How to do an underpainting in Acrylics [DEMO]

I'm regularly asked whether my painting approach and technique works for acrylics as well as oils. And the short answer is YES! The biggest difference happens during the underpainting stage since acrylics dry much faster than oils. So here's a video that I include in all my classes, specifically for my students who use acrylics.

The basic concepts for doing an imprimatura-bistre underpainting are the same whether you're working in acrylics or oils. Before you start your acrylic underpainting, though, you need to be totally prepared since your paint will dry fast. And it's helpful to use something that will slow down the paint's drying time (e.g. spray water bottle, slow drying acrylic medium, or OPEN acrylics).

One other caveat: You can always start painting with acrylics and paint as far as you want, then later switch to oils. HOWEVER, while you can paint oils on top of acrylics, the reverse is not true. Once you switch to oils you MUST then stay in oils or problems will ensue...!

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