Learn how to dry brush using acrylic paint to create smooth transitions
Have you ever wanted to learn how to use acrylic paints to create beautiful illustrations? Many people have struggled using acrylics because they "do NOT behave like oils" or "they dry too fast.” In this video, Will Terry will show you step by step how to use the fast drying attributes of acrylics to your benefit. Dry brushing is one of the many techniques that artists have used to smoothly transition from warm colors to cool colors - dark to light. This video breaks down the materials you will need, the preparation of the surface, and the painting technique you can follow to achieve soft blending of your colors and values.
Will Terry has been teaching how to paint in acrylics for many years at UVU and BYU and brings his experience to svslearn.com. He began his career working exclusively in acrylics beginning in 1992 until he transitioned to digital in 2011. Working traditionally is sometimes easier to create "happy accidents" and will always generate an original. Art directors are always looking to a fresh style and working in a new medium can sometimes unlock new ideas waiting to be discovered.
In this class you will learn:
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What materials to avoid
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How to transfer your sketch
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How to maintain your sketch
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How to apply texture gel
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How to prepare a toned surface
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How to block in dark colors and values
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How to add local colors
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How to get the desired paint consistency
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How to dry brush
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How to add highlights
Materials needed:
Surface
Arches 140lb hot press (or heavier hot press) Liquitex heavy gel medium (or similar texture gel or gesso)
Brushes
Texture brush - Any midgrade 3-4” flat utility brush Winsor Newton Monarch flats 6, 8, 10, 12 Rigor brush
Paint
Professional grades such as Graham, Winsor Newton, Liquitex, or Grumbacher (avoid jars as they usually contain more water - I use tubes for heavy body)
Color list
- Titanium White -Click for link
- Ivory Black -Click for link
- Raw Sienna -Click for link
- Burnt Sienna -Click for link
- Red Oxide -Click for link
- Acra Violet -Click for link
- Dioxazine Purple -Click for link
- Phthalo Blue (red shade) -Click for link
- Phthalo Green -Click for link
- Cadmium Red -Click for link
- Cadmium Orange -Click for link
- Cadmium Yellow (light) -Click for link
Liquitex Professional Gloss Heavy Gel Medium, 16 ox- Click for link
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About the Instructor

Illustrator
Will Terry
Who should take this course:
This is an intermediate to advanced video. Experience generating a good drawing is important. Please refer to the following courses:
Course curriculum
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1
New Chapter
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Smooth Blends in Acrylics - dry brush technique
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Materials List
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Reviews
Highly Recommend This Video
Julie Seamon
I have been a decorative painter for fifteen years working with acrylics and after watching this video I can sincerely say that I have learned techniques tha...
Read MoreI have been a decorative painter for fifteen years working with acrylics and after watching this video I can sincerely say that I have learned techniques that I never imagined. Great instructional video!!!!
Read LessWill Is As Brilliant A Teacher As He Is An Artist
Larry Whitler
YES! This is very useful and one of the main reasons I signed up to SVS. Great job, Will. Thank you.
YES! This is very useful and one of the main reasons I signed up to SVS. Great job, Will. Thank you.
Read LessGreat show of process!
Tonje Clausen
Getting to sit down and watch Will Terry work was a fantastic experience. Not only is his teaching style clear and to the point - as shown by the fact that h...
Read MoreGetting to sit down and watch Will Terry work was a fantastic experience. Not only is his teaching style clear and to the point - as shown by the fact that he presents the whole thing in some sixty-odd minutes - but he's making sure to focus on what parts of the process are important and where and how you might stumble. I will probably replay the course again as inspiration as I'm painting. If there's one thing I do miss, it's some exercises for the students to do in their own time! There's the sketch if you want to try recreating the painting in question, but I just know Terry would give out some terrific homework. Maybe something to consider in the future! Still, as it is, five out of five. A well-spent time for sure!
Read LessExcellent
Amy Haid Spence
I found this video extremely helpful! I am an artist but new to acrylics and so it was really helpful to see how Will paints and he is an incredible teacher ...
Read MoreI found this video extremely helpful! I am an artist but new to acrylics and so it was really helpful to see how Will paints and he is an incredible teacher - very specific and includes hints that others might miss.......a big help!!
Read LessWhat a cool technique, learned some new stuff!
Leontine Gaasenbeek
Thanks for showing your process in this, its very helpful. Always struggled keeping my paint wet, now I have found a really good way! The painting looks real...
Read MoreThanks for showing your process in this, its very helpful. Always struggled keeping my paint wet, now I have found a really good way! The painting looks really appealing and I'll try and practice this for sure!
Read LessBig help dealing with acrylics
Hanna Kenakkala
Thank you for this course. I've been tackling acrylics and running into a lot of trouble with them. This course helped me to approach them using a dry brush ...
Read MoreThank you for this course. I've been tackling acrylics and running into a lot of trouble with them. This course helped me to approach them using a dry brush and I have always prefered this look in paintings and drawings.
Read LessInformative, insightful, actionable, fun!
Stephen Sloan
Instructor Will Terry explains his process in a very clear and engaging manner. I like that he puts a priority on the result over handling one's brushes wit...
Read MoreInstructor Will Terry explains his process in a very clear and engaging manner. I like that he puts a priority on the result over handling one's brushes with kid gloves. I liked knowing how long the final painting took. I think this kind of info is especially good for young, aspiring artists who can feel like a final result is impossible for them, because they don't realize what went into it and because they may tend to rush through a piece in one or two sittings. I would be very interested to see the same painting created digitally, and to hear Mr. Terry explain the time savings and differences vs. traditional, along with how he chooses to work in one or the other. If you are interested in painting in acrylics, this is a course you should definitely check out!
Read LessGreat Class for the beginning Acrylic painter
Greg Dugan
I thought it was well organized and gave a good basic overview of how to use the acrylic technique. I also thought the discussion on materials, set up, and w...
Read MoreI thought it was well organized and gave a good basic overview of how to use the acrylic technique. I also thought the discussion on materials, set up, and what to do when you make mistakes was very beneficial for a novice acrylic painter. I think a little more discussion on brushes, especially what quality you should be using, would be helpful since the technique abuses the brushes so much .
Read LessGreat tutorial!
Marta Drapiewska
Great presentation! Very useful and informative. One of the reasons I've subscribed! I love the way Will Terry paints and creates very smooth and soft look f...
Read MoreGreat presentation! Very useful and informative. One of the reasons I've subscribed! I love the way Will Terry paints and creates very smooth and soft look for his illustrations. I have only one suggestion that maybe next time you could place camera right above the painting cause that angled view made it slighty difficult to see the process. Will you make more dry brush techniques presentations in the future? Thanks! Marta
Read LessDry Brush Technique with Acrylics
Linda Ferrara
This is a great course. I really liked the process of building up the areas and I love the way the acrylics blended. I've not been able to make them blend ...
Read MoreThis is a great course. I really liked the process of building up the areas and I love the way the acrylics blended. I've not been able to make them blend well, but I think this technique is the answer. Thanks for the video! Linda Ferrara
Read Less