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Acrylic Painting Secrets Revealed: Be the Next Rothko
- TERAVARNA
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
Did you know Rothko used acrylic paints on sheets of paper that were stapled to larger easels!
Have you ever stood before a massive, bold, and color-soaked canvas of Mark Rothko or Barnett Newman and felt that stirring inside? That is the charm of an abstractionist’s color world that makes you feel the pain, sorrow, hope, and happiness with the giant blocks of colors.
Though Rothko has painted in oil, he used acrylic paints on sheets of paper that were stapled to larger easels. He used acrylic resins along with egg, glue, and other traditional resins so that he could paint layers within hours!
Yes, you can also paint such emotional strokes with user-friendly and versatile acrylics, a popular paint medium embraced by many artists.
In this blog, let’s explore the magical world of acrylic painting, how and when it was created, its place of origin, and popular techniques that can make you paint like a pro!
What is so Unique about Acrylic as a Paint?
Did you know acrylic paint is an easy-to-switch medium - that behaves like oil while thick & wet and gives a watercolor ease while thinned down!
What is acrylic in a real sense? If that’s what you’re asking, it’s a fast-drying, water-based paint that serves as one of the most versatile mediums for the rising artists and the beginners in the art world. For anyone looking to experiment with color, acrylic painting offers a world of immense choices.
Curious to know what makes this paint magical?
Is acrylic paint water based? Yes, though water-based, it behaves like oil while wet, and after the paint dries up it gives the feel of impasto texture. Again, when thinned down they behave like watercolor washes! Strange, right?
The flexibility and the resilient quality make them immensely popular among contemporary painters.
So, let’s dig deeper into this world of vibrant, rich colors—to know where they came from, what makes them so popular, and how you can master them like the undisputed rulers of the acrylic abstract painting canvases like Rothko, Ellsworth Kelly, or Andy Warhol.
A Quick Recap: The Birth of Acrylic Paint
Did you know that birth of acrylic was an accident?
The concept of synthetic paints was introduced in the beginning of the 20th century and acrylic paint was made available in the markets not until the 1950s. The great mind behind this fusion paint innovation was a German pharmacist named Otto Röhm (though it was not meant for art purposes) but was made popular by Sam Golden and Leonard Bocour who brought the artist-grade acrylic ‘Magan’ Paints to life.
Later, during the 1960s, the popularity of this color exploded to the extent of artists Mark Rothko or Andy Warhol taking them to new highs. They loved the fast-drying, vibrancy, and versatile qualities of the paint for their bold & colorful compositions.
Benefits of Using Acrylic Medium of Paint
There are innumerable benefits of acrylic paints that made them the heartthrob for the artists and the getting-used-to-the-flow painters. No matter what skill set you are in, these water-based and quick-evolving paint can win hearts for good reasons:
Quick Drying:
Drying within minutes helps artists in layering and blending colors easily.
Water-Soluble Properties:
These are easily manageable paints, easy to clean with just soap and water from surfaces like walls, glass, ceramics, etc.
Vibrancy & Sheen:
Acrylics are made of synthetic polymers (methyl methacrylate/ MMA) having rich pigments that hardly lose their color when dry.
Flexible Finish:
As a versatile paint, acrylics work wonders on canvas, wood, paper, fabric, and even glass!
Affordable & Accessible:
Unlike oil and watercolor paints, acrylics are much more affordable and easily available for beginners too.
Painting Techniques Acrylic: Challenges to Watch Out For
No painting mediums are perfect and have their share of flaws and quirks – same goes for acrylics -
A Rapid Fast-drying Medium: Unlike watercolors that help in smooth blending, here it can be tricky as the colors dry within minutes.
Shift in Colors: It may so happen that the red you have painted just a few minutes back will turn out to be a shade darker. These paints can darken slightly as they dry.
Can Give You a Plastic-Like Feel: The trick to good painting lies in a proper technique, or else it will look flat or pale.
It’s better if you can mist your palette with water or a binder so that you can extend the drying time for better blending!
Acrylic Painting Techniques to Get the Rothko Finish
Use big foam rollers to go easy with large patches of paints in one go like Rothko!
