Acrylic Paint Effects with Cheryl
By Cheryl O
About the Artist
A self-taught artist and art instructor in Ontario, Canada, I paint using acrylic, watercolour, oil (W&N Artisan), and collage. Experimenting with new techniques always delights me. My next creative project is to make art instructional videos that could be sold on the internet - a huge learning curve for me! Having purchased the basics, including video editing software, you are looking at my first completed attempt to film myself and put it together on my computer. I hope you enjoy it!
About the technique
In this video, I try to use the flow of colour to full creative advantage. A pre-coated canvas allows for more flow and brilliance of colour since the paint stays on the surface rather than absorbing in. Letting go of total control of the paint sparks the creative mode and exciting things can happen. Also shown on some of the paintings is a thick coat of acrylic medium which adds further brilliance to the colour. These are just some of many 'wet and wild' techniques that I love exploring.
Comments (71)
What a fantastic video from a fantastic teacher. Your "wet and wild" is truly inspirational!
I thought the video was awesome. I can hardly wait to try that technique. Very easy to follow Cheryl's instructions and so well presented.
This video made me want to run right out and buy some acrylic paints(which I don't usually use). It's clear, easy to understand, and best of all-motivating!!
Hi Cheryl! GREAT video. boy you are really doing wonderful things. Then only thing i would also like to see is some paint strokes of you doing the subject with the firmer paint - like the bird and the thick outline on your shell. I know you can't show the entire process but just a couple seconds on that would be cool. Love it.
Cheryl has inspired me to just relax with my paintings and in some cases just "to let it flow!" It's quite freeing as well to paint in this way as your creativity has no boundaries and you really can't make a mistake. Thanks for showing us all so well; it actually looks easy and so much fun!
HI Cheryl, your video is wonderful. First of all, I like the music. It is just right. The technique is easy to follow although it went by quickly. However, you reviewed everything at the end which compensated for it. The painting is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
A great first effort, Cheryl. As a novice, I might feel more confident to try it if you had overlaid your voice on another demonstration of creating the background and then even beginning the process of painting your subject. Just a thought from an outsider!
I found the technique to be easy to learn and apply to my painting skills.
The video was very imformative and showed me an easy way to get the effect I wish on my painting.
Certainly a very professional instruction to a very interesting technique. I like the demo and then a clear explanation after.
A very creative approach to starting a painting! Your examples were inspiring.
Excellent, entertaining and informative! Thank you Cheryl, looks like fun.
as a 5 year student of cheryl o's I have enjoyed her unique approach to the identification and examiniation the components of painting and how they relate to famed artists.her home assignments between classes reinforce the learning process
I am amazed at this technology! Well done, Cheryl and i simply adore the picture ... it makes me want to try the technique right now!
Hi Cheryl
I enjoyed the video. It was interesting, informative and I like the very colourful paintings!
Hey Cheryl, I knew you were an artist and I am glad to finally see your work. It is really great and I love the bold colors. Your video will do well for W&N. I found it very easy to follow and will give it a try myself! Thankyou
Cheryl has been a great inspiration in my artistic journey. Her lessons are clear and concise and she always leaves room for creativity. Looking forward to future video lessons! Great video, Cheryl!
Brilliant use of colour and technique. Love your presentation. Makes me want to go out and buy paints and flow colour on canvas. Thanks Cheryl
This was such a clear demo that I felt I could go right to my studio and try it out myself! It seems like a great way to combine the abstract and representational. Thanks for the inspiration, Cheryl!
Excellent video - I really love the way you find the subject in the flow of colours!
Hi Cheryl I loved the video information and the photography of your work with this technique in it. You made the process quite clear and showed the products fully. You are amazing.
Excellent video. I love the idea of an all over background. Can see how I will use this in my fibre artwork. thanks for sharing.
Cheryl wordlessly demonstrates her creative technique clearly and concisely. I am a visual learner.
this meant she has 1000% of my attention. I will be off to the art supply store with my materials list asap. It was great that Cheryl gave a verbal review of this 'pour and spray' technique after her visual presentation. Her examples are wonderful in the variety of styles and texture achieved. This lesson has just whetted my imagination for more lessons by this teacher artist.
I love this video Cheryl. Very easy to watch and it's great that you do a 'recap'. You know I love 'Wet and Wild'. I definitely am going to try this. You are always so encouraging and positive. I CAN DO THIS!
