First acrylic painting

[Ninjavenom]

It's trash. Absolute trash. I pretty much just colored inside of the line this time because i don't know how to use acrylics yet. I would really like some pointers about how to use the stuff effectively, and also a critique about how to improve the picture.

[Anonymous]

is that the dude from Hard Rock in popnmusic

[Ninjavenom]

[Pub Lover]

Good start in acrylics, I've seen alot worse.

The hair is too flat. :/

[Pub Lover]

Good start in acrylics, I've seen alot worse.

The hair is too flat. :/

[Supafly345]

I have only used oils and watercolors when it comes to painting, in fact, I am not even familiar on what acrylic paintings are supposed to look like, so I really don't know what to say... other than it looks like it was made with bleeding magic markers. I always thought that acrylics were meant for painting on rocks and glued macaroni.

[Ninjavenom]

Thanks, Pub.

Thanks, Pub.

Yeah, see, i get the feeling that i am not supposed to use canvas wiith acrylics. It didn't work out well at all, that shit ate up my paint like no one's business, and it looks like i did the picture with marker or pastel. It might be my techinique, but i have a feeling that something's off. I thought acrylic paint is what they used on cartoon cels?

[Anonymous]

Actually canvas is one of the easiest surfaces to work with acrylics... wood on the other hand (though can do awsome stuff with) will completely drain color. You really have to lay the paint on thick for that...
anyway...
First thing you didn't do is a wash because I see your white canvas.
Secondly, you should work basically dark to light with acrylic (opposite of watercolor). So put down darkest colors first, then add lights on top of that. Be sure to use enough paint.
Also, your edges are rough which means either of 2 things... you didn't use enough paint, or you weren't using enough water to smooth it out.
Lastly it's good to cover everything with some kind of glaze (lightly mix a transparent color like a gold with a glossy or matte medium) because otherwise your colors will look chalky.

Cell animation artists painted on acetate which is like a clear plastic, not canvas. I think they used gouache and inks often, and as for the acrylic.. I don't think it was a run-of-the-mill type., it was a special kind. If you are trying to do that flat smooth color type of look you want to use ink or gouache on a board.. like a specially prepared board (smooth)

[Ninjavenom]

I wasn't sure if a wash-type thing was necessary, i assumed that was only for oils. And i meant that i thought acrylics were used on the cels, not canvas. Thanks Doops, that's very helpful information :O

[Anonymous]

ah ok, well a wash isn't really necesary if you are trying to lay flat block colors. I meant if you were trying to do like a "painting". If you want that graphic animation coloring look, then yeah ditch the canvas... try something like a clayboard and use a little more water.
(If you ever try flat block colors in a monocromatic manner though a wash would probably be good.)