| How to Become a Professional Dog Walker Posted: 18 May 2021 01:00 AM PDT What's better than getting paid to hang out with dogs all day? If you're interested in becoming a professional dog walker, you've chosen a growing industry to pursue. While it's fairly easy to get started in this business, doing it full-time requires commitment, motivation, and flexibility. Looking after other people's dogs may sound like a big responsibility—and it is—but it can be a rewarding job if you value fresh air and you enjoy caring for animals. Read on to learn more about what it takes to get started as a professional dog walker! [Edit]Do you need any qualifications to be a dog walker? - Not really, but it helps to know a fair bit about dog behavior. So long as you're 18 and you have a high school degree, you're qualified to get started as a dog walker. With that said, you'll likely find dog walking a lot easier if you have experience working with dogs. You'll also have a leg up on the competition if you're quick on your feet, motivated, and able to follow instructions to the letter.[1]
- Having some familiarity with different dog breeds and their tendencies helps as well. If you don't know anything about dog breeds, hop online and read up on how the most popular breeds tend to behave.
- If you have no experience with dogs and you're worried about this, start with an app. A lot of the freelance dog walking apps, such as Rover and Wag, will have you complete a short training course before you can start working with clients.[2]
- It helps to have good communication skills and punctuality. Dog walkers need to travel between appointments, so timeliness and punctuality are especially important; dog owners don't want to worry about their pooch waiting around to use the bathroom or get out. You'll also need to update owners on how your dog walks go and articulate potential concerns or problems, so you'll have an advantage in this business if you're communicative and well-spoken.[3]
- You may need to get a permit eventually, depending on where you live. Many major cities require dog walkers to have permits if they work a certain number of hours, or work as a dog walker for a specific number of years. You probably don't need to worry about this if you're just starting out, but it's worth contacting your local government to see if anything like this applies to you.[4]
- There are certifications you can get for dog walking, notably from Pet Sitters International and National Association of Pet Sitters, but unless you're a full-time dog walker looking to run your own business, it probably isn't worth your time yet.[5]
[Edit]How much does a professional dog walker make? - You'll probably make around $10-20 an hour if you use an app. It's going to be hard to find clients if you don't have a ton of experience, so you'll probably want to start out using a freelance app, like Rover or Wag. You're likely going to earn $10-20 an hour most of the time, but if you work during peak hours in a city with a lot of dog owners (like San Francisco, or Chicago), you can earn much more.[6]
- These apps function basically the same way as Uber. You sign up, create a profile, and then you're paired up with dogs near you who need a walk that day.
- You can make $25-35 an hour if you strike out on your own. Starting a self-owned dog walking business will be more lucrative if you can maintain a steady client list. You'll need to file for a business license and get insurance if you go this route, but it's certainly worth the time and effort if you plan on doing this full-time![7]
- If you're just trying to walk dogs as a part-time gig to make some extra money, it probably won't be worth the time to create your own dog walking business just yet.
[Edit]Which dog walking service pays the most? - It depends where you live, but it's probably Rover. Rover is only available in the United States and Canada, but it's basically the king of dog walking apps. If you're motivated and you live in a high-demand area, you can earn more than $25 an hour using Rover.[8] They even offer insurance and benefits if you stick with them. You get to set your own rates, so competition can be tight, but more people use Rover than the other apps out there.[9] There are a few other options, though.
- Wag pays out roughly $15-17 on average. You don't get to set your own price, but a lot of walkers like Wag over Rover because it's a little more laid back and you're able to advertise grooming and pet sitting services as well.[10]
- PetBacker is another option. The pay varies dramatically based on the services you provide, and you can make some extra cash by offering grooming or pet-sitting services. On average, you can expect to earn $13-16 an hour.
- BarklyPets lets you totally set your own rates and hours, but you do need to pay a membership fee if you make over $100 a month through their app.
- Care is another choice, and you'll probably earn around $11 an hour with them. You can basically work as much or as little as you want on this app with no up- or down-sides. It's a good option if you're only doing this part-time.
[Edit]How do I become a dog walker with no experience? - If you have no experience, start out by joining an app. Rover and Wag, for example, will start you off with some basic training on what it takes to walk dogs safely. This should give you the introductory information you need to start out. The other thing you can do is use an app that allows you to set your own price, like Wag or BarklyPets, and keep your price lower than the competition to get some experience.[11]
- Once you've developed a sense for how dogs react to certain situations, express themselves, and respond to you, you'll feel a lot more comfortable. Don't worry about your lack of experience!
