Classroom Buzz- Acrylics

This is our first post of student work in my Spring 2010 watercolor class.  Fifteen fabulous students at Illinois State University are making wonderful work in all manner of aqueous media.  We began with some rock solid basics:  flat washes, graded washes and color mixing.

Next, we began special demonstrations either by me or students who chose a specific water based media or technique.  First to be videotaped is our high school honors program student from U High, Nate Holland. His demo is on acrylics.  He favors Windsor and Newton paints and we previewed Dick Blick, Windsor and Newton, Liquitex and Golden acrylics as well as a range of mediums.

Most students do not learn to use acrylics with mediums, most think the pigments should be thinned with water, including Nate.  He took Liquitex medium home in advance of his demo and really worked up some 'do's and don'ts that were really effective.  Funny how our high school chemistry teacher's admonition "Learn this-its all chemistry!" is true.  If you thin acrylics with water, you reduce not only the pigment load, but also the ability of the pigment particles to bind to the canvas, paper or whatever surface you are working on.  I love to share this kind of valuable information to help students make more powerful paintings.

Bottom line:  some people love acrylics, some don't.  Each concept, subject and the working practice of the artist helps to dictate what media is best used.