A wash of color
Acrylic paints are fast-drying water-based pigments that can be used to create water-color-like paintings, or even artworks that look much like oil paintings. These looks are accomplished by thinning and mixing acrylic paints.
Mixing Acrylics
Acrylics may be mixed with water, or a water and acrylic-gloss-medium mixture in order to make a thin wash of color. These mixes should be performed on the palette and not on the painting's surface.
Glazes
Water and acrylic paint glazes are areas of thinned, lightly tinted paint that have been painted on top of light-colored areas of a painting. Glazes help to add greater dimension to an artwork.
Scumbles
Scumbles are created when thinned acrylic paint is painted over darker sections of a painting. Scumbles give a painting a subdued and muted look. This look could not be accomplished without mixing acrylic paint with water.
Rich Color
Thinning acrylic paint allows a painter to create several layers of rich color on a painting. Thinned acrylic dries faster than regular acrylic and has a soft appearance.
Experimentation
Experimentation is the best way to achieve the right mixture of acrylic paint and water. Always add acrylic paint first onto a palette. Slowly add the water to the paint in small amounts.
