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Acrylic painting techniques: the importance of the background color

by Lucia

 

This is one of the acrylic painting techniques you need to master if you want to improve your pictorial ability.

 

It is a very simple principle that can also be applied to other pictorial techniques and that will immediately confer to your paintings more depth.

 

I learnt it only with time and it takes time to master it but accept it it like a special present for you!

Have you ever noticed that, at the end of a painting, even if all the colors were selected accurately, the result was too saturated or vivid? Or the gamma of your painting lacked of color harmony and cohesion? This can be due to the whiteness of the paper or canvas you have worked on.

 

Let me explain it better.

 

Have you ever noticed how the color of the objects change under the sunset light? Or when they are directly illuminated by the full sun? Or when they are seen under the light of an incandescent bulb?

 

The color of the objects change if the light that illuminates them changes.

 

If you want to harmonize the colors of your painting, let them be lit by a uniform light. How? Just by changing the background color of the painting.

 

acrylic painting techniques 01

 

In this example the colors used in two images are the same but the first has a white background while the second has a uniform yellow-orange background applied to it before coloring the picture.

 

Can you see the difference? At what time of the day are the two jesters playing?

 

acrylic painting techniques

 

But this is just a starting point! You should try to paint on colored papers or paint the canvas with a uniform color before applying the colors you have chosen for your painting.

 

The possibilities are endless! It is your duty to try different colors and see how they influence the mood of your paintings. Good work!

 

A few suggestions for a nice starting set:

 

Acrylic Paint Set

Acrylic Paint Set

Includes 10 acrylic paints, six brushes, palette, canvas panel, eraser, pencil, sharpener, and palette knife.
 

Studio Acrylic Set

Studio Acrylic Set

This set makes an excellent gift for a beginner. Comes with 2 brushes, pencil, eraser, mixing palette, 3 acrylic boards, and an instruction booklet. Also includes ten dynamic, safe colors that come in 12 ml (.4 oz) tubes: Medium Yellow, Brilliant Red, Crimson, Phthalo Blue, Cerulean Blue Hue, Phthalo Green, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Titanium White, and Mars Black.
 

 

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