Acrylic art techniques by KR Moehr used for creating upscale (beginner to intermediate) abstracts can be found on this channel. The easy acrylic painting techniques include how-to basics plus full step-by-step painting guided tutorials using textures, mediums and various tools.
DIY, Art, Create DIY Abstract Acrylic Painting – Lessons Learned
Now that I’ve been spending more time at home, I’ve realized that I should finally stop putting off the things that I claim I never have time to do. One of these is to finish decorating the apartment that my partner and I moved into nine months ago. We wanted to figure out a way to have nice paintings that were not very expensive, but with Home Goods/Marshall’s/TJ Maxx closed due to the pandemic, we had to get creative about our options.
I started looking up YouTube videos about how to do abstract paintings and it didn’t look that hard. This was my first shot at making my own painting (aside from going to paint night). I figured it would be a fun quarantine activity, so why not try it? Out of the YouTube videos I watched, I really liked the design of this video. It had no instructions, but I figured it couldn’t be that hard to follow along.
I purchased the materials from Michael’s. I decided to just get a few shades of blue, white, and gray, since I wanted the painting to go into my bedroom. They also sell multi-color packs which might come in handy if you don’t have a specific color scheme in mind.
Materials I purchased:
- Acrylic paint in navy blue, pale blue, light blue, gray, and white
- 16 x 20 canvas
- Palette knives
- Foam brushes
- Paintbrushes
- Paper towels
- Old sheet to not dirty floor/carpet
- Disposable plate to use as a palette
- Cup & water (for brushes and sponges)
Documenting My Process
I started with white paint, as the video showed. Even though I was using a palette knife like the artist was, I could not get the white paint to have the same texture as the one she was using. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I kept going. I used a foam brush to start playing around with some of the blue to see what would happen. (Now that I’m writing this post, I realized that the artist in the video used modeling paste… oops!)
At this point, I started to get worried that it was not going to look anything like the video. I was definitely having trouble replicating that white painting texture. My partner watched the video again and took a stab at it, this time with a paper towel.
The smearing with the paper towel also looked nothing like the video. According to my partner, “her hands are gifted!” So maybe it was a little naïve to think that we could replicate a YouTube artist, given that we had very little experience. Regardless, we kept having fun with it, and we were pleased with the outcome!
Final Product
I learned to accept that my art might not come out exactly like the video tutorial. That’s the beauty of art – paintings are unique and aren’t exact replicas. Trust and enjoy the process of creating something from scratch. All artists have to start somewhere! Plus, you learn so much from actually *doing* it, that a tutorial can’t quite teach you. The sky is the limit for your creativity!
Tips and tricks:
- If you’re looking to do a series of paintings or to experiment more at the beginning, consider purchasing the canvases in bulk. After having ordered three canvases, I realized that I could have gotten five of them for a cheaper price.
- Use an old sheet over your table or floor to make sure that you don’t get your surface dirty with paint.
- Wear an old t-shirt because it’s hard to get acrylic paint off of clothes.
- Acrylic paint washes easily off skin with soap and water, so don’t worry about the paint that will inevitably end up on your hands.
- Acrylic paint dries relatively fast, so keep this in mind if you’re hoping to mix colors on the canvas itself.
- If you’re unhappy with the way things are looking, you can always paint over it. If you’re looking to avoid smearing and blending colors, make sure that the paint dries completely before doing so.
- When you’re ready to clean your brushes, you can wash them in the sink with soap and water. I found it helpful to use a paper towel to get extra paint off of them before rinsing.
I’ve already started on my next painting, which (I hope) will have more of a mosaic look. What are you planning to create? Share your quarantine creations with us by posting on social media and tagging us!
Angie N. Ocampo is a PhD candidate in Sociology studying immigration, race, and ethnicity. At Penn, she has been involved in various student activities, including serving as the chair of the Latin American Graduate and Professional Student Assembly (LAGAPSA), the student-faculty liaison for the Graduate Sociology Society, and a member of the Fontaine Coordinating Committee for Fontaine Fellows. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking new recipes, dancing, and singing. As the Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives Fellow at the Grad Center, Angie supports special initiatives and organizes professional and academic events focusing on diversity and inclusion.
Acrylic Painting Channels on Youtube
If the post-coronavirus era has taught us anything, it’s that the internet can be used for self-taught development in virtually any skill or hobby that you desire. Thanks to YouTube painting channels, becoming a more competent artist is one of the most exciting opportunities available.
When focusing on a hobby like painting, visual support is key. Art channels on YouTube provide the perfect learning tool because you can choose the style of painting you love and learn at your own pace without the pressure of traditional classes.
For a line-up of popular art tutorials online, check out the channels below.
#1. Angela Anderson
Check out her YouTube acrylic painting channel here!
It makes sense to start with the letter A, not least because Angela Anderson’s channel is easily one of the best on the internet. Her verified channel has been running for over a decade while we love the fact that she also provides live streaming lessons to replicate the physical classroom experience.
Meanwhile, her acrylic painting for beginners playlist is particularly newbie friendly. With over 29 million views across the channel, the appeal is clear to see. Moreover, the artist provides great advice on picking up the best basic painting supplies.
Why I like this channel: She is INTO her craft! She works hard at it, posts often and has numerous tutorials for you to follow. She is an artist and not just a “youtube” channel owner (yes, there is a distinct difference).
#2. Emily Mackery Art
Find the YouTube channel here!
In just a little over two years, Emily Mackery has established herself as one of YouTube’s premier acrylic painting tutors. She provides some of the best art tutorials online, especially for individuals with a desire to create beautiful scenes depicting clouds, beaches, and other natural settings.
Her friendly and accessible teachings have racked up 175,000 subscribers while her most popular video upload has amassed over 1.9million views. With lessons usually lasting for 10-20 minutes, they are a great option for anyone seeking gradual developments.
Chosen because: Easy and good if you are looking to paint nature, realism and colorful art. Great for the newbie to learn some skills.
