PPWS Signature Member Reveille Kennedy was our guest speaker and demonstrator last night. She demonstrated her unique style of using acrylics to paint like a watercolor!
Reveille likes to used Golden Acrylics, and used a limited palette of Naphthol Red, Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow, Viridian Green, Payne’s Gray, Neutral Gray, and white. To extend the drying time of the acrylics, Rev sheepishly told us (no pun intended) she uses KY Jelly! This prompted many strange looks, laughs and questions from the group! Rev told us an acrylic teacher told her about this little secret extender years ago. Hey, if it works, use it!
Rev started with an under painting of a mix red and yellow using a large flat brush and bold brush strokes. She paints the subjects values, not always the colors of the subject.
Rev, an accomplished watercolor artist, works in a few different mediums. She said she finds it easier to make an acrylic painting darker than when using watercolors.
To add interest to her backgrounds, Reveille uses stencils! Once the area is dry, just place the stencil over it and lightly paint a loaded brush over it. To get a negative look, paint the back of the stencil and then use it as a stamp! This is a brilliant little tip or trick to add interest to a background!
Another tip or trick Rev shared was that you can use masking fluid on an acrylic painting! She said after it is dry, you can apply one to two layers of paint over it and it will remove easily!
The sheep came alive once Rev added the eyes, nose and mouth! So darn cute!
A few of Reveille’s paintings that she had for sale at our meeting.
