Beginner art classes in acrylic painting
Summer is always busy, and I am wrapping up summer art classes next week. After that, I have only private classes for a while, and we restart in September. Since my students are mostly beginners who have been trying other options, like tutorials and video lessons and decided that it’s worth to learn rather directly.
Getting acquainted with new medium
Introduction in new medium, art supplies, like brushes, canvas and other tools should realistically start with exploration thereof. Most people come to an art class with new brushes, new paint tubes and neither I, nor they know what they have. We have numerous paint manufacturers, some pretty bad, some acceptable and a few – decent. The only way to know how our paints work is to try, test and use them.
Important aspects of painting
I am trying also to teach about basics of painting apart from practical things and techniques. It’s important how we create composition, how we lay down the first layers and how we achieve contrast and value distinction. It’s important to approach acrylic painting based on the properties of acrylic paint, meaning, how long till it dries, what happens if you don’t stop working some segment when paint is tacky and so forth.
Brushstroke and brushes for acrylic painting
Brushstroke is very much neglected part of painting, and it takes quite a while until one gets sufficient with the use of their brushes. Fan brush is fantastic and we use it often with landscape painting, except, that one has to practice using it until they can achieve the desired effect. Brushes can do a lot; we just need to be aware of what! Below is an image of updated barn painting from a few years ago.
Specifics of acrylic painting
I teach painting in layers and segments with first blocking in the main shapes. The correct way is to start with what’s underneath and that means also applying dark colors. We basically never paint details first, as well as the final colors. We build them up. The first layers can look not attractive at all, but we keep adding layers and painting starts to come to life.
Patience matters
We are always rushing and impatient nowadays. We want results right away and on the spot. In painting, results come after spending time with our paints and brushes, after learning what painting involves and how to achieve what we would like. That never happens within a few days or weeks. It takes time to make our movements automatic, like cleaning the brush every time we switch color.
Good subjects for acrylic painting
Clearly defined subjects, like this barn and other barns in landscape, are easier for beginners, there’s something to hold on. We need abstract parts and defined parts in a painting, but we should never put small details in the background. All students were extremely satisfied with their paintings while they admitted there’s much more to learn.
Fantastic result – old barn in summer meadow
I personally enjoyed painting this barn in a summer meadow. Colors worked very well, and like always, the actual painting is better than my photos. I don’t think any camera has the ability to perfectly capture the soft and gentle color transitions, as well as vert accurate colors. Well, it’s available. Barn painting is 20 x 16”. The other barn with flowers is 24 x 18″, and I think it looks impressive.
All art classes Group art classes
Private art classes Private art lessons
Acrylic paintings Shop original acrylic paintings
