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Hang on Studio Wall
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Larry Reynolds

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Posted
Can anyone recommend a surface for painting with acrylics that might be the equivalent of watercolour NOT or rough? Coming from watercolours I’d like to experiment with acrylics in a fashion similar to begin with to watercolour, rather than jump straight to impasto. Maybe an acrylic pad what they call a fine canvas type? Looking back Robert Jones I see that you recommend Black Hog. Coming from painting in 1/4 sheet and maybe smaller to begin with in acrylics, could you recommend a few sizes? Thank you all in advance

Keith Orange

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Posted
For acrylics I use Hahnumuhle Britannia Watercolour paper which I get from Jackson's art: https://www.jacksonsart.com/hahnemuhle-britannia-block-300gsm-140lb-30x40cm-12-sheets-not It's got a not surface - fairly smooth which I find better than the rough version. I think 30x40cm is a good size, and the paper is not that expensive. You can buy paper which is designed for acrylic. I saw one in a shop last week it was by Daler Rowney and had a slight texture that imitated canvas. https://www.jacksonsart.com/en-us/daler-rowney-system-3-acrylic-pads-230-gsm-20-sheets

Edited
by keora

Alan Bickley

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That's simple to answer. If you are using acrylics with a watercolour technique then you should use watercolour paper, obvious really! My favourite paper is Fabriano Artistico but we all have our own preferences. Use similar brushes as for watercolour also, I use the Black Hog from Rosemary & Co. For oil painting but they could also be used for acrylic. Robert will no doubt have some other information to pass on. Personally, I prefer to use and work with acrylics in an oil painting style, not necessarily thick impasto but not thinned down too much, I don't really see the point in that - you might as well stick to watercolour.

Alan Bickley

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Hi Larry, I'm a little confused as to your end goal, but Keora has given you a possible solution with the Daler Rowney acrylic paper. Jackson's or Rosemary & Co. have a vast array of acrylic brushes on offer, you should find something suitable there. Good luck with your experimenting.
michael

Michael Edwards

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I use acrylic quite a lot these days for my abstract and semi-abstract work and I find this discussion of some interest. The point is made about 'watering' down acrylics which is something I do although not as generally described but, of course, I am not painting entirely representational work . I usually apply the acrylic straight onto the mount from from the tube and then with a damp brush I move it around and often spray water directly onto the painting especially if the paint is beginning to dry before I want it to. Also by doing an underpainting I can scratch away at the surface 'coat' to get interesting marks and textures with the underlying colours coming through. I am about to go out but I will take a few photos later in the day and pop them on here or in the gallery to give an idea of the effects I obtain.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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I haven't had time today to read all the other answers, so apologies if I'm repeating things already said. But you can use acrylics on watercolour paper - you can apply acrylic 'gesso' to w/c paper if you want to, but you don't need to. I don't much like any of the prepared papers supposedly designed for acrylics because I find them slippery and non-absorbent, though there may be one or two out there I haven't tried, of course. But acrylics work well on Arches, heavier Bockingford, any watercolour paper with a bit of tooth. As for brushes, synthetics are probably the best - wide range from Rosemary & Co, but also from other suppliers; don't use sables, you'll kill 'em; black hogs were the late Syd Edward's favourites, and will work fine; in all cases, of course, rinse all the paint out of them after use.
michael

Michael Edwards

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I've just posted a couple of experiments in acrylics in the gallery - they are painted on mountboard as are the majority of my acrylics. I just get off-cuts from the local framer for a contribution in a charity box. Because it's easy to come by, robust, forgiving and cost effective I've never tried watercolour paper.
michael

Michael Edwards

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Larry - here are the links: https://www.painters-online.co.uk/gallery/art-view,picture_244196.htm https://www.painters-online.co.uk/gallery/art-view,picture_244197.htm Also I've just posted another one here in the forum under April Forum Challenges.

Margaret Nisbet

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Larry, looks like you have lots of good suggestions here. My only one is that, I found W H Smith's own brand acrylic pads fine for when I started out with acrylic (and I still use them occasionally) - (and I am sure there are other own brand papers) - these cheaper pads are fine for trying out colour mixes/techniques etc before using beautiful expensive surfaces.