Why I Love Painting with Acrylics

One of the things I love most about painting with acrylics is how much freedom it gives me to be creative and play around with colours.

For example, I sometimes dilute the paint with water to work almost like watercolours. Other times, I use it almost dry to create different textures or very soft shadows. I also love working in layers to build depth in my paintings.

Another thing I really appreciate is how quickly acrylics dry! I can create thicker textures, let them dry and continue painting later the same day. That way, my creativity doesn't have to stop.

With oil paints, you often have to wait much longer. And that's something I just don't have the patience for. Haha!

I also use different brands of acrylic paint because they have different qualities. Some are thicker, some have more pigment, and others dry more slowly. It's really fun to play around with colours this way!

Soft Transitions and Fine Details

Something I find really important in my original acrylic paintings is being able to create both soft transitions and sharp details, along with depth and contrast.

For example, in my latest painting, Evening Walk, I created a very soft background and then painted thin, defined strands of hair in different light and dark shades.

I love working with these contrasts and seeing how they bring a painting to life.

Experimenting and Creative Freedom

From what I've noticed, people who follow me on social media seem to enjoy watching me play around and experiment with different subjects, from objects to landscapes, and how I mix and work with colours.

I've also had people tell me that my acrylic paintings almost look like oil paintings, which I find quite funny!

I think acrylics can actually be quite tricky when it comes to creating really soft transitions. But then again, I haven't really given oil painting a proper try, so I don't know that medium very well. It's just something I've heard people say.

What I love most about being an artist is the creative freedom it gives me. The freedom to experiment, explore new ideas, create whatever I feel like creating and continue developing as an artist.

And I think that's what makes painting so enjoyable for me. There's always something new to discover!

Love,
Ulrika 🤍