3 Tips to make your ACRYLIC painting look more like OIL

[@markg9178]

Underpainting also helps in this regard. I do a lot of seascapes and nautical themes and a warm red underpainting adds complexity and richness to the work as well as taking away the white speckles that can peek through. Nice work!

[@gagnonstudio]

I agree, toning the canvas, or adding an underpainting definitely helps with acrylics! Thanks for commenting!

[@marciabarreto780]

Sorry, I am new to painting. Does the red under painting show at all on the final result?

[@goilo888]

@@marciabarreto780 Many artists will allow some of the underpainting to peek through in places. It adds a vibrancy to the painting when used well.

[@marciabarreto780]

@@goilo888 Thank you

[@shelleychen9392]

Thanks for the tip.

[@afanaobeba7876]

I use a limited palette. I mix retarder directly into each of the little piles of colors (one or two drops per pile). After this I proceed the same way I would proceed if my piles were of oil paint- mixing, premixing etc. Since the paints have been slowed down, once applied on the canvas I usually have a good 5-10 minutes that they are still wet and blendable with other paint applied

[@gagnonstudio]

That's a great idea!

[@PURPLE_SHADE_SMOOTHIE]

That painting alone gets my thumbs up

[@Juni-Moon]

Never thought of missing the canvas before painting, that is so brilliant omg

[@goilo888]

Atelier Interactive Acrylics (Australian company) are excellent for staying open. Not only that but they have a proprietary medium that can be used to re-activate acrylics if used within a few days.

[@evebeaumont]

This video has been informative, I will be forever grateful, thank you

[@lnc-to4ku]

Love your tips, thank you so much for sharing! Also, that tree painting is beautiful!

[@gagnonstudio]

Glad the tips help! Thank you for tuning in and for your kind comments!

[@cathywhite9240]

I've subscribed due to not only the tips you present but how you explore and explain them. With this confidence, I'm going to see what else you have to offer. All the best.

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you very much, I appreciate that! Hope you enjoy future videos as well.

[@cathywhite9240]

@@gagnonstudio No doubt, you have quite the library!

[@scottbrenham1341]

It has a 3D look the tree looks like it sits in front of the background. Looks nice

[@samueljaysonfoote]

Great techniques! If I may add another suggestion. Try using liquid varnish (Satin or Gloss) as a painting medium. That is a very effective technique to achieve the OIL look.

[@gagnonstudio]

I agree! I just wanted to keep these tips as simple as possible, and I have another video coming up with more tips that are more moderate in technique and supplies. Thanks for your suggestion, I appreciate it.

[@samueljaysonfoote]

@@UncleJunior52 Yes, acrylic varnish, sorry I didn't specify. Works wonders

[@yopestevens1505]

Is this for real?! Never heard of it, read something about varnish needing to be removable for restoration purposes, but not used as a medium. Would be great if it is true, that chalky look drives me crazy!

[@loveispatientloveiskind2205]

But putting varnish in the paint, would it wash out of the brush properly?

[@snowangelkivilcim]

Mixing the varnish with paint? Sounds interesting, will try...

[@zakariyamohamed6388]

on Saturday 11:00pm i set up an experiment. I wanted to know how long arcylic paints take to dry with a slow dry. I use arcylic I mixed it up with slow dry medium. And covered it up with air tight pallet . I couldn't believe what i saw i opened it up today at exactly 2:30 am .. and the paint was fresh out of the tube. it was over 12hrs hours.. I just couldn't believe. I thought slow drys were some fancy names. By the way as you might have guessed yes I'm a beginner.

[@jadehoopoe]

You can also use the Ampersand Pastelbord as your surface, wet the board before applying your acrylics.

[@HiTechDiver]

Thanks for the tips. On another note, what a small world; there is an artist at our church whose name is Tim Gagnon. He has a master's degree in art, and he is amazing.

[@sandrafrances]

Thanks Tim. I remember being in your Atlanta workshop a few years ago. It was so good and fun!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for attending! I've had a lot of fun each time I've been in Atlanta. Hope to be back there soon. Thanks for commenting!

