Acrylic Portraits Gallery

About Acrylic Paintings

Acrylic paints, a modern medium which came into general use in the 1960s, have become very popular due to their extreme versatility. They are made from pigment, water and an acrylic binder, which forms a hard, clear film as the water evaporates. Once dry, acrylics are resistant to water which means that colour cannot be dissolved with a damp brush as s the case with watercolours. It is this transparent film, reflecting light from the pigment inside it, that gives acrylic color its brilliance.Because acrylics are resistant to water once dry, which means they can be overpainted without disturbing the previous color. Another nice thing about acrylics is that because the film is more flexible than that of oils, or other media, they are less likely to crack.

Acrylic PaintingTechniques

By thinning acrylics with a small quantity of water and acrylic medium, a paint that can be used like transparent watercolor is produced. Alternatively, an additive such as Winsor & Newton Acrylic Flow Improver will give acrylics the consistency of watercolors while maintaining strength of color.

I like working with acrylics because Artist acrylics also have the advantage of drying very quickly. They can be mixed and thinned with water, but become waterproof once dry, enabling me to apply many layers of paint in a relatively short space of time.

Your Images

As mentioned many times elsewhere in this site, I paint my portraits with the visual aid of reference photos that are either sent to me by filling out an Inquiry form, by attaching them to an email, or sent by regular mail if they are prints. Photo images sent to me can either be from a digital camera or can be scanned images from printed photos (high-resolution scans are best). It is imperative to send the absolute best picture of your pet that you can as I have only a photo to work from. The final outcome is more than anything else dependant upon that picture. Read about photos in the 'Photo Tips' section to find out more.

Work In Progress

Watch your painting evolve through each step in my blog where I display works in progress. I photography or scan your painting at various stages in the creation process and then upload the images there. Often I will describe the process in detail, add some of my own thoughts about the subject and maybe even suggest a few ideas that would make the piece really come together. You will be able to leave comments at every stage along the way and provide constructive insight for me with the goal of making your painting that best it can be. This is a very interactive and fun section of my website and you are encouraged to participate!

Framing Your Acrylic Artwork

I have heard several schools of thought on framing acrylics. Technically, they don't have to be framed under glass because they are waterproof once dry. Just like oils they can be painted on canvas an hung on the wall just as they are or set in a frame without glass as is the traditional way to frame oils. As per my method of painting on firm paper, I always frame my acrylics to protect them from damage. Matting is not necessary but it does add a sense of completeness to the whole thing. For paintings completed on canvas board or streched canvas on a frame the choice is yours as to whether or not to frame it. Please let me know about your wishes and I will arrange what you need.