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Looking for an easy way to introduce variety to your acrylic painting practice? Acrylic artists have a wide variety of options when it comes to choosing a surface for work, ranging from the expected to the unconventional.
Whether you opt for traditional canvas or a non-traditional surface such as degreased leather, it’s worth familiarising yourself with the nature of various surfaces before you start painting. Read on for a simple guide to five types of acrylic surfaces that can lend your art a decidedly different look and feel, and open up new creative possibilities.
Acrylic paper
Acrylic painters enjoy using paper tailored for acrylic colour because of its texture, affordability and convenience of use. You can apply acrylics straight onto the surface of the paper, and, because it’s portable, it’s ideal for artists who work both in a studio setting and on the go. Winsor & Newton Acrylic Pads are embossed is embossed to provide a canvas-like texture in a transportable form, in addition to being acid-free to maintain acrylic colour brilliance over time.
Canvas
Stretched cotton canvas is the surface used most often by professional artists, for its cloth weave and spring.When you use acrylics you can paint straight onto canvas, as they will not sink into the material like oils. Acrylics will produce strong, bright colours on raw cotton canvas, meaning there is no need to size or prime the canvas before you start working.
Canvas board
Canvas boards were first introduced to help artists work outdoors (en plein air), but they’re usable indoors, too. Taking up less room, and less easily damaged than stretched canvas, ours are made with a substantial backing board and high quality cloth, making them superior to coated sketching boards. If you are looking to frame your finished work, then a canvas board can be easier to frame than traditional canvas.
Medium density fibreboard (MDF)
MDF is created from wooden fibres that have been compressed with adhesive under high pressure. It is affordable and readily available in most DIY stores. Remember to prime MDF before painting to control the texture, absorbency and colour of your surface. Our Professional Acrylic Mediums Clear Gesso, White Gesso, Galeria White Gesso Primer and Galeria Black Gesso Primer are all great options.
Unusual surfaces
Push your creative boundaries further by working with an unusual and unexpected surface. Plaster, brick, terracotta and degreased leather are all exciting options for experimenting with acrylic. It also is suitable for use glass, Perspex and acetate, making it idea for experimenting with and painting large-scale works such as murals.
FAQs
Acrylics straight from the tube are the most flexible medium, so can be painted on anything – paper, canvas, cardboard, metal… literally anything. 2. Oils are more tricky, so have to be painted onto a properly prepared surface (see: The Trouble with Oil) I recommend a prepared canvas or prepared board.
What surface is best for acrylic painting? ›
1. Canvas. Canvas is commonly used as an acrylic painting surface and offers many advantages: it's absorbent, has a wonderful fabric texture, is lightweight and portable. Canvas supports come in three types: unstretched, stretched and commercially made canvas boards.
What is the cheapest surface for acrylic painting? ›
Hardboard Panels
They're a good choice for beginners and make excellent painting surfaces for acrylics because they're cheap but durable. Some professional artists even prefer masonite over canvas. Masonite comes in tempered or untempered form.
What surface does acrylic paint not stick to? ›
Acrylic paint sticks to most surfaces but will have a harder time sticking to smoother surfaces like glass and metal.
What is the best surface to mix acrylic paint? ›
Any type of palette material would work for acrylics, except wood; Never use a wood palette. The wood absorbs the water from your paints, leaving you with nothing but dry blobs of colors. This is something that a mister bottle can not save you from. Paper/plastic plates make great palettes.
What is the prime surface for acrylic paint? ›
To prime your canvas, you need two things: an acrylic binder and gesso. Acrylic binder closes the structure of the canvas to prevent gesso and paint from seeping through. Gesso will provide you with an absorbent surface after drying, which makes it the perfect base for acrylic paint.
What do you want to avoid when painting with acrylic? ›
Common Acrylic Painting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Over Blending Your Colors. ...
- Using Too Much Paint. ...
- Ignoring Brush Care. ...
- Using Poor-Quality Materials. ...
- Fear of Making Mistakes. ...
- Color Blending and Mixing. ...
- Layering Technique. ...
- Pouring and Dripping Technique.
Pre-Primed Stretched Canvas: This is probably the most common surface on which people paint with either acrylic or oil paints. It is what I use for large paintings all the time. It can be purchased in a wide variety of sizes.
What is the cheapest thing to paint acrylic on? ›
Wooden boards are best, because they are strong, sturdy, and long-lasting. I would recommend one of these hardboard panels because they are very economically priced, at under $5 for a 24" x 30". However, you could also use something like foam board, which you could probably buy at Walmart.
What is the weakness of acrylic paint? ›
It's fast-drying
Acrylic paint's biggest strength is also a massive weakness. It can be more difficult to blend fast-drying acrylic paint, which is frustrating. You'll find that your paint dries quickly on the palette too unless you are using a stay wet palette.
Disadvantages: because acrylic paints dry quickly they cannot be easily blended to create the 'wet in wet' technique that is popular with oil paints. For this reason, a finished acrylic painting can look harsh compared to a finished oil painting.
Why is my acrylic paint peeling off my canvas? ›
If you dilute the acrylic paint too much with water, it may weaken the binder. This means that the paint may form a weak bond to the surface and lift off the next time you go over it.
Can I paint directly on canvas with acrylic paint? ›
Acrylic paints are perfect for all sorts of creative projects they dry quickly and can be used on paper, canvas, or any other fabric. They're even suitable as a temporary fix if you need to paint outdoors.
What is the best surface for acrylic paint? ›
Choosing a surface for acrylic painting
- Acrylic paper. Acrylic painters enjoy using paper tailored for acrylic colour because of its texture, affordability and convenience of use. ...
- Canvas. ...
- Canvas board. ...
- Medium density fibreboard (MDF) ...
- Unusual surfaces.
Hardwood panels, smooth plywood (ones used for cardboards) can be used as alternatives. Since, you will use acrylic paint, the tinted surface won't be visible. They're available in big sizes too, are cheaper and stiff. Or if you want even cheaper material, you might as well buy watercolor paper.
What canvas is best for acrylic paint? ›
The best canvas for acrylic painting is made from linen or cotton. These materials are durable and provide a smoother surface for the acrylic to adhere to. Linen is often preferred among professionals, but cotton duck canvas is more affordable yet still durable.
How to prepare surface for acrylic paint? ›
application, sand the entire panel or sand only those areas that will be painted, to preserve the transparent nature of the product. After sanding, coat with a layer of Liquitex Matte Medium or Matte Gel Medium and one or two coats of Liquitex Gesso.
What is the best finish for acrylic painting? ›
Satin is about halfway in between of course and is often preferred by acrylic painters because it's usually closest to the natural finish of the paint. You don't really see any change in how light-valued areas in a painting look with different finishes.
Which surface is most ideal for painting? ›
Traditionally, you're going to find that the top two oil painting surfaces are canvas and linen.
What is the best canvas board for acrylic painting? ›
The best canvas for acrylic painting is made from linen or cotton. These materials are durable and provide a smoother surface for the acrylic to adhere to.
