Setting Up an Acrylic Studio

Establishing an art studio to work in acrylic is a great opportunity to explore many products available to artists by contemporary manufacturers. The fast-drying characteristic of acrylic makes it the ideal medium for artists who enjoy heavy textural work, those who enjoy using a variety of substrates, collage artists, those who like to include a variety of materials in their paintings or anyone interested in easily blended colors, soap and water cleanup, no fumes and ease of transport of materials and finished works.

Basic supplies that are needed to work in acrylic include some sort of canvas or heavy watercolor paper, paints, brushes, charcoal or pencil for sketching, painting medium and various containers for water. Sponges, an easel (either tabletop or standing) and a work stool and table are also very handy items.

The surface upon which you work can be canvas--stretched or panels--or heavy-bodied watercolor paper. Canvas is considered by most acrylic artists to be the preferred substrate; but works on paper offer the opportunity to mat and frame under glass, while canvas works are most often put into a frame without added embellishment. Although acrylic can be used on almost any surface--including wood, metal, and some plastics--canvas or paper are the favorites of most artists. Sized canvas is ready to go and can be painted upon without pre-surfacing. Paper is often coated with a smooth layer of gesso to create a surface that is less absorbent and a bit easier to control. Paper also wicks water and makes the soft paints harder to manipulate. Lightweight papers can be used for studies or quick sketches but are not well suited to heavy applications of acrylic pigment.

The paints you might select can be anywhere from student grade to professional quality. Permanency and strength of pigmentation increase with price and, when possible, it is recommended that you select a professional grade of materials. This is especially true if your works are for sale. Craft paints are interesting and fun, but lack the high pigment formulation of professional paints. Most national brands of paints are created with good qualities of pigment and permanency.

Brushes are essential to your work. The type of brushes you select will depend on the type of work you like to create. Impressionistic and styles that use rich applications of color can be very well executed with bristle brushes, but these same brushes do not perform well on most portrait or other smooth realistic styles. Synthetic brushes do well with virtually any paints and are easy to clean. They make a great intermediate graduation between less costly brushes and higher costing sable or sable blends. For the best in smooth strokes, sable still rules, but the newer blends of synthetics are very useful.

Charcoal or pencil work is usually needed to establish the scene or design on your canvas before you begin painting. Charcoal virtually dissolves into the paint and does not create lines that will show through the painted surface. Pencil lines sometimes do show, but can be an interesting element in an acrylic painting. When creating thickly applied techniques, either works well. Both drawing instruments are great to have so that you can make the decision as you start your painting.

Medium selection is one that will greatly influence the finished look of your work. Because some paints dry to different sheens, it is wise to include medium in your paint blending. The use of mediums - either matte or gloss - will insure an even sheen on the surface of your painting. Additionally, should you so desire, you can do a final coat of medium after your painting is complete and dry. Sprays are easy to apply. Brushing on coatings gives a thicker coat and will better cover uneven shininess.

Water containers and cleanup tubs can be collected from recycled items. Plastic ice cream cartons, topping bowls, large butter tubs and such make great water containers because they hold a lot. Washing paint from your brush at each color change will keep your colors clean and clear. Use more water than you think you need. Large containers such as plastic bus trays, mop buckets, detergent and pet food buckets make great cleanup helpers.

These same containers also double as storage for many of the smaller items involved in maintaining a studio. Sponges not only help with cleanup but also can be used to create a speckled or dappled texture when pressed into a pool of paint and gently rolled onto the surface of your canvas. Other found objects can be used to create textures too: grasses, crumpled newspaper, crushed foil, etc.

An easel is very helpful when the size of your work grows, since it's very difficult to paint on a flat surface when your work starts to enlarge. Easels for tabletop are very handy, fold into a very small size and can accommodate up to approximately 20 x 24 inch canvases. Standing easels, either of wood or metal, hold works all the way to four or five feet. Some can be folded, but the most sturdy and steadfast are not portable and do not collapse. Their strength and ability to grip large-scale works make them indispensable. They can also hold smaller works and allow the artist to either sit or stand.

A work table for supplies and a stool are both very valuable. Spreading out your supplies so that you can see all your materials is helpful. Brush caddies, paint colors, mediums, containers and the other miscellaneous clothes and tools, etc., take up a lot of room, and a table will help you quickly find what you want.

Setting up an acrylic studio can be an enjoyable experience and need not be costly. Paints, brushes and canvas represent the greatest costs, but recycling can help save.