(although Matisse products are mentioned below, these techniques should be applicable to all brands of acrylic paint).
Glaze
• A glaze is the term given to a wash that is painted over another colour usually to produce a third colour. There is no limit to the number of glazes that can be used; however too many over each other may lead to the loss of clarity and result in dullness.
• The beauty of using acrylics for glazing is that glazes can be applied without the fear of lifting off or mixing with the previous work.
Wet in wet
• This is the term given to painting one colour into another colour before the first colour has dried. By adding at least equal parts or more of water to paint, the paint will become very thin. This will generally allow the colours to bleed into each other without harsh lines separating them.
• Some pigments may blend with each other more readily. This is due to the difference in surface tension of the pigments. If blending is desired, use 3-5% Matisse Medium MM3 Surface Tension Breaker in the water to dilute the paint. Adding MM3 will allow the pigments to mix more readily.
• This technique will take some practice to master and is not completely controllable. The paper to be used should be dampened down well and kept moist.
It is advisable to use up to 5% drying retarder mixed into the water that is to be used to mix with the paint.
Wet on dry
• This describes the method of painting over a layer which has already dried.
A glaze is usually done wet on dry. Using acrylics, previous work will not be rewet whilst overpainting, therefore, it will not mix in and muddy the colours or bleed.
Granulation
• When adding water to achieve a wash, some pigments will look grainy or as though the individual particles of pigment can be seen. The pigments used in acrylics are each ground to a predetermined particle size. The size required is determined by the pigment type, chemical nature, transparency, etc. The pigment particle size is far smaller than can be seen with the naked eye. What appear to be grains are actually "clumps" of pigment particles drawn together by their own surface tension.
• If this is the effect that is sought, all well and good. However, when the pigment groups together, the paint is not as efficient as it should be so more paint is needed to cover the same area.
• To avoid "clumps" of pigment, add 3-5% of Matisse Medium MM3 Surface Tension Breaker to the mixing water. This will help to disperse the pigments.
• One advantage of using acrylics for watercolour techniques is that the application of full strength opaque colour covers up unwanted underpainting or mistakes. Also, extremely strong pigmentation may be used without having the paint crack or flake off the surface as is the case with most watercolours and gouaches. (courtesy of Matisse Derivan)
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