When using an acrylic brush to create a matte texture, you can follow these usage tips:
First, material preparation
Acrylic paint: Choose the acrylic paint color that suits your creative needs.
Quartz sand: Quartz sand is a key material for creating a frosted texture. You can choose quartz sand of different particle sizes to produce frosted effects of various coarseness. Generally speaking, fine sand with a mesh size of 40 to 80 is more commonly used.
Acrylic brush: Choose a brush that suits your painting habits and the requirements of your picture, such as a flat scraper or a round-headed brush, to better mix the paint and quartz sand and apply the desired texture.
Canvas or drawing board: Ensure that the canvas or drawing board is clean and flat to better present the matte texture.
Second, the steps of painting
Base color laying
Use acrylic paint and brushes to lay the base color on the canvas. The background color can be a single color or a multi-color gradient, depending on personal preference and creative needs.
When laying the base color, there is no need to add quartz sand to keep the base color smooth and uniform.
Mixed pigments and quartz sand
Take an appropriate amount of acrylic paint onto the color palette and add an appropriate amount of quartz sand. The amount of quartz sand used can be adjusted according to the frosted effect you want. Generally speaking, the more quartz sand there is, the more obvious the frosted effect will be.
Mix the paint and quartz sand thoroughly and evenly with a brush or scraper until a thick paste is formed.
Apply a frosted texture
Use a scraper or brush to apply the mixed paint and quartz sand onto the canvas. The thick coating method can be adopted to make the picture present a matte texture with uneven surfaces.
During the application process, the thickness and force of the application can be adjusted as needed to create different texture effects.
To enhance the frosted texture, multiple layers can be applied, but it is important to ensure that the previous layer is dry before each application to avoid poor results due to mixed pigments.
Detail handling
Use a fine and pointed brush or scraper to refine and process the details in the picture. For instance, the contour lines of objects can be outlined, or some fine textures and patterns can be added on the basis of the frosted texture.
When dealing with details, it is important to maintain the overall harmony and unity of the picture, avoiding overly prominent or overly dim areas.
Third, precautions
The ratio of pigment to quartz sand: It is necessary to reasonably control the ratio of pigment to quartz sand to ensure the uniformity and stability of the frosted texture. If there is too much quartz sand, it may cause the pigment to be difficult to apply evenly. If there is too little quartz sand, the expected frosted effect may not be achieved.
Selection and use of painting brushes: Choosing the right painting brush is crucial for creating a frosted texture. The flat scraper is suitable for large-area application and thick application methods. Round-tipped brushes are suitable for handling details and outlining contour lines. When using a painting brush, it is important to keep it clean and moist to better mix the paint and quartz sand.
Drying time: Acrylic paint dries relatively quickly, so it is necessary to pay attention to controlling the drying time during the drawing process. If the next layer is applied before the pigment is completely dry, it may lead to pigment mixing and poor results. You can wait for a few minutes or longer after applying one layer until the surface of the pigment is dry before applying the next layer.
Ventilation and Safety: When painting acrylic pictures, it is important to maintain a good ventilation environment to avoid inhaling harmful gases. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to using safety tools and protective measures, such as wearing gloves and masks, to ensure personal safety.