To Paint – Adding in details to an Acrylic Painting with Oil Paint

Posted on by Tim Gagnon

Adding oil details to an acrylic painting.

Oil paint and acrylic paint are two of the most commonly used mediums in painting, and each has its own unique properties and characteristics. By combining these two mediums in a single painting, you can create rich and complex compositions that are not possible with just one medium alone. One way to do this is to use oil paint to add details to an acrylic painting.

Here are some tips for applying oil paint to an acrylic painting:

Prepare the Surface: Before you start adding oil paint to your acrylic painting, make sure that the surface is clean, dry, and free from any residue or grease.

1. Wait for the Acrylic Paint to Dry: Acrylic paint dries much more quickly than oil paint, so it’s important to wait until the acrylic paint is fully dry before you start applying oil paint. This usually takes around 24 hours, but can vary depending on the thickness of the acrylic paint.

2. Use a Painting Medium to prepare the surface: To make the oil paint easier to work with, you can use a medium such as a 50/50 OMS/Linseed Oil Mix. I actually like to use a 30/70 OMS/Linseed Oil Mix. These mediums help to thin the oil paint and make it easier to manipulate and blend with the acrylic paint.

3. Apply the Oil Paint in Thin Layers: When adding oil paint to an acrylic painting, it’s best to work in thin layers. This will help you to build up the desired level of detail without overwhelming the acrylic paint and altering its appearance.

4. Blend the Oil over the Acrylic Paints: To create a seamless transition between the oil and acrylic paints, it’s important to blend the two mediums together. That doesn’t mean mixing them. It just means blending over top, so it looks like they fit together. You can do this by using a blending brush or your fingers to smooth out any rough edges between the two mediums.

5. Avoid Overworking: When adding oil paint to an acrylic painting, it’s important to avoid overworking the surface. Overworking the paint can result in an overly heavy or muddy appearance, so it’s best to work in small, controlled areas and stop once you have achieved the desired effect.

In conclusion, adding oil paint to an acrylic painting is a great way to add details and enhance the richness and complexity of your compositions. By following these tips, you can create beautiful and detailed paintings that are full of depth and character.

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How to paint – Why Being Loose in Painting Is Important

Posted on by Tim Gagnon

Being Loose in Painting

Watch this video on being loose:

Painting in oil and acrylic can be a lot of fun, but many artists struggle with getting the right level of looseness in their brushwork. Looseness in painting is important because it adds a sense of liveliness and energy to your work, and can help you to create more dynamic and interesting compositions.
Here are a few reasons why you should aim to be loose when painting in oil and acrylic:

1. It Encourages Experimentation: By letting go of your need for control, you open yourself up to new and unexpected possibilities. Looser brushwork can lead to spontaneous marks and textures that can add interest and depth to your work.

2. It Improves Your Spontaneity: When you are loose, you are able to work more quickly and instinctively, allowing you to respond to the needs of the painting as it evolves. This spontaneous approach can help you to capture the essence of your subject and create more dynamic compositions.

3. It Increases Your Confidence: When you let go of your need for control, you can focus on the process of painting and the joy of creating. This shift in mindset can help you to become more confident in your abilities and enjoy the process of painting more fully.

4. It Adds Energy to Your Work: Looser brushwork creates a sense of movement and energy in your paintings that can be difficult to achieve with tight, controlled brushstrokes. By incorporating loose brushwork into your paintings, you can add a sense of life and vitality to your work that will engage and captivate your viewers.

In conclusion, loosening up when painting in oil and acrylic can bring many benefits to your work. It encourages experimentation, improves your spontaneity, increases your confidence, and adds energy to your paintings. So, go ahead and try to let go of your need for control, and see what interesting and unexpected things can happen in your artwork.

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