How to Blend Paint Colors
Zero artistic knowledge is needed for wine and paint night, buuuut we’ve learned that some people are less comfortable showing up without knowing how to paint. You know who you are!Paint and sip is all about being relaxed and having fun, so it’s totally cool if your painting doesn’t look like the instructor’s. However, if you want to get some painting tips in your back pocket, it can help you get a better finished product from your studio experience.
Let’s look at how to blend paint colors. Remember, this is a technique for acrylic paint, not for watercolor or oils. Here’s a quick video painting tutorial to get you started:
Blending paint colors is a crucial part of painting! Gradual color transitions give a softer and more realistic look to your picture.
Here are a few extra tips on how to blend paint colors:
• For acrylic paint, use a flat brush to do your blending.
• Start by laying down a layer of white paint across the canvas. A thin, even coat is what you want here. Paint fast – you can’t blend if the white paint dries.
• Now apply the first color, but just use a little bit of paint. Use long, steady strokes from side to side. Be careful not to stop in the middle, or the fading effect won’t be as smooth.
• Apply the next color, leaving a half-inch buffer of white between the two colors. Remember to stay conservative with your paint use.
• Use your brush to blur the transition lines between the colors. Easy does it – if you over-blend, your colors will get murky!
• The more white you use, the softer the transition will be. The less white you use, the color transition will be bolder and more abrupt.
Like any new skill, you’ll achieve better results the more you practice. The best part of blending paint colors together is that with no defined outline, it’s easy to fix mistakes!