Fran Burton
An excellent presentation with just the right amount of information, demonstration and summation . You have introduced us to new products and enticed us to try a different technique. Both your results and obvious pleasure in the process are inspirational ! Keep up the good work.
great video and i love the technique, and the clear way it is presented. it does make one want to try it. But as a vehicle to promote Winsor & Newton Artists Acrylics and mediums it fails. every product she holds up is Galleria - so one thinks 'why am i going to waste my money spending more on artists acrylics if these are the results with the cheaper students range'.
great video. well done. but she is using galleria. thought this was a competition about Artists Acrylics..??
I wish I could see your demo painting in real life. Those vibrant background colours are gorgeous! I really appreciated the summary at the end of the video, as well. Thanks Cheryl!
Hi Cheryl,
You are as lovely in person as are your paintings! Thanks for all your interest and encouragements!
Always inspirational!! Great video, Cheryl - looking forward to more!
As a beginner artist and one who comes into the world of technology kicking and screaming, I was very sceptical about lessons online. This video is inspiring! I really enjoyed it and look forward to signing up for video lessons with you. Keep up the good work.
Hi Cheryl! I love your joyful, colourful paintings. As always, you inspire and encourage. I must get out my paints and try this technique! Thank you.
Dorothy Howley Novemer 7, 2011
A work of excellence as I've noticed in each painting you produce. Your artistry is awesome
Your teaching technique is second to none. The classes you teach are so informative and this video is just as relaxing and informative. It makes me wish I had more time to enjoy with you. Good luck!
excellent demonstration and the coaching on which products work well is really helpful too!
I love how relaxed and "yourself" you are; it's an effective teaching style!
This video has been well planned, presented in a professional manner and was informative. It answered a question I had about using this technique and made it easy for me to put it into practice. Thank you for that. I also think your paintings are awesome by the way.
I'm so happy that so many of you want to try the technique - have fun! Courtney & Allison, about the Galleria series paint, W&N is unusual in that they use only highly permanent pigments in that grade of paint as well as their artists' grade. (Single exception: "Opera Rose" - I don't buy that one.) You are right to avoid student grade from other manufacturers, since it can fade or change horribly. Not so with Galleria paint. So, if I have a large canvas to pour paint onto, it makes sense to pick up the Galleria and save some $'s. I would recommend switching to artist grade pigments when putting the thicker paint on top of the poured layer. The artist grade gives you a larger colour range and higher pigment load. Hope this is helpful.
The vidio was presented very clearly by cheryl and was easily understood. It was excellent.
Lots of info and I can go back to review as needed.
Gives me the incentive to pick up my brushes.
The worlds best acrylic paint .
I enjoy W & N s watercolors toooo.
Thank you for this great video. You are such a natural mentor. You make art look easy, breezy but best of all you keep it fun.
Cheryl all of these paintings are a real inspiration for myself to try these techniques out, great video, thanks for posting, love looking forward to wht comes next,
Cheryl all of these paintings are a real inspiration for myself to try these techniques out, great video, thanks for posting, love looking forward to wht comes next,
i tried this technique now several times recently and have found it to be quite interesting - as the colours and shapes emerge, so does the painting! Thanks for sharing it so clearly Cheryl!
Cheryl, I love this video, so well explained and a lot of great info in one small video, I think this a reference I would pull up quite often, for inspiration, and because I love your work.
Very entertaining and clear instruction. Only question I would like to ask is, do you keep the canvas flat or is tipping it around part of the technique? Obviously one does as inspired but just interested as to how you did this.
Cheryl captures the simplicity of a scene quickly and conveys it well to those who view it. Ir is a ministry, of sorts, to many who draw a deeper message for themselves from the painting, I personally sense..
Loved your video on the Four Horses on your
site. Your mastery of the video as instructional is
amazing. My viewing of this art piece in the
Aeolian Hall show has all the "how did she so this?" questions answered...well almost answered...
Now just have to buy more supplies to see what
I come up with. Better still what the rest of us students generate...maybe another all Cheryl's students show ?
This demonstration is very clear and easy to follow. I appreciate the visual - the artist shows how it's done, and then follows up with audio instructions. I'd like to see more of Cheryl's demonstrations on the web.
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