Acrylic Painting Process I follow.

Santorini, Greece – Commissioned for a client.

I paint coz I love to paint, and I paint my heart out. Immersing myself completely into the painting for days together, with music in my ears and being completely unaware of my surroundings, I paint.  

Starting with a blank canvas can be intimidating at times for me, as I am still trying to figure out how I will be going about my painting. But I give myself enough time to understand what my client is looking for specially in a custom order, the kind of medium I will be using, and the tools needed e.g. palette knife, sponge, spatula etc. Here’s a glimpse of my Santorini – Greece painting which was made for a client recently.

The key steps to create an acrylic painting are:

• Choosing the right subject and composing it- Always start with simple subjects which you are sure of completing and use the rule of thirds to compose it. As per this rule, divide your canvas into 9 equal parts by placing 2 horizontal and 2 vertical lines and place your subject/s along these lines or their intersections to create more interest and energy.
• Drawing- Use a light pencil to roughly draw the outline enough to give you a hint of how to place the colours.
• Colour blocking- Use basic colours to block out the different elements in the artwork.
• Applying paint- Apply the paint either by adding some amount of water or retardant to give it a smooth flow. Apply multiple coats where necessary once the previous layer has dried.
• Detailing and Texture- Bring your painting to life by adding the minute details and texture if required. Add shadows or highlights wherever required.
• Varnish- The final step is to varnish your painting. It not only protects the painting but also gives it a glossy look.

I started with a brief drawing on canvas and blocked out the colours for different elements in the painting. I’ve used Camel artists acrylic colours for this painting.

Acrylics are perfect as they are vibrant and have a smooth consistency that make them easier to blend and layer. They also dry fast, but I’ve used some amount of retardant which slows down the drying time. I then started applying paint on my canvas starting from the top.

I decided to use Camel Texture paste for the white walls to give it a raised effect. While using texture paste, you can either apply it directly on the canvas or you can add a hint of colour that you require. The thicker you apply; the longer it takes to dry.

The final stage was to add those beautiful flowers. I have applied multiple layers of paint as well as texture paste wherever it was necessary.

By the time I was done with my painting, I could imagine myself sitting on that chair on a beautiful summer day, sipping my wine starring into the sea. I was so content and satisfied with how the entire painting had come along and was hoping that my client too would feel the same.

Finally, I have varnished it with Liquitex Gloss varnish which gives it a glossy effect and protects the painting for long term. My client was delighted on seeing her painting and that’s what made my day. It now sits on her freshly painted wall along with some beautiful wall décor.

Learn more about this Santorini-Greece painting or see our entire collection of Acrylic paintings. Contact us in case you have any questions.