[@ReddyReader]

I paint with acrilic and lighty spray the dried work with krylon product like yours for a nice look.

[@jamesrobinson9512]

Hi Tim love this work but can you do a full video of this showing your colour palette. Thanks

[@kimranson4775]

I love the painting! I took photos of an old dead tree at the lake by my house. I think i may try to paint it. Thank yiu for the tips.

[@TheJudeJane]

Acrylic glazing medium and less water and using ample amount of quality paint manufactured by name brand companies such as Golden, Windsor & Newton, Liquitex, Grumbacher, etc.

[@raccoonlittlebear6476]

Very nice painting! It reminds me of a Wyeth. Great tips as well. Thank you!

[@gagnonstudio]

Wow, thank you that is a very kind comment.

[@raccoonlittlebear6476]

@@gagnonstudio 🎨🖌👍👍 I appreciate you. Have a wonderful day!

[@Lyndaadlng1]

Actually struggled so much with blending Acrylics that i am just painting my first oil painting and i must admit I am really loving it.

[@gagnonstudio]

Awesome, oil paints are great! I love painting with them as well.

[@ashleyfletcher5044]

I’m terrified to try oils lol

[@Lyndaadlng1]

@@ashleyfletcher5044 I am finding them so much easier than acrylics. Blending and drying time makes life easier and my art looks better Give them a go

[@ngould2420]

@@ashleyfletcher5044 they make water soluble oils, so that you can use them very similarly to acrylics, using just water. Easy way to get introduced to oils without all the extras. I think golden also makes an acrylic paint that dries very slowly... This makes it similar to painting to oils (without the richness and depth that only oils can give)

[@piotrtarkowski8595]

@@ashleyfletcher5044 don't be, try and you won't regret it

[@chrisgreyling7340]

Great tips will be using in my next painting.

[@gagnonstudio]

Awesome! Thank you for tuning in, hope the tips help!

[@katemorgan4346]

Excellent idea. I tend to mix retarder and a clear medium to my paint that keeps them wet for about 10 minutes. Spritzing water is something I will definitely try. On another note, would you consider doing a sky tutorial to show us how you did the sky in this amazing painting? I do struggle with skies. Thank you for all your help with your amazing videos.

[@loisjohnson7272]

wow..thank you for sharing your tips. it really is helping me understand my painting, for example, i have skimpy on my paint..etc. lol. , so i love your helpful video s.

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you, glad they could help!

[@SorayaZiziArtist]

Love the painting behind you! Wow 😍

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you so much! I appreciate your comment.

[@vijaykumar.v1727]

Thank you for your valuable tips. Love from India.

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you Vijay!

[@lancerigby3662]

Thank you. Very useful advice

[@milesmatic2872]

Great painting - love your style!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you very much!

[@brentdavis5329]

Awesome 🙏💛🤳

[@ernestoespinoza123]

Thank you for shared the tip

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@bukurie6861]

Thank you that explain 3-Tip of Acrilic.Beautiful as you use colors✏to texture of tree.👋!

[@gagnonstudio]

thank you!

[@radionicpowers5938]

good tips, one thing i was always told to do IS paint the edges aka side of the canvas as well something YOU might point out to future viewers.

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you, I think there are a lot of opinions on this. I paint the edges on thicker canvas that aren't framed, but I mostly frame everything and use 7/8 inch deep canvas to fit more frames. To each their own :). Thanks for commenting.

[@radionicpowers5938]

@@gagnonstudio yup depends, i really love a full canvas that is unframed, so many people get hung up on the this idea of a frame for everything. A large modern work by itself IMHO doesn't always need a canvas, like DALI id never frame that for example and he probably didn't think of frame for alot of his crazy works. I will check out more of your videos, thanks again

[@lvspr10]

Wow..appreciating all your tips here

[@hangyuart2103]

Amazing your painting

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you so much 😀

[@shirleykathan-sayess5764]

Beautiful painting and excellent tips. Thank you. ❤️ Shirley

[@sharonmoffat7787]

Love the painting!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you!

