The hardest part about painting is often the prep work and cleanup work. Sometimes acrylic paints, if left uncovered, will coalesce and stop flowing. To free them up, you may be tempted to dilute it with water. And, water will dilute it and allow it to flow more freely.
But while adding water may make your paint easier to use it also affects the paint. Specifically, if you add too much water to an acrylic paint, it will cause the color to take on a washed out look. And, if that is the effect you are going for, then fine. Otherwise it is best to dilute the paint with a special medium that doesn't wash out the colr. These medium are produced by a few companies. They dilute the paint but leave the brightness of the colors alone.
When using acrylic paints, it is also important that you maintain your brushes and keep them in good shape. The paint brush is your main tool, and if you neglect it, it will become an unreliable tool and you will be forced to buy a new one.
When finished with your painting, it is best to clean it right away, before the paint has a chance to set and dry on the brush. Simply take a soft tissue and simply wipe the excess paint from the brush as well as the handle. Then, swish it around in water. Take it out, pat it dry with a rag or paper towel, and swish it again. Repeat this procedure until you have washed all of the paint from the brush.
There is one thing that you should never do with acrylic paintbrushes. And that is to place if in a glass of water with the bristles face downwards. You might think that doing so will make it easier to clean. And, while that is true, you will also end up ruining your brush. The best practice is to clean it as soon as you are done using it, and before it has dried. This will ensure that you get the most use out of it.
The way you care for your brush when not using it is important as well. So it makes a big difference how you store your bush. Many brushes come with a hole in the handle. This makes it easy to hang them on a nail and let them air dry. Alternatively, you can buy paintbrush holders that allow you to place your brushes with the handle down and the bristles facing upwards. Either way is ok. And, both are better than storing them flat.
It is also important that you don't use your acrylic paintbrush with other types of paints. If you want to expand your painting to oil or water colors, then buy brushes to specifically use with those mediums. Keeping separate brushes for separate mediums will ensure that they all last for a long time.
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