- You can offer your services to friends and family to start. If you're brand new to dog walking, ask your friends and family members if they'd be willing to give you a shot. This is a great way to learn how to put a harness and leash on a dog, take them on a walk, and clean up after them. Once you've got some experience, you can download one of the dog walking apps and get started![12]
[Edit]Is there demand for dog walkers? - It's a growing industry, and the demand is extremely high in cities. People are spending more and more money on their pets these days, and 3/4 of households in the United States have a pet![13] As a result, there are a lot of dogs out there that need to be walked, and there's a growing need for dog walkers, especially in dense areas where dogs don't have access to a yard.[14]
- The more rural the area, the lower the demand for dog walkers will be.[15] It's also going to be harder to make a lot of money as a dog walker if you're in a suburb or rural area. If you're in a city, you can walk or bike from pet to pet and fit in more appointments in a shorter period of time. You can't do that easily outside of a city.[16]
[Edit]Can I start a dog walking business? - Yes; if you want to do it full-time, this is a great idea. You can make a lot more money operating your own dog walking business—even if you're the only dog walker at your business! However, it helps to build your resume up and get some experience working with dogs first. This means you're probably better off starting as a dog walker through an app.[17]
- You do need to get insurance and file your business officially. Look up your local laws to see what the requirements are for starting a dog-walking business. You'll need to file a business license with your city or state, and purchase liability insurance. You'll also need to create a website, develop a brand, and market your services to the public with flyers and advertisements. It can take a bit of time to get things started, but the rewards are going to worth it![18]
- At first, you'll probably start out as an owner-operator. If the demand is there and your brand gets some momentum, you can start expanding by hiring employees so that you can focus on growth and development.[19]
- Some cities and states require specific permits for operating a dog walking business. It's really important to look up the requirements where you live, since they vary from region to region.[20]
- If you're successful, committed, and you live in an area with high demand, you may be able to make over $100,000 a year running your own dog walking business![21]
[Edit]How many dogs can a dog walker walk at one time? - You'll normally walk 1 at a time, but at most it should be around 4. The stereotype of the dog walker heading down the busy street with 14 dogs in tow isn't really reflective of reality. If you're using an app, you're almost always going to walk 1 dog at a time. If the client has more than 1 dog, you may take them out together. If you're working on your own, try not to take more than 4 dogs out at once. It can be stressful for the dogs to be around a bunch of pups they don't know.[22]
- It can also be dangerous to walk too many dogs. They may bite one another, or you may accidentally drop a leash if you're carrying too many of them. As a dog walker, your primary goal is to keep the dog safe, so don't plan on trying to take more than 4 dogs out at a time.
- If you have a choice, always opt to walk 1 dog at a time (2 at most). It may not sound like much, but 4 dogs is going to be a handful, especially if you're new to dog walking.
[Edit]What does every dog walker need? - A spare leash, backup phone battery, and plenty of poop bags. Put a dog-walking bag together with the supplies you know you'll always need. You're always going to need sanitary wipes, a spare leash, gloves, and dog treats (if the owners are cool with them). Keep a stack of biodegradable poop bags with you at all times, and pack an extra towel in case a dog decides to walk in something messy.[23]
- A collapsible umbrella that will fit in your bag is going to be a good investment. Dogs still need to get walked on rainy days, and you're more likely to get last-minute bookings on days with poor weather when owners get held up at work.
[Edit]What problems might a dog walker encounter? - Difficult dogs, leash tugging, and strangers are common issues. Some dogs have been traumatized and will react strangely to seemingly everyday situations, so talk to the owners before walking their pup to learn anything you might need to know. Leash tugging and leash aggression may be common issues as well. You also never know how a dog is going to react to strangers trying to pet them, so you may have some unpleasant conversations when someone asks to pet the dog and you have to say "no."[24]
- Some dogs are totally fine with strangers, and the owners won't care if you let folks pet their dog. Still, you may encounter people telling you to keep the dog off of their lawn, or lash out if they don't see you picking poop up fast enough.
