Using Acrylics

Acrylic colors can be used on almost any surface that is not slick or greasy. Never mix acrylics with oils or paint on top of oil colors with acrylics. However, oils can be painted over a thoroughly dry acrylic underpainting or gesso.
Canvas or panels should be prepared with acrylic gesso, or acrylics can he painted directly onto raw canvas or paper.
A non-porous palette, such as a large sheet of glass, an enamel butcher tray, or a disposable Strip-Palette works better than the traditional wooden palettes, which will absorb water from the paints.
Acrylics dry very quickly and should be kept moist on the palette. A spray mister filled with water is helpful for this purpose.
Use a medium such as an acrylic Matte or Gloss medium or Grumbacher Hyslo® to slow drying. This enables more beautiful blending and color transitions on the painting.
When diluting tube or jar acrylics, use a 50/50 mix of water with Matte or Gloss Medium, to ensure that the pigments have enough binder. Hard-edged images can be achieved by marking off areas with masking tape. Glazes can be made by mixing
Acrylics can be used in a watercolor- like technique by thinning with water since acrylics are insoluble when dry, they cannot be "lifted" like traditional watercolors.
After five days of drying, acrylic paintings should be coated with a removable varnish such as picture varnish (liquid) or picture and oil Painting varnish (aerosol)
Brushes should be kept moist during the painting session to avoid dried paint clogging the brush hairs.
It is best to use synthetic filament brushes, such as the Grumbacker Golden Edge or Bristlette®. The natural bristles of oil painting brushes will absorb water, swell, and become floppy.
Before replacing the cap or lid on a container of acrylic color, make sure the threads of the container and cap don't harbor any paint. Paint in the threads can glue the cap to the container.
Clean brushes and tools with soap and water.