You don’t have to imitate the color fields of the master artist, still take him as your inspiration to unlock your portal of colors and meaning. Ready to play? These techniques will help you notch up the acrylic game:
1. Dry Brush Technique
If you wish to add highlights or a sharp texture to the composition, use little paint with no water. This will help you create textured strokes for rocks, glass, etc. Know how to thin acrylic paint? It’s easy – use water or a binder to make the color weak!
2. Layering and Glazing for a Smooth Transition
Use glazing mediums to blend layers with the underneath ones, as Rothko has used the luminous borders for his rectangles. Make sure you use a thin, transparent patch of color to add luminosity and a translucent feeling. This is essential for creating depth, contrast, and smooth transitions from layer to layer.
3. Create Soft Edges: Let Colors Bleed into One Another
Want a floating feeling from color to color just like Rothko created with soft brushes against the giant block of colors? Skip the hard outlines and go for a sponge-like brush to soften the edges.
4. Scumbling to Get a Misty Feeling
Like a blotch of light or dark dues? Scrub smoothly a small amount of lighter paint on the darker ones. This will create a mist-like and dreamy kind of feel.
5. Foam Brush Technique to Create Large Color Blocks
Use big head foam brushes to go easy with large patches of paints in one go. This will be real fun! Have more breathable color patches like Mark Rothko!
6. Impasto
Want a three-dimensional effect or to look like Van Gogh? Use bold and heavy-bodied acrylic mediums to paint thick using a palette knife.
And you can always mix-n-match techniques in one painting. Don’t hesitate to experiment or go beyond the rules.
Keep some portions underpainted. Negative spaces also add to the depth and glam.
Creativity is all about dynamism and excitement. So, do try them at your ease!
Let Your Abstract Emotions Flow with the Best Acrylic Paint Brushes
Brushes let you create bold or thin strokes, misty or mighty patches on canvas – so, take care of the brushes you’ll need for the acrylic fever.
Use large flat brushes for bold strokes, to paint large spaces, or to make straight edges.
Go for round brushes for detail work, lines, and sketching.
Use Filbert brushes to blend soft edges.
Use palette knives to create abrupt, unexpected contrast of paint.
Go for detailed or liner brushes to draw fine lines and intricate patterns.
You know how to clean acrylic paint brushes fast – yes, dip them in water! These paints are tough on brushes, so clean them right after you change into a new brush to let the bristles breathe easy!
Beginner Acrylic Painting Ideas: Pro Tips & Beyond
Always Keep a Spray Bottle Handy:
As the paint dries in a jiffy, make sure that you mist your palette and canvas occasionally to keep paints flowable.
Set a Mid-Tone Background for a Start:
A stark white background can be the ideal one, but painting on it with a quick-drying medium can look harsh at times. So, use grey, beige, or burnt sienna as a base to have a feeling of warmth and balance.
Apply Coating of Gesso before You Start Painting:
You know how gesso helps you in the venture? Gesso, a glue-like binder, will make the surface smoother and better absorbent of paint. Coat the surface with a gesso layer to make the paint stick better.
Go Wild with Your Strokes and Experiment:
The painting medium is of forgiving nature – once you mess up with acrylic, let it dry and start painting over it again. It won’t bleed! Go on upgrading colors, brushes and canvas as you grow more confident of the medium.
Final Strokes: Be the Next Best YOU
“Art is an adventure into an unknown world.” – Rothko
If you are just wondering which paint to choose for your next art project or wish to land up in a colorful world of abstract brushstrokes, acrylic painting is the right pick for you. Board your trip to a joyful and ever-exciting world of unknown, as the paint will take care of all your mess! It is just perfect for the newbies & seasoned pros alike!
It even holds enough depth and versatility for master artists and icons like Andy Warhol, Newman, Paul Klee, Rothko, and more!
No matter if you’re dreaming of a seascape theme or an abstract explosion of colors with foam rollers or a tranquil night scene—acrylic can be your most trusted partner in this journey.
Don’t chase the masters! Be the next best ‘You’ and let the magic begin – who knows, your acrylic legend could be just a brushstroke away!