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BRUSHTOBER // first attept at acrylics (Patreon)

Published:
2020-10-20 15:33:51
Imported:
2026-06
Tags:

Content

I sat down to try acrylics this week for Brushtober and it was just awful, haha. After two weeks of using watercolor type paints, I found acrylics to be super blobby and difficult to manage. I used to use it all the time in high school and I was struggling with the same stuff I did back then: muddy colors, blobby/cakey layering, etc. I was so frustrated! I made this sketch and went out to buy some medium today to help thin the paint. Hopefully that will give me a bit more control over this medium!

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Comments

Omari

I loovee how your art style translates so well to traditional media 💖💖!!

Lisaartandstuff

Interesting that you find it blobby and difficult to manage. I personally really like this, where It's a little messy and you can see the paint strokes. Not sure if that had to do with it, don't want to be mean!

rotem paz

This is such a paradox to me, thinning out the paint to get MORE control?? Water is my enemy with any medium XD I don't really see what you mean about muddy colors at all, it look very vibrant and colorful :)

Tersh Ronalds

Yes, acrylics are horrible... except for underpainting!! I can get a lot done if i block in with acrylics, then 15 minutes later I paint over that with oils... though I don't use regular oils either, but Griffin alkyd oils, because I'm scared of the long drying time of regular oils

Tersh Ronalds

But yes, using a medium will help; you can't use too much water as it weakens the acrylic

Fliff

I think you would like Fluid acrylics or Acrylic Ink like some people have mentioned.

Linn Molid

I used to water mine down to a yoghurty consistency with water. This looks really good! Might need to bring mine out again.

Kat Craig

I think it looks cool! But I can understand where you're coming from. I feel like I would experience the same feeling with oils.

Nicole May

When I used acrylics, I did the blending with a really old beat up bristle brush, barely any paint on it whatsoever, even dabbed most of the paint of on paper towel, no medium no water just straight up paint, and scrubbed dry brush style. Worked well for smoother blends

Joanna Marie

Acrylics are definitely a totally different beast from watercolors. I really like this though! Your color choices always fascinate me.

Amélie

I love the colors soooo much ! I never used acrylics, I'm so curious to try it one day.

Mollsie Wallsie

I was going to suggest medium, I'm glad you got some already! It sounds like that'll really help you out. Acrylics definitely take a different mindset than watercolor 😂

FaroreNightclaw

If it helps any, I think this came out beautiful!

Rene Arreola

I like it. The painting may irk you, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the drawing itself ;)

BrennyDrawsPictures

I think it looks gorgeous! I know you're frustrated with it but it's a stepping stone into understanding the medium better. I love your saturation, the colours really leap out! Really beautiful work!!

KadisGFX

amazing artwork, I want to print my digital artwork on canvas then add some stokes to it or maybe a transparent/light color layer on the top to give it texture, any recommendation?

Loish

I'm actually thinking of doing the same in the future! I guess gouache or acrylic would work best for that because it has the ability to be opaque. but i haven't tried it so i can't speak from experience!

Anska

I once read somewhere, that in old paintings the darks would usually be fairly thin washes while the light accents would be caked on so that the high reflectivity of thick paint would give the highlights that extra spark. Until now, I never thought about this in relation to bounce light in the shadows, but your bright blue bounce lights seem to be fairly thick layers of paint and they have a super nice pop to them. I hope you have fun with your new materials and am looking forward to the next sketch. =)

Loish

thank you! I'm feeling ok about the drawing, it's just the process that felt bad, haha. hopefully that'll improve with more experience.

Loish

yep haha. it's a complete mental switch!

Loish

this is a great tip, thanks so much!!

Loish

oils terrify me! i tried them once and it just turned into a huge brown blob. i think it's important to plan a drawing out more with oil, i might be wrong though. gotta try it sometime!

Loish

yes! i've heard great things about liquitex!

Loish

that's so interesting! i've never heard of anyone combining oils and acrylics. but it seems like a good idea bc it won't reactivate.

Loish

i think it's because i love doing tiny, nitpicky details at the end and with acrylics, you're better off just going with the impressionistic brush stroke stuff.

Rene Arreola

These definitely have their own charm. Especially when viewed in the close-ups, such nice textures.

Kat Craig

I haven't tried them yet because I'm too scared lol. But maybe you're right, if I have a plan, it might go ok. :)

Artsbyaddie (edited)

Comment edits

2026-11-03 03:00 What kind of paper are you using?
2020-10-21 17:17

Loish

honestly, not the greatest paper. it's called "paint on multi-techniques" by clairefontaine. i wanted to keep it simple before investing in better surfaces!

Loish

ah, that's so interesting! this is always the sense i get from the classic oil paintings. the highlights always pop because of how thickly they're applied.

Chelsea Ink Alchemy (edited)

Comment edits

2026-11-03 03:00 I used to just use a bit of water in the paint to thin it a bit, or used a craft acrylic as those are way thinner in general. I also always preferred to use my finger for blending when a bush would not do it. My painting teacher hated me 🤣
2020-10-22 11:55

Loish

haha i love it! rebel against the "rules" of art!

Niquey

It looks great, hun! And this is my favorite color combo too!