[@chrisgriffith1573]

Use a clear acrylic medium to thin your paint. It acts as the linseed oil would for oils, and will allow you to glaze without your paint getting chalky. RARELY would I ever use water, unless I am cleaning a brush... When mixing, use medium as well to give the color a buttery consistency too. You are too worried about whether your paint "looks" expensive... and should worry about IF it is worth what you think it is.

[@ohplease587]

I completely agree with you and was VERY surprised that he did not suggest that in the video!

[@JJ79_]

I use pouring medium and very little amount of water to make the paint flow better. Slow drying medium is also good, depends what you want to do...

[@feyrie]

Uh… you do you. Cause I have seen so many amazing paintings (ones that are borderline hyper realistic), where they all use the water trick. I’m glad you found your route but, the water thing is still a valid and excellent tip.

[@chrisgriffith1573]

Whatever. That is like saying you have a valuable skill as a Walmart greeter. @@feyrie

[@donricchio4817]

@@feyrieI use water as well. Especially for glazes. I’ve produced nationally award winning paintings using water

[@gravitypronepart2201]

Tim, thank you for these tips. I also want to ask if back painting helps in eliminating the white dot look and so making it look less plastic. And how about use of media to slow the drying process? Lastly, I hear some peopke finish their acrylic paintings with oils. What do you think about that?

[@iwanabfre]

such a gorgeous painting.. hope that things settle in Toronto and area so i can finally meet and learn from you in person. ty for the tips!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you I hope to get to Toronto again someday! Hopefully soon!

[@cyndykated358]

Love your work.

[@matgiprats8563]

Muchas gracias Campeon, (No te puedes imaginar lo que me gustaria entenderte, soy español de Mallorca y tengo 73 años y paso muchas noches murando tu obra de arte. gracias de nuevo, me ayuda mucho a seguir trabajando.

[@norjavaart9934]

Thanks for sharing.... These painting lesson will help me a lot.... Thank you very much.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹❤️

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you!

[@orchidsanctuary]

Great tips, Tim! Thank you so much!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@SorayaZiziArtist]

These are great tips Tim! Thanks 😁👍

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@fotismallinakis7267]

Great tips brother keep it up!'

[@patriciacarter9774]

Thanks for the tips! Beautiful painting!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching. I appreciate your kind comment!

[@hannahmitchell87]

Thank you Tim 😊

[@IKatchSkams]

Thank you...super 👌 helpful. I'm following now!!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for the follow, and for your comment!

[@bellaeusebio849]

Useful tips. I like the use of mist spray. Do you have answer to this dilemma: I’ve varnished a painting already but would like to retouch or repaint some parts of the artwork, is there a remedy without ruining the artwork?

[@loidamorales7696]

Thanks for the tips. I really admire and respect your work.

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you so much!

[@bm4114]

There’s also something to be said for letting a medium be what it is rather than forcing it to be something it isn’t.

[@alicapendleton4054]

Great tips, Tim. Thank you!

[@parizati8928]

I am glad to learn from you

[@donnarodriguez5088]

Do you have a video that shows how to draw that tree.....I love it so much.

[@YunusArts]

Beautiful painting behind you sir👍❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you so much 😀

[@huntermoon6220]

Thank you. Well said and to the point.

[@petersurdo4984]

Great tips within everyone's reach.

[@MikeWitmerNatureJournal]

Can you do a video on how to make my oil painting look more like acrylic? Also could you do a video on how to make acrylic paint look like creosote?

[@mattiecreates]

Thank you for these tips i really appreciate it

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you! Glad I can help!

[@CarcPazu]

Does the varnish cracks over the years? Do you need to reapply another coat every other year?

[@anilkumarpv12]

Thanks🙏...Love from India ❤️

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@dologrove764]

Seems like good information, thx

[@richardmonson8657]

Great tips thank you

[@nek114]

thanks a lot for the tips!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@loidamorales7696]

When you come to Georgia?

[@gagnonstudio]

I don't have any GA trips scheduled yet, but I do go to the Atlanta area frequently. So hopefully soon.

[@dawn7612]

Thank you... Do you ever come to South Florida?

