Q: I'm a retiree and I'm taking up painting, specifically
acrylic painting, for the first time. Do you have any recommendations
on how to get started?
A: Acrylic is a great medium for beginners because it is the
most versatile type of paint. You can paint on a variety of
surfaces—paper, canvas, wood, Masonite, and many others—and because
acrylic is opaque, you can rework areas of your canvas without ruining
your artwork. Your best bet is to register for a beginner-painting
course at your local adult-education center or artist workshop. A
positive classroom environment is a great place for beginners and
instructors will provide both assistance and encouragement.
Check out our free eBook on acrylic painting, and our resources guide to learning how to paint with acrylics as well.
Q: How do I remove varnish from a painting?
A: Without more information I can't answer your question in
detail, but in general, some varnishes are permanent while others
varnishes can be removed with alcohol. Be careful though, using alcohol
to remove varnish may harm your artwork.
--by Camille LaPointe-Lyons