How To Paint With Background Out Of Focus

Blurry backgrounds with acrylics??

This topic has eleven replies, 9 voices, and was concluding updated 17 years, ix months ago by greatfindsct.

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Dec 25, 2004 at 6:35 pm #984710

Below is a photo that I am going to paint, just don't know how to become a background to look like blurred leafage like in the photo. I was wondering how i would do blurry backgrounds in acrylic. I find it very difficult since the acrylic dries so fast. If anyone has any tips/advice on how to do this, I would actually appreciate it! Thanks.

December 25, 2004 at 6:55 pm #1044575

Howdy Angela,

Ane approach is to cake in your basic colors with a shape representing the object, only not so much that it is clear what that object it. Practise this using a medium-consistancy of the pigment. Then, castor over some clear h2o to give it a blurred consequence. The basic concept to continue in mind is that your blocked-in colors should take a thicker consistancy than the launder of water that will exist put over information technology. Experiement with different consistancys until you find something that works. Another approach is to first apply a very thin coat of acrylic gesso over the groundwork surface area. Acrylic gesso has a much slower drying time than standard [white] acrylic paint, so blending shouldn't be a problem. While the gesso is even so moisture, have the bones colors of the background and brush them on. Don't worry about being verbal. In fact, the less exact you are, the blurrier information technology will come up out . The procedure of putting in the groundwork is actually quite elementary. Simply put in a basic shape of colour, and and so, using a clean brush, lightly brush over it to go far blurry. You can either do this afterwards you have blocked in each object, or you can look until you have your full background blocked in and so castor over. If y'all decide to look until later on your groundwork is blocked in, you might find your self racing against the drying fourth dimension of the paint. I'm sure there are many more approaches to this, but I call up the two that I have described are the basis for a blurry background. Promise this helps.

Dave

Dec 25, 2004 at 7:03 pm #1044577

Put some retarder in your paint.
Do an nether painting and and so glazes.
Pigment the groundwork first with sloppier blending technique and then practise your chief subject in fine precipitous detail. Jim

December 25, 2004 at 7:39 pm #1044578

Thanks Dave and Jim! I'll give those ideas a endeavour!

December 25, 2004 at 7:42 pm #1044573

Consider using a sea sponge to mottle in colour from your pallette.Mix on the pallette the background colors you lot are wanting, careful non to overmix. Keeping your background moisture will allow better blending. Use water and retarder in your paints. Dampen your background as well.
Putting your painting apartment on table will allow you to keep more wet on painting without having it run down while painting vertical.

Of class the airbrush is invaluable for backgrounds..

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December 25, 2004 at viii:17 pm #1044576

Besides consider dry brush scumbling, this method will certainly requite you soft backgrounds and a lot of control. Good luck…

Cheers

Mark Newton
Adelaide, Australia

Dec 25, 2004 at 8:36 pm #1044579

Thanks PAKI and Mark for the much appreciated communication!

December 25, 2004 at ten:20 pm #1044572

I agree with Mark Dry out brush works very well for a blurry groundwork.

December 25, 2004 at 11:39 pm #1044581

I prefer a sponge like in this i. james

December 26, 2004 at 2:21 am #1044571

In this painting, I used a cake-in of colour and then lots of gloss medium for sparse glazes. I made sure to allow the painting completely dry between layers, but overlapped the light and dark edges to make them mistiness equally the layers built upwardly. I also glazed a few overall layers of desaturated color to help the background drop dorsum. The focal point was then done in abrupt detail.

Debra

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Dec 26, 2004 at 8:18 am #1044580

Thanks Ballad, james, and Debra!

BTW, I really like each of your paintings James and Debra!

December 28, 2004 at v:48 pm #1044574

going abode to attempt this. super thread

Suzanne

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