Acrylic

Specialty Acrylic Paints

Iridescent and fluorescent acrylic colors afford the artist new and exciting opportunities to create dynamic looks in his or her work.  Intense, deep colors in iridescent shades will light up your paintings; and fluorescent colors can create dramatic special effects. 

Iridescent paints can be used in a number of ways to alter the palette of even the most experienced painter.  Use pearlized paints to create new metallic colors; pearlized pigments can also be used to wash over darker tones for an ethereal effect.  Clouds and soft fabric folds as well as sun reflections on water or glass can be greatly enhanced with a slight amount of iridescent pigment.  You can thin the coverage by adding medium or water to the paint so that the result will be soft.  Again, the fun you have discovering how to incorporate new products and ideas into your work adds much to the enjoyment of painting. 

Fluorescent colors also add an element of fun and interest to paintings.  They help create special effects that make your work “leap off the page.” Little can draw the eye to a painting quicker than super intense colors like those in fluorescent tones.  One way to use fluorescent pigments in your works on paper is as reflected warmth.  To do this, paint a scene with warm tones that melt to the edges of the paper.  When you plan the presentation of your work, include framing with an elevated mat surface.  (Elevate the mat with one or two thicknesses of foam board.  Attach the foam board to the outer edges of the mat to raise it above the paper.) Paint the underside of the mat fluorescent pink or orange. The result will be an unexplained glow emanating from your painting.  This is most effective on scenes that contain sunny oranges and reds, but can be very effective with other finished works as well.  Experiment with several tones on the underside of the mat.  The results will amaze you and, for such a simple addition, can be dramatic.

Gold and silver iridescent pigments are just the beginning.  Soft pastel iridescents are available or can be easily created by mixing pearl tone with any acrylic paint.  Dry iridescent pigment is fun to use, too.  Such dry iridescent pigment can be added to acrylic medium for over-glazing or to acrylic paint for over-glazing and/or heavier coverage.  Works on paper or canvas can be easily enhanced with judicious use of iridescent acrylic paint.  Enjoy experimenting and testing new ways to use these unique acrylic products. 

When exploring the paint aisles at your paint retailer, look for DaVinci and Lascaux acrylics and mediums and visit www.DaVinciPaints.com and www.savoirfaire.com.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 17 No. 8 — June 2007