If you're looking to create different textures with acrylic paint, introduce yourself to mediums! With just a few simple additions, you can transform ordinary paintings into vibrant, tactile pieces bursting with personality. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced creator, mediums make are easy to use and fun to experiment with.
Texture painting with acrylics
Image: @shiriphillipsdesigns
For a modern, abstract feel that pops off the canvas, try using a thickening medium like Impasto to create strokes of colour that hold their shape when dry. This artwork is full of life, using colour-blocking to layer thick swatches of paint for a patchwork effect. Try using a palette knife instead of a brush to help keep the texture bold and clean.
Floral texture painting
Image: @sarahbrazilartwork
Love delicate, sculpted florals? Same! This artist has thickened their acrylics to make a flowery design that seems to be growing right out of the canvas. Modeling Paste is a great option explore at home, as it holds its shape well for sculptural effects, plus the white base will turn your normal acrylics into pastel shades when mixed together.
Action painting
Image: @jtkpaints
Action painting isn’t just fun and full of life – it’s a great way to create bold, energetic art that captures movement! This explosive piece showcases the drips, splashes, swipes, and splatters of paint created as the artist moved strategically above the canvas. There are no real rules when it comes to drip painting but it helps to have thin, smooth flowing colours for splatters that go far – try adding Pouring Medium or Acrylic Flow Medium to recreate the effect.
Beach sand art
Bring the beach to your house by sculpting wall art you want to dive right into. We even used sand to give the painting a tactile feel that brings you straight back to sunnier days - though you can try using Sand Texture Medium if you don’t have any sand on-hand. Follow our tutorial to see how you can make this at home – with Modelling Paste it’s easier than you think!
Painting bees and flowers
Image: @sarahbrazilartwork
This set of floral and honeycomb-inspired pieces uses thick, petal-like swipes of paint to create a layered effect. Even the bees look fuzzy with the clever textured strokes! A palette knife works wonders for creating raised paint, giving your artwork a tactile, 3D vibe. Thickened acrylics are the best for holding their shape when dry, so experiment with mediums like Impasto or Modelling Paste to create the effect you want.
Acrylic poured art
Image: @nooralsaber_art
Acrylic pour is a free-flowing technique that creates dynamic, vibrant designs with swirling shapes and patterns. This eye-catching purple artwork has a marble-like effect with cells appearing where colours overlap and mingle on the canvas. You can transform any acrylics into pouring paint by simply mixing in Pouring Medium with a touch of Silicone Oil. The oil is what creates the cells – though we do have premixed options like SuperCell that don’t require mediums. The creative possibilities are endless when it comes to fluid art as no two pours are the same!
Peanut butter paint
Colour match an everyday spread like peanut butter to make tasty looking artwork. We’ll show you how to get the thick and shiny look in our how-to video, as well as how to paint pesto and jam. Have some fun and have a go!
Contemporary cityscape painting
Image: @jasira_jasmin
This vibrant cityscape uses a mix of acrylic mediums to create depth and texture, bringing the skyline to life. A palette knife and a thickening medium (or already heavy-bodied acrylics) can help to sculpt buildings with raised, 3D textures. The swirling brushstrokes add movement, making the city feel alive with energy. How would you use mediums to paint your city?
3D food art
This playful and textural artwork brings breakfast to your canvas with sculpted acrylic paint! Starting with Modelling Paste to make the 3D elements, the plate was then assembled with rich, dimensional texture and colour. Have a go yourself by following our tutorial, then use the technique to sculpt all your fave meals!
Acrylic mediums are an easy way to take your artwork to the next level – whether you’re pouring, sculpting, or layering, they open up a world of creative possibilities. Why not give one of these ideas a try? You might just discover your creative passion!
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