Learn to paint with acrylics and watercolor with Charles Harrington

Join Charles Harrington in Acrylic Landscapes, the Watercolor Way and learn how to capitalize on the unique advantages of acrylics including the ability to layer opaque, translucent and transparent effects. See how he combines the subtle color shifts and luminosity of watercolor with the durability of acrylics. [continued…]

Acrylic Landscapes, The Watercolor Way

Charles Harrington AWS DF, ISAP draws on the best features of both acrylic and watercolor in his acrylic landscape painting workshop. He achieves the subtle color shifts and luminous transparency of watercolor while attaining the durability of acrylic. He also introduces tools and techniques perfected over years as an architect.

At home in the Ozarks, Charles introduces his portable plein air kit and paints a study that will serve as his reference in the studio. Back indoors, Charles works in the watercolorist's style. He uses light preliminary washes and thin layers of pigment, allowing him to vary colors at every stage. Charles modifies his larger painting from his original plein air reference to achieve stronger design and value balance.

Charles also harnesses acrylics unique ability to layer opaque, translucent and transparent passages harmoniously. He mixes sparingly on his palette and heavily on the paper to create complicated blends and avoid flat, dull grays. He uses a spray bottle, splattering and active brushwork to break up large shapes and create lifelike texture.

Discover an alternative to watercolor and capitalize on the unique advantages of acrylics with Charles Harrington in Acrylic Landscapes, the Watercolor Way.

DVD Review by Adele Greenfield

This is truly the best of both worlds. Here the versatile acrylic paints are used for their transparent qualities so the painting looks like a fresh, vibrant watercolor. However, you’ll also see some things that can only be done with acrylics such as incorporating white gesso and applying a wash over a wash without worrying about the paint underneath. Combining transparent, translucent, and opaque with acrylics usually looks better than if you do it with watercolor alone.

read the full review (pdf.60kb).