[@gagnonstudio]

I have in the past. A few years ago I came to Naples. This year I'll be in Orlando in September. It's possible that I add another location as well, but it'll be based on if there is enough interest.

[@JENNuineCollective]

I do Kamar then either matte or gloss UV coating

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for commenting! That's a great idea!

[@Margo714P]

What about adding mediums such as gels and modeling paste to get more texture from acrylics? Painting with oils allows the ability to layer with thick paint, giving it that 'oil painting' look. I would like to achieve that with acrylics.

[@timgagnon3252]

Yes, you can also do that as well. That's something I'll talk about more in a future video. It's a little more difficult because adding in gel mediums affects the consistency and saturation of the paint in certain ways. I do think that adding those mediums is a great idea and is probably a more moderate technique in difficulty.

[@seaborn478]

I am a beginner, but just thinking if heavy body acrylics would do that?

[@chelsealeonardbaum23]

Thank you!!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@coloradomark2159]

...or you could use Golden OPEN acrylics. A very slow drying, oil like, look. I can do a sky with that would be thick with Golden medium that is so fluid you would almost think it was a water color sky. Recently I left my brush out for a week and reclaimed it with Golden OPEN thinner. Totally jazzed about Golden OPEN paints and bonus, no smell whatsoever.

[@gagnonstudio]

I've used Golden Open, it is an ok alternative to regular acrylic, but still dries very similar to regular acrylic. A lot of my students and customers haven't been big fans of the open acrylics so I don't push it too much. Mostly due to the weird middle drying time where it gets sticky. Still dries flat unless you add a gel medium. The same techniques would apply to golden open, except you could use the thinner instead of water.

[@coloradomark2159]

@@gagnonstudio Maybe I'm just ignorant on some of your discussion. To date all I have used is their mediums. You could use their gloss or flat but that really doesn't matter as I varnish at the end at which point I could go gloss, satin or flat with my Gamvar varnish. Had great success with Gamvar and doesn't smell. Don't use Golden varnish, really smells. That middle dry time doesn't bother me. Just next day paint time again ain't too bad. Oil painters use hot smelly solvents to speed up their dry time. They are always trying to get their oils to dry so they can get back onto their art piece. Tried Cobra water/oils but that dry time did not suit me at all. Went back to my Golden OPENs and am quite happy. Maybe the key to success for me is that I use their mediums. You can also mix the OPEN's with their heavy body acrylics or any medium that Golden has. They are all inter-mixable. The nice thing about the heavy body acrylics is you can do a heavy impasto, can't do that with straight OPEN's. You have to stay to a thickness of a dime they say. Anyway those are my two cents. Thanks for your comments.

[@xuanaiho6287]

Please recommend about which branch acrylic Best? Please

[@TanyaElbournArt]

great tips!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@BärenmarkeScotch]

Hi gagnon, when I blend the sky that way, I get some visible brushstrokes on the canvas. What am I doing wrong?

[@dandansapainting]

Wonderful painting

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you!

[@SnoozerIIVMMXIV]

Awesome painting at your back and thank you for the tips

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you!

[@edwardvandenberg1489]

Excellent, thank you

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@DieAnnaa]

Amazing! Thanks for sharing :)

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@suelirodrigues4456]

AMEI!!! Adorável e encantador... uma certa melancolia que acaba enobrecendo a imagem retratada!!! Lindo e delicado trabalho!!!!! Parabéns!!! Linda sua sensibilidade!!!!👏👏👏👏👏🎨🎨🎨🎨🎨❤❤❤❤❤⚘😚

[@brunobullier9700]

Magnifique bravo 👏🏻👍🏻🇫🇷 merci

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for tuning in!

[@alinserea4179]

Thank you very much for the beautiful very interesting video. Please stay connected thanks for sharing..💗..💖.🧡❤.

