Step 1: Gather your materials
Before you start painting your still life with acrylics, it’s important to gather all the necessary materials. This will ensure that you have everything you need and can work comfortably without interruptions. Here are the materials you’ll need:
- Acrylic paints in various colors
- Paintbrushes in different sizes
- Canvas or canvas board
- Easel or a sturdy table to work on
- Pencil for sketching
- Palette or palette paper for mixing colors
- Water container for cleaning brushes
- Paper towels or rags for drying brushes
- Reference photo or an actual still life setup
Step 2: Prepare your canvas
Once you have all your materials ready, it’s time to prepare your canvas. If you’re using a stretched canvas, make sure it’s clean and free of any dust or debris. If you’re using a canvas board, you can skip this step as it’s usually ready to go.
Next, you can choose to apply a base layer of a neutral color to your canvas. This will help create a more uniform surface and make it easier to work with the colors later on. You can use a light gray or beige color for this step. Apply the base layer with a large brush, covering the entire canvas evenly. Let it dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Step 3: Sketch your composition
Before you start painting, it’s a good idea to sketch your composition on the canvas. This will help you plan the placement of objects and ensure that everything fits nicely within the frame. You can either do this freehand or use a grid system to assist you.
If you’re working from a reference photo, you can use the grid method to transfer the image onto your canvas. Divide both the photo and your canvas into a grid of equal squares and then copy each section onto your canvas, square by square. This will help you accurately capture the proportions and details of your still life.
Step 4: Start painting the basic shapes
With the sketch in place, it’s time to start painting the basic shapes of your still life. Begin by blocking in the large shapes and colors, focusing on the overall structure and composition. Use larger brushes for this step to quickly establish the general forms.
Start with the background and gradually work your way forward, painting the objects one by one. Remember to step back and assess your painting from a distance to ensure that everything is in proportion and looks balanced. Don’t worry too much about details at this stage, as you’ll be adding those in later.
You can layer the acrylic paints to create texture and depth. Acrylics dry quickly, so you can easily build up layers by allowing each layer to dry before adding another on top. This allows you to blend colors and achieve different effects.
Step 5: Add details and highlights
Once the basic shapes are painted and dry, you can start adding details and highlights to bring your still life to life. Use smaller brushes for this step to achieve finer details and more intricate textures.
Observe your reference photo or still life setup closely, paying attention to the small nuances and highlights that make each object unique. Use lighter colors to indicate highlights and shadows to create depth and dimension.
Take your time with this step, as it’s where your painting will really start to come together. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments and refine your work as you go along. Remember that acrylics are forgiving, so you can easily correct any mistakes or make changes to your painting.
