Traditional Art Commissions

Here's some tips and facts about the different types of paint I use to help decide which medium suits your preferences the best!

• Heavy Body Acrylic Paint

• Soft Body Acrylic Paint

• Gouache Paint

• Watercolor Paint

Heavy Body Acrylic Paint

Heavy body acrylic paint is a thick, smooth type of acrylic paint. It has a consistency similar to soft butter or thick frosting, which makes it easy to control with a brush or palette knife. Here are some key things to know about Heavy Body Acrylic Paint:

• Thick consistency: It doesn’t run or drip easily, excellent for creating raised textures and visible brushstrokes.

• Strong colors: Heavy body acrylics usually have rich, bold colors that can be mixed together to create new shades.

• Versatile: Heavy body acrylics can be used on canvas, wood, and thick paper that can hold its weight.

• Fast drying: Acrylic paint dries much faster than oil paint, making it easier to add new layers fairly quickly.

• Great for texture: Because the paint is thick, brushes, palette knives, or other tools can be used to create different textures and effects.

• Can be layered: Once dry, it can be painted over without disturbing the layer underneath.

In simple terms: Heavy body acrylic paint is a thick, colorful, fast-drying paint that is great for creating layers, texture, and visible brushstrokes.

Soft Body Acrylic Paint

(my personal favorite!)

Soft body acrylic paint is a smooth, creamy type of acrylic paint with a medium consistency. It is thinner and more fluid than heavy body acrylic. Because of its consistency, it is one of the most versatile types of acrylic paint. Here are some key things to know about Soft Body Acrylic Paint:

• Good for many techniques: It is excellent for blending, layering, and detailing.

• Works on many surfaces: It can be used on canvas, paper, wood, and other surfaces designed for acrylic paint.

• Less texture: Unlike heavy body acrylics, soft body paint usually creates fewer visible brushstrokes, making it useful for a smoother finish.

• Transparency: It can create transparent effects when diluted or mixed with a suitable acrylic medium.

• Water resistant: It becomes water-resistant when dry, so dried paint will not simply wash away with water.

In simple terms: Soft body acrylic paint is a smooth, medium-thickness paint that flows easily and can be used for everything from broad areas of color to small details.

Gouache Paint

Gouache is a type of water-based paint that is similar to watercolor, but it is thicker and more opaque. This means it creates strong, solid areas of color instead of letting as much of the paper show through. Here are some key things to know about Gouache Paint:

• Thick and creamy: Gouache has a smooth, somewhat dense consistency.

• Opaque colors: It provides strong coverage, so light colors can be painted over darker ones.

• Usually used on paper: It is especially popular for illustrations, designs, and paintings on watercolor paper.

• Matte finish: When dry, gouache usually has a soft, non-shiny appearance.

• Great for illustrations: Its flat, bold colors make it popular for posters, illustrations, and graphic artwork.

In simple terms: Gouache is a thick, opaque, water-based paint that creates bright, matte colors and is often used for illustrations and artwork on paper.

Watercolor Paint

Watercolor paint is a water-based paint that is mixed with water and usually applied to paper. It is known for its transparent, light, and flowing appearance, allowing the paper underneath to show through the paint. Here are some key things to know about Watercolor Paint:

• Transparent: The more water you use, the lighter and more transparent the color becomes.

• Easy to blend: Colors can flow and blend together naturally on wet paper.

• Usually used on paper: Watercolor paper is designed to handle the water without becoming damaged as easily.

• Soft appearance: It can create delicate, glowing, and layered effects.

In simple terms: Watercolor is a transparent, water-based paint that creates soft, flowing colors and is commonly used on paper.