Artists
In reply to the discussion: Finished "The Approaching Horror" acrylic 8x8 on canvas board [View all]Ocelot II
(116,263 posts)Now I apply a couple of layers of acrylic gesso to smooth out the surface. You don't want it completely smooth - I tried a wood panel once and hated it because the paint didn't stick where I wanted it but just smeared and slid away. Personally, I don't care much for acrylics because they dry too fast and the colors look too opaque and bright to me, but that's just a matter of preference and taste. Also, if you get acrylic paint on something, including your skin, it just doesn't come off. What I like about oils is that you can get some subtle effects using layers of transparent pigments, called glazing, but the down side is that it takes so damn long to finish a painting using that technique because the painting has to dry between layers, which takes several days. But you can get the paint off your hands with thinner.
It seems like the acrylic paint is working well for you. You should do more of your cat ! You've done a good job portraying his fluffiness. I've done some cat paintings (and one dog) and found the fur a challenge.