- When it comes to leash tugging and aggression, there's always a learning period. Try to figure out what works for each dog as an individual. The goal is always to use positive reinforcement to get the pup to relax while they're leashed so that the two of you can walk together with some slack in the leash.[25]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Improve Mental Math Skills Posted: 17 May 2021 05:00 PM PDT Eventually, you'll find yourself in a situation where you'll have to solve a math problem without a calculator. Trying to imagine a pen and paper in your head often doesn't help much. Fortunately there are faster and easier ways to do calculations in your head—and they often break down a problem in a way that makes more sense than what you learned in school. Whether you're a stressed-out student or a math wizard looking for even faster tricks, there's something for everyone to learn. [Edit]Break addition and subtraction problems into parts. - Add the hundreds, tens, and ones places separately. Treat each group as a separate problem:
- 712 + 281 → "700 + 200," "10 + 80," and "2 + 1"
- 700 + 200 = 900, then 10 + 80 = 90, then 2 + 1 = 3
- 900 + 90 + 3 = 993.
- Thinking in "hundreds" or "tens" instead of single digits will make it easier to keep track when digits sum to more than ten. For example, for 37 + 45, think "30 + 40 = 70" and "7 + 5 = 12". Then add 70 + 12 to get 82.
[Edit]Change the problem to make round numbers. - Adjust to get round numbers, then correct after the problem is done. Round numbers are much faster for most of us to work with. Keep a mental note of the changes you made so you can adjust to get the exact answer at the end.[1] For example:
- ': For 596 + 380, realize that you can add 4 to 596 to round it to 600, then add 600 + 380 to get 980. Undo the rounding by subtracting 4 from 980 to get 976.
- ': For 815 - 521, break it up into 800 - 500, 10 - 20, and 5 - 1. To turn the awkward "10 - 20" into "20 - 20", add 10 to 815 to get 825. Now solve to get 304, then undo the rounding by subtracting 10 to get 294.
- ': For 38 x 3, you can add 2 to 38 to make the problem 40 x 3, which is 120. Since the 2 you added got multiplied by three, you need to undo the rounding by subtracting 2 x 3 = 6 at the end to get 120 - 6 = 114.
[Edit]Learn to add many numbers at once. - Reorder the numbers to make convenient sums. An addition problem is the same no matter what order you solve it in. Look for numbers that add up to 10 or other nice, round numbers:
- For example, 7 + 4 + 9 + 13 + 6 + 51 can be reorganized to (7 + 13) + (9 + 51) + (6 + 4) = 20 + 60 + 10 = 90.
[Edit]Multiply from left to right. - Keep track of the hundreds, tens, and ones places. On paper, most people multiply the ones place first, going from right to left. But in your head, it's easier to go the other way:
- For 453 x 4, start with 400 x 4 = 1600, then 50 x 4 = 200, then 3 x 4 = 12. Add them all together to get 1812.
- If both numbers have more than one digit, you can break it into parts. Each digit has to multiply with each other digit, so it can be tough to keep track of it all. 34 x 12 = + , which you can break down further into + = 300 + 40 + 60 + 8 = 408.
[Edit]Try a fast multiplication trick best for numbers 11 through 19. - Try this method of turning one hard problem into two easier ones. This is another way of breaking a problem into parts. It can be a little tricky to remember at first, but once you have it down it can make multiplication much faster. This is easiest when multiplying two numbers that are both in the range of 11 to 19, but you can learn to use it for other problems:[2]
- Let's look at numbers close to 10, like 13 x 15. Subtract 10 from the second number, then add your answer to the first: 15 - 10 = 5, and 13 + 5 = 18.
- Multiply your answer by ten: 18 x 10 = 180.
- Next, subtract ten from both sides and multiply the results: 3 x 5 = 15.
- Add your two answers together to get the final answer: 180 + 15 = 195.
- Careful with smaller numbers! For 13 x 8, you start with "8 - 10 = -2", then "13 + -2 = 11". If it's hard to work with negative numbers in your head, try a different method for problems like this.
- For larger numbers, it will be easier to use a "base number" like 20 or 30 instead of 10. If you try this, make sure you use that number everywhere that 10 is used above.[3] For example, for 21 x 24, you start by adding 21 + 4 to get 25. Now multiply 25 by 20 (instead of ten) to get 500, and add 1 x 4 = 4 to get 504.
