How Difficult is it to Learn Acrylic Painting?

Are you interested in earning acrylic painting but worried that it might be too hard? The level of difficulty associated with learning acrylic painting will be dependent on a variety of factors. Acrylic painting may be easier for some to learn than others. The challenges you face when learning acrylic painting will depend on factors likeyour previous painting experience, the cost of your materials, and how quickly the paint dries. 

No matter your current schedule or comfort level with acrylic painting, there are plenty of tools available to help make learning easier than you might think.

What is Acrylic Painting?

Acrylic painting uses acrylic paints, which were developed from acrylic resin in the 1930s. These paints consist of water, a polymer binder, and pigment. Acrylic painting gained popularity largely because of the characteristics of the paint. Acrylic paint is versatile, as it can mimic other mediums and be used on a variety of surfaces, and it’s inexpensive. 

Unlike oil paints, acrylic paint dries very quickly. This allows acrylic paintings to be transported soon after being finished. However, this is a disadvantage for those who are painting landscapes outdoors as acrylic paintings tend to dry even more quickly when exposed to an arid climate. 

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Benefits of Learning Acrylic Painting?

Acrylic paint adheres to surfaces like wood and glass and is very absorbent. As a result, acrylic paint is commonly used to decorate a variety of surfaces. Acrylic fabric paint is sold in craft stores to decorate clothing. Acrylic paint can also be used to decorate other projects made by woodworkers and those who work with metal. 

Acrylic painting is therapeutic and has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress. It provides a distraction from the stressors in your life because it requires you to focus on your brushstrokes and the final product that you’re envisioning. Expressing your creativity through acrylic painting can also increase serotonin and reduce depression. Many people pick up acrylic painting because of its mental and emotional health benefits. 

What Are the Hardest Parts of Learning Acrylic Painting?

You will inevitably face challenges when learning a new craft. Common challenges when learning acrylic painting include starting with no prior knowledge of painting, high material costs, and the paint’s fast drying speed. There are solutions to these challenges that you may be facing, which can be read about below. 

Prior Experience

If you have no prior experience painting, you might struggle to learn acrylic painting. Although mediums differ, the techniques and styles between mediums do overlap. Those who have experience using paint, a paintbrush, canvas, and other tools will find acrylic painting fairly intuitive, despite using other mediums. 

This shouldn’t discourage you from learning acrylic painting. You can learn the basics by looking at online resources such as videos and tutorials. These can teach you painting terminology and the characteristics of acrylic paint. 

You can also take an in-person or online acrylic painting class. Beginner-level classes can take you from having no experience with painting to understanding the fundamentals of acrylic painting like color theory, color mixing, composition, lighting, and styles. Classes are taught by professional artists and expert instructors who can provide you with in-depth demonstrations and detailed feedback. It might be intimidating to pick up a new craft that you’re unfamiliar with; learning from a professional in a stress-free environment can help you pick up acrylic painting quickly and thoroughly. 

Cost

Acrylic paint is one of the least expensive mediums, but that doesn’t mean that the cost of learning acrylic painting doesn’t present a challenge. You can purchase student or artist-quality acrylic paint. Student-quality paint is cheaper, but it’s not recommended because it uses less pigment and more filler than artist-quality paint. In the end, you’ll likely use more paint when using student-quality paint because it contains less pigment. 

Artist-quality acrylic paint will be more expensive because of its higher pigment percentage. This provides better color and makes the paint more resistant to fading. Acrylic paint can be bought in jars, tubes, and bottles. The price will be dependent on the size and brand of acrylic paint you purchase. Artist-quality acrylic paint can range from $6 for a tube to upwards of $100 for a set of bottles. 

Beginners should purchase sets of artist-quality acrylic paints to help build their collection. Sets come with essential colors and tend to be more cost-effective than purchasing them individually. If you’re not confident about your skills, you can also find student-quality acrylic paint sets to practice with. 

Drying Speed

Acrylic paint dries quickly. It can take about 20-30 minutes for high-quality acrylic paint to be dry to the touch. Thinner layers will dry quicker than thick layers, which can take up to an hour or two to be considered dry to the touch. The quick drying time of acrylic paint makes it easier to add layers. Unlike oil paint, which dries slowly thanks to its thickness, you don’t need to wait long to add new layers to an acrylic painting. 

The downside of acrylic’s quick drying time is that acrylic paint can’t be used to create the effects that other mediums can. Oil paint, for example, uses a popular technique called ‘wet in wet, ’ which creates soft, flowing effects. Instead, a finished acrylic painting may look harsh compared to an oil painting. 

If you’re unhappy with the impact that the quick drying time of acrylic paint has on your work, there are ways to remedy that. Acrylic paint is incredibly versatile and can mimic oil paint. 

One way to do this is by simply purchasing slow-drying acrylic paint. These paints have a softer consistency and increased working time compared to traditional or fast-drying acrylics. This allows painters to achieve results common with oil paint. 

You can also add a paint retarder to acrylic paint. This results in a slower drying time, allowing more time for blending and layering highlights as well as the possibility of using the ‘wet in wet’ technique. Exercise caution when using this technique with acrylic paints, as layers that are too thick will result in a tacky consistency after drying. 

Finally, you can add an acrylic gel to your paint. Acrylic gels are essentially pigment-less acrylic paint. These gels make your paint thicker, helping mimic the look of oil paint, and alter the paint’s sheen. Adding a gel to your paint will increase its transparency, so you’ll have to experiment with it to determine how much is the right amount to achieve the look you’d like. 

Key Takeaways

• You’ll face new challenges when learning acrylic painting. 
• Your experience with painting, the cost of the materials you purchase, and the drying time of your paints can all impact the quality of your work. 
• With the right research and instruction, you can overcome even the most difficult of challenges along your journey of learning how to paint with acrylics. 
• You can contact CourseHorse to find out about online and in-person acrylic painting classes that can help you resolve issues and concerns you have as you learn acrylic painting.