TheVirtualInstructor Blog

Creating an acrylic transfer is an easy process that can result in amazing artistic results. Creating an acrylic transfer can allow an artist a variety of ways to present an idea in an artistic way. Any image that can be photocopied will work and any surface that will accept acrylic paint will accept an acrylic transfer.

Some supplies are needed in order to create an acrylic transfer. First, you need a surface that will accept acrylic paint to work on.  Watercolor paper, canvas, wood, or illustration board are acceptable surfaces. You will also need acrylic gesso, brushes, acrylic gel medium, a photocopied image, and acrylic paint.

You begin by covering the surface with gesso and let it dry. You can then add some interest to the surface by applying color through acrylic paint or texture with tissue paper.  Allow any paint or glue to dry completely.  Next, you will need to cut or tear your photocopied image to the size of the desired transfer…

To see the rest of this lesson and to see the video demonstration click here-> Acrylic Transfer Demo

Acrylic paint is a young medium.  Acrylic paint has been around for just over 50 years.  It has quickly become a very popular medium, thanks to the fact that it is safer than oils, dries quickly, and uses water as a solvent.  Acrylic paints when dry, can appear similar to oil paints.

All paints are made up of three basic ingredients-pigment, solvent, and binder. Acrylic paint is no exception.  Pigment refers to the color and is usually a naturally occurring substance. The liquid substance that thins the paint is solvent.  Water is typically used as the solvent for acrylic painting.  The material that hold the pigment together and allows it to be spread over the surface is called binder.  Acrylic paint has a binder of acrylic polymer emulsion  and dries quickly to create a waterproof surface.  It can also can be used as a glue or as an image transfer medium.  Acrylic paints are produced in a variety of finishes. Gloss finishes are shiny while matte finishes dry to a dull sheen.

Acrylics can be applied with brushes, palette knives, or really anything at all. In my experience, nylon brushes work best with acrylic paint-although any type of brush will work. It is especially important to keep your brushes clean, as acrylic paints will dry quickly and ruin a brush.

Although acrylics can be applied to almost any surface, most artists prefer canvas, watercolor paper, illustration board, gessoed masonite, or other papers. Any surface is fair game, though.

To see the rest of this lesson and to see the video demonstration click here-> Basic Acrylic Painting Techniques- Apple Demo