How to: Painting with Acrylics Video Course

Learn How to start Painting with Acrylics, using my Dry Brush Technique

acrylic painting painted with the Will Terry dry brush technique

There are many ways to create a painting with acrylics. The way that I do that is, I use a technique called a dry brush technique. I paint with a very dry paint brush with acrylic paint. Little by little, I build up layers of acrylic paint on a textured surface, to create my Acrylic Paint look.

 

It is so hard to explain my Acrylic Painting  Drybrush style without video.

close up, Acrylic painting

I’m still amazed at how amazing the internet is – I almost think that it’s a blessing to have grown up without it. I don’t think my kids can appreciate it as much as I do.
The internet has made it possible for illustrators and artists to show and teach our students our techniques. Instead of the frustrations of trying to explain how to dry brush, I can now show it. In the how to paint videos I take the painting you see above from start to finish in real time. I didn’t speed this one up so anyone viewing it can see exactly how you can dry brush with acrylic paint. I start it with a sketch, transfer to paper, add acrylic texture, under-painting (or Grisaille), and finally the finished painting using wet paint, glazes, and dry brushing. I talk about everything from materials to design.

Acrylic Paint won’t do what it won’t do

Pencil sketch to be produced as an acrylic painting

I often hear my students complain about how much they HATE painting with acrylics– I tell them, “It’s because you want them to do something that they aren’t good for.” In these videos I show you why acrylics have been the workhorse medium for illustrators world wide.

Bonus Videos

Acrylic painting dry brush technique picture

I also included two bonus videos – two different approaches on how to paint using acrylics: Painterly and cross hatching. I really hope these videos are helpful to anyone trying to learn how to paint with acrylics! Click here for more information

 

 

 

And of course, see Folio Academy for all your art lessons on line.

 

Climbing the Corporate Ladder

Editorial Piece about Women Climbing the Corporate Ladder

editorial illustration from over a decade ago

Originally printed for Hispanic Magazine.
corporate ladder

One of my oldies that I painted the old fashioned way with real acrylic paint and real brushes. Now days I do most of my artwork using pixels. Digital art work is just faster and… well you’ve heard me say it before and you’ll hear it again. I am not dissing on traditional painting, in fact I love the real stuff. And I encourage every artist to learn to manipulate real pigment.

LOOKING BACK

Looking at this takes me back. If you’ll notice, I would paint or tone the canvas or paper, with a rather dark color, and then paint lighter colors on top and slowly build up the painting with a very dry brush. Leaving a lot of the toned background to show through. In a nutshell, that is my acrylic painting style.

Learn The Will Terry Acrylic Dry Brush Style

Learn The Will Terry Acrylic “Dry Brush” Style 

Here is a little acrylic sketch that FolioAcademy artist/instructor Will Terry did awhile ago. I was a fellow Art Student with him in college back when he was trying to find his niche and style. I remember him looking for a real toothy texture that would peal the paint off his brush. It took him years to master this style but it was worth it.

He eventually developed his own recipe for a painting. The ingredients include thumbnail sketches and getting the drawing designed just right and transferring that onto the paper.

Then getting the texture just right with a clear gel medium that would allow the drawing to show up perfectly.

He then tones the surface usually with a medium value color then adding dark paint where needed and then gradually, using a DRY brush and very little paint, he adds lighter and lighter acrylic paint. Light on Dark.

He teaches this process here at FolioAcademy.com, Just click on the link and purchase his tutorial.

Acrylic Painting by Will Terry

Acrylic Painting