Glazing: An Acrylic Painting Technique

The exhilarating thing about acrylics is the various ways to change the paints consistency and texture, creating captivating effects. One technique I have become fond of is glazing, a method of applying thin layers of transparent paint over an existing layer. When used, it allows one to see the layer beneath. Glazing helps add or shift a color without a dramatic change and creates depth. I've heard this technique resembles a stained glass window effect-what is beneath can still be seen.

It was first traditionally used in oil painting. Still, later on, as acrylics became popular, there was a method of thinning the paint without losing pigment to create depth and richness within a painting. The advantage of glazing with acrylics is the quick drying effect (reminder: although acrylics dry fast, let the paint dry completely before applying the next layer, maybe 20 minutes).

This technique can be added as a glaze over a specific area of the painting to create color variation. That is one way that I have used it. You can transform an area of a painting. One example is the large weeping tree in Jardin Rosado. It was built up with glazes to a rosy color through glazing. 

A glazing medium is needed, found in art stores or purchased online. The medium will have a white cast but will dry transparent with the acrylic color you mixed in on your painting surface. The type of acrylic paint you need is semi-opaque (that is what I used). You can always look in the back of the paint product for information. I have circled what you need to look for: 

I recommend student or artist grade paint

Check the label on the back of your acrylic paint

I started the painting by building the dimensions of lights and darks within the long-draping leaves. 

First step on painting the large tree

Pour out the amount you need to cover for your painting and slowly add a minor amount of acrylic paint (a little goes a long way).

Then, I added the first light glaze of pink over the tree with a large flat brush. You can see that the color is light and transparent. It doesn't give a "strong" change of color. That is why it's called a glaze of color. At this point, I didn't want to add more glazes. I loved it at this stage, but the scene was at sunset-time. I had to add more glazes on the tree for that sunset glow. 

First glaze layer over the tree

So, I continued by adding a few more layers and ended with a rosy tree that gave the impression of a "pink" golden hour. 

Multiple layers of glaze over the tree

I added pink within the other areas in the landscape, tying up the painting as a whole. 

The only con that I see in glazing is the gloss effect. It can create a gloss patch in areas you glaze over. If you get them photographed, the light will reflect in these areas. I found that although this happens, it is a technique worth using. You can varnish after two weeks to unify the whole painting to remove the glossy area, whether you choose matte, sheen, or unify it with gloss. 

If you have any questions, you can leave them down below. The two paintings I used this technique in large areas were Jardin Rosado (on the tree) and Atardecer al Lado del Lago (on the sky). Watch the painting process below or read about them by clicking the title names.

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