Acrylic painters usually mix colors on a palette when they apply over painting.
Most acrylic artists paint on canvas, although some use wood or paper as their preferred foundation. According to the website for the Smithsonian Institute, acrylic paints, usually water-soluble, dry in about 30 minutes. This quick drying time offers the advantage of working quickly on a project. Once the surface dries, you can damage it by chipping it or applying solvent to the paint. You can also fix an acrylic painting that has been over painted.
Instructions
1. Paint the entire bottom layer, also called the under painting, with the paintbrush. The under painting sets a basic feel with color for the whole painting. It guides you as you fill in the rest of the painting.
2. Mix the desired medium -- a wash, glaze or scumble -- to paint over the under painting. Apply as desired. Blend the wash by smoothing the edges into the existing painting with a clean, dampened paintbrush.
3. Fix and cover especially damaged areas by using impasto. Impasto acts as a thickening so that you can build up thicker layers of paint or even sculpt and add texture and dimension. Due to its heavy weight, Impasto effectively corrects over paintings
4. Use a palette knife, paint comb or hand sculpting to build up additional layers of paint and add depth if you like.