[@gagnonstudio]

Thanks for visiting

[@susiejones6907]

Hi, love this painting, but can't find it on your website. What title of the lesson would I look for? Thanks

[@gagnonstudio]

Hi Susie, This lesson is titled, Keeps Falling. Here is the link: www.timgagnon.com/shop/online-lessons/keeps-falling-an-acrylic-painting-lesson-online-tim-gagnon/

[@deb4053]

Thank you for these excellent and sensible tips! I am going to check out your website. Your painting is awesome - very realistic and haunting. Love it!

[@kirtg1]

Thanks for the video

[@cosmicfxx]

Great videos, following … one question though, … when I used thick acrylic paint, it often dries and looks “plastic” … any way to change and better that?

[@bl2023]

I use acrylic gouache, it has a matte finish like regular gouache but performs like acrylic. The shiny-ness of normal acrylic (especially with translucent colors) tends to add to that ‘plastic’ look.

[@adurpina]

good tip mate

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you!

[@RoryReidArt]

This piece looks incredible man! Great work as usual... been following you forever.

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you so much, I appreciate the support and your comment.

[@faeriesart9647]

I love the broken branch!!! Cool tips! Don’t you use mediums?

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you. I rarely use mediums with acrylics. I'll use a flow medium here and there. I try to use water very sparingly because I know how it can affect the paint. I try to just use enough to make the surface of the canvas smooth without breaking down the paint. My only problem with the medium is that I like to mist the canvas, and I hate breathing that stuff in when it gets sprayed into the air. I will, however, use it on the palette without spraying. I appreciate your comment!

[@kbatwe55]

Good tips

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@triggerfish999]

Big problem with acrylic is the colour shift...it darkens when it dries. Windsor and Newton artist quality acrylic doesn’t colour shift. Also, use a retarder medium to keep the paint 'open' (workable) for longer. If budget not a constraint you could use the super expensive Golden Open acrylics, favoured by many professional arriviste.. But really...just use oil. Water mixable oils are worth checking out. So much nicer to paint with than acrylic, and you don’t need to use turpentine or whatever.

[@koolkutz7]

Good tips. I just bought the Daler-Rowney Georgian water-mixable oil paints and they work great. I did my first painting with them recently and there is no colour shift and it was touch-dry in a few days.

[@redangrybird7564]

Don't buy Cobra from Talens, not enough pigments in the tubes, they are cheap student grade water soluble oils.

[@alinasart477]

Thank you! This helped a lot!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you for watching!

[@artworld9799]

Really great job👍 I love that work🎨

[@helenannleeshung9028]

This is a great video !👍🏾💝

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you!

[@Robloxplayer_653]

How did you do that sky in acrylic?

[@thomasrodriguez3147]

Thank you! So much excellent tips! Keep it Up the good work!

[@gagnonstudio]

Thank you Thomas, I appreciate that!

[@talishalt1]

Should you apply varnish while the paint is still wet or should we wait until it dries?

[@ohsillybeans]

wait until it dries

[@cacevedo07]

Should the varnish be applied before the painting dries out completely? Thanks for the tips.

[@amberforbes3151]

You want to add the varnish when the painting is dried completely. I use Liquitex varnishes, and even the directions tell you to apply when the painting is completely dry.

[@cacevedo07]

@@amberforbes3151 Thanks!

[@emoryjoan6305]

Thanks ☺️ What kind of pallet do you use?

[@gagnonstudio]

I use a Gray Matters tear away pallet

[@josephineblanc9801]

Is there a varnish that doesn't smell as I'm asthmatic

[@dianewhalen9721]

Do you apply the varnish while the acrylic paint is wet or wait to varnish after painting? Is the acrylic paint colour more saturated when you apply varnish over wet acrylic or dry?

[@gagnonstudio]

Thanks for writing. I wait until it is completely dry. I find that the varnish goes on much better and more evenly when the paint is completely wet. Fortunately it'll only take 30 minutes to an hour for regular acrylic to dry completely.

[@sweetolie1]

I LOVE blending. I only use water to blemd. Never any oils or slow drying mediums (it isnt good for painting, in the long run). I do the paint water dip method ( not really misting, just moisten my brush and wipe off) . This is beautiful. Thank you!

[@marcelacastillo2580]

Thanks, thanks, thanks!

[@KArtandCraft]

Fantastic