Advice on using acrylics in a watercolor wet on wet fashion?

[robbrauen]

I would like to try to mimic some of the general qualities of wet on wet watercolor...using acrylics and canvas. I'm not looking for an exact match obviously...or there would be no reason for trying to take it into acrylics...but I "am" looking to get some of the unpredictableness and movement found in working wet on wet in watercolor...but taking it into a thicker,more opaque, canvas-version using acrylics.

I only work in black monochromes...so I'm not worried about any muddying of colors. I was just wondering if others have have tried this...and specifically created that unpredictable ambience and atmosphere with the thicker feel...and if so...are there any methods or mediums-use tips you can pass on. Such as using a flow medium...etc.

Thanks for any thoughts anyone can provide!

[idylbrush]

Have you considered acrylic inks. They have a brilliance comparable to watercolors. Flow about the same but still have an acrylic base.

[wineberry]

Paint on raw canvas' rather than gessoed ones , gesso is not really absorbent so it is pretty hard to get the results you are looking for.
If you wet raw canvas first and then apply the paint you will get some lovely unpredictable results quite similar to watercolour on absorbent paper.
Experiment on a small raw canvas first to see if the result is what you want.

Just checked out your monocromes that are in the watercolour gallery , I love the oriental look that they have .I think that you will find the raw canvas will give you pretty much the same look.

[robbrauen]

Thank you Idyl and Wineberry! Wineberry ~ thank you...this is great advice! I'm at the art store as we speak and will pick up ungessoed canvases instead. My original idea was to add flow release but I was afraid it would only add the movement without the soak. Your advice should help to cover that other half...and maybe, ultimately, it'll be a combination of the ungessoed canvas wetted down with water "and" flow release. I'll try some test runs with and without the flow release. Thank you!!

[idylbrush]

There is also a water color paper primer by golden. It is a product that results in a surface much like water color paper but on canvas.

Check this out. Absorbent Ground

[robbrauen]

OMG~Idyl!! That's perfect!! It would allow me to use the much quicker to purchase gessoed canvases (1/2 block from my place)! Buying it immediately!!

[idylbrush]

Seems to me I remember a surfaced canvas with a watercolor sort of finish as well. Check your local supplier. I believe it by Fredrix.

[ribeyedsmile]

I agree with wineberry
I looked at the link to your gallery Robb. Nice work. Free loose.

What ya might want is to by unprimed canvas. Don't stretch until after you paint. Cut raw unprimed canvas to wrap stretchers but work on a flat surface.

Do your wet work. Explore acrylic flow release. Explore spritzer bottles. Wetting canvas and then staining wet on wet. look at morris louis. helen frankenthaler georgia okeef.......


Flow release has several uses.

adiing only to water
or
adding only to pigments
or
using it like on italian marble papers

explore diferent weights in paint such as gels heavy body soft body and the super free acrylic inks.

howard (idylbrush) has done some marvelous marble papers in traditional techniques.

I do wacked marble techniques in poured acrylics.

Alot of wet in wet folks around here

[robbrauen]

Thank you Idyl!

Thank you Ribeyedsmile! ~ Both for the great ideas to try and experiment with as well as the very kind words. I'm going to start diving into each of these. Thank you so much!!

[Yellow Ogre]

Lot of great ideas here!

Memory aid: Organic dyes - phtalos, pyrolles, naphthols, dioxazine, azo, arylides (i.e. Hansa) - are generally transparent and staining, where as inorganics like cadmium are opaque.

I love diluted ultramarine blue !

[robbrauen]

Thank you Yellow!