La Grange Rooster in Acrylic

 

I painted a little 5 x 7 inch acrylic on canvas board for a gift.  We went to the Rohan Meadery about a year ago for some music and I took photographs of the chickens there.  This old rooster was pretty laid back but was keeping watch on the hens.  I wish I had more sketches of the chickens.  The painting would be more lively than from a photo.

La Grange Rooster
5 x 7 inches on canvas panel
Framed in brown wooden frame on an easel

I always think that painting with acrylics will be fast and easy clean up.  It is much faster to dry than oils, but it still has to dry between layers.  One layer usually doesn't cover the canvas.  I'm pretty sure I could have done it with one coat in oil, but it would need to dry for a week or so.  I wanted it for tomorrow.  Of course I should have done the painting a long time ago, then I wouldn't have had to rush. 

Clean up with acrylics isn't too hard, but I still have to wash the brushes and be sure to do that before the paint dries on them.  It is a good idea to soak them in alcohol if you have used them quite a bit as the paint stays in the hairs near the ferrule, then wash them with soft soap.  Don't let the brushes sit in the water or dry them hair up, lay them flat.  Acrylic paint is easy to wash off of your hands, but if it dries on your clothes it is pretty permanent.

It is recommended to use different brushes for water media and oils.  I think if they are cleaned well, it shouldn't really matter.  Don't put the water down your drain.  Acrylic is plastic after all.

I also take the photo before I varnish the painting.  Once you put varnish on it you will get a glare.  I varnished it with Premium Decor satin finish acrylic spray.  I think I got this brand in Taos last summer.  I use Krylon as well.