Ealain Creative

 If you're painting with acrylics on paper, one of the most essential steps is priming your surface with gesso. Gesso acts as a barrier between the paint and the paper, preventing the paint from seeping in and causing warping or tearing. Properly applied gesso ensures that your colors remain vibrant, your brushstrokes smooth, and your artwork long-lasting. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about gessoing paper for acrylic painting. What Is Gesso and Why Use It? Gesso is a white paint-like primer made from chalk, gypsum, pigment, and binder. It prepares your surface for paint by creating a slightly textured, absorbent ground. Without gesso, paper can absorb too much moisture from acrylic paint, leading to buckling and an uneven surface. Benefits of Gesso: Prevents Warping : Especially important on thinner papers. Creates Texture : Adds grip to help paint adhere better. Saves Paint : Reduces absorption so paint sits on top of th...

 When you're starting with acrylic painting, one of the first and most important choices you'll face is selecting the right surface to paint on. The substrate you choose can affect your painting technique, the final appearance of your work, and even how long your painting lasts. Two of the most popular substrates are paper and canvas. In this post, we'll walk through their differences, when to use each, and how to prepare them properly. Understanding the Basics: What Is a Substrate? A "substrate" in painting refers to the surface on which you apply your paint. For acrylic artists, common substrates include: Watercolor paper Stretched canvas Canvas boards Wood panels While you can paint on almost anything with acrylics, paper and canvas remain the most popular for their accessibility and versatility. Watercolor Paper: A Budget-Friendly Favorite Watercolor paper is a fantastic choice for beginners and even for experienced art...

There are advertisements placed on this blog, for products that I personally use and enjoy. You should know that if you click on those advertisements and or purchase something from them, I will receive money from that purchase. It doesn't cost you more than it normally would, and it supports me and this here blog. Thank you!  When I first started painting with acrylics, I used whatever was nearby as a palette. Old plastic lids, paper plates, the occasional Tupperware lid I hoped no one would notice missing... If it had a flat surface, it was fair game. Eventually, I upgraded to disposable plastic palettes, then to a peel-off pad that I thought was the height of luxury. But once I tried a glass palette? Total game changer. Now, before I go all-in on singing the praises of glass, let me say this: you absolutely don’t need one to make great art. But it is worth exploring if you’re curious about making your painting process smoother and cleaner—and maybe even a little more fun. So, w...

There are advertisements placed on this blog, for products that I personally use and enjoy. You should know that if you click on those advertisements and or purchase something from them, I will receive money from that purchase. It doesn't cost you more than it normally would, and it supports me and this here blog. Thank you!  Setting Up Your Acrylic Painting Workspace (Even in Small Spaces) When I first got into acrylic painting, I thought I needed a dreamy, Pinterest-perfect studio to really do it right. You know, exposed brick, giant windows, a dozen perfectly organized paint jars in rainbow order... but the truth is, that’s not how most of us start. Or even finish. What really matters is creating a space that makes you feel inspired and comfortable—no matter how small or humble it is. For a long time, my painting setup was smack in the middle of our dining room. It wasn’t glamorous. It definitely wasn’t tidy. But it worked. I’d pull out my tabletop easel, roll over my trusty l...