[Edit]Simplify problems with numbers ending in zero. - If the numbers end in zeroes, you can ignore them until the end:
- If all numbers have zeroes at the end, you can ignore the zeroes they have in common and restore them at the end. 85 + 12 → 85 + 12 = 97, then restore the shared zero: 97.
- works the same way: 10 - 7 → 10 - 7 = 3, then restore the two shared zeroes to get 3. Notice that you can only remove the two zeroes the numbers have in common, and must keep the third zero in 1000.
- ignore all the zeroes, then restore each one individually. 3 x 5 → 3 x 5 = 15, then restore all four zeroes to get 15,.
- you can remove all shared zeroes and the answer will be the same. 60, ÷ 12, = 60 ÷ 12 = 5. Don't add any zeroes back on.
[Edit]Easily multiply by 4, 5, 8, or 16. - You can convert these problems so they only use 2s and 10s. Here's how:
- To multiply by 5, instead multiply by 10, then divide by 2.
- To multiply by 4, instead double the number, then double it again.
- For 8, 16, 32, or even higher powers of two, just keep doubling. For example, 13 x 8 = 13 x 2 x 2 x 2, so double 13 three times: 13 → 26 → 52 → 104.
[Edit]Memorize the 11s trick. - You can multiply a two-digit number by 11 with barely any math. Add the two digits together, then put the result in between the original digits:[4]
- What is x 11?
- Add the two digits together: + = 9.
- Put the answer in between the original digits: x 11 = 9.
- If the sum is more than 10, place only the final digit and carry the one: x 11 = 2, because 5 + 7 = 12. The 2 goes in the middle and the 1 gets added to the 5 to make 6.
[Edit]Turn percentages into easier problems. - Know which percentages are easier to calculate in your head. There are a couple useful tricks to know:[5]
- 79% of 10 is the same as 10% of 79. This is true of any two numbers. If you can't find the answer to a percentage problem, try switching it around.
- To find 10% of a number, move the decimal one place to the left (10% of 65 is 6.5). To find 1% of a number, move the decimal two places to the left (1% of 65 is 0.65).
- Use these rules for 10% and 1% to help you with more difficult percentages. For example, 5% is ½ of 10%, so 5% of 80 = (10% of 80) x ½ = 8 x ½ = 4.
- Break percentages into easier parts: 30% of 900 = (10% of 900) x 3 = 90 x 3 = 270.
[Edit]Memorize advanced multiplication shortcuts for specific problems. - These tricks are powerful, but narrow. They can turn a seemingly impossible mental math task into a quick task, but will only work on a very small percentage of problems. Learn these if you are already pretty good at mental math and want to approach "mathemagician" levels of speed:
- For problems like 84 x 86, where the tens place is the same and the ones place digits sum to exactly 10, the first digits of the answer are (8 + 1) x 8 = 72 and the last digits are 4 x 6 = 24, for an answer of 7224. That is, for a problem AB x AC, if B + C = 10, the answer starts with A(A+1) and ends with BC. This also works for larger numbers if all digits besides the ones place are identical.[6]
- You can rewrite the powers of five (5, 25, 125, 625, ...) as powers of 10 divided by an integer (10 / 2, 100 / 4, 1000 / 8, 10000 / 16, ...).[7] So 88 x 125 becomes 88 x 1000 ÷ 8 = 88000 ÷ 8 = 11000.
[Edit]Memorize squares charts. - Squares charts give you a new way to multiply. Memorizing your multiplication tables from 1 to 9 makes single-digit multiplication automatic. But for larger numbers, instead of trying to memorize hundreds of answers, it's more efficient to memorize just the squares instead (each number times itself). With a little extra work, you can use these squares to find the answer to other problems:[8]
- Memorize the squares from 1 to 20 (or higher, if you're ambitious). (That is, 1 x 1 = 1; 2 x 2 = 4; 3 x 3 = 9, and so on.)
- To multiply two numbers, first find their average (the number exactly between them). For example, the average of 18 and 14 is 16.
- Square this answer. Once you've memorized the squares chart, you'll know that 16 x 16 is 256.
- Next, look at the difference between the original numbers and their average: 18 - 16 = 2. (Always use a positive number here.)
- Square this number as well: 2 x 2 = 4.
- To get your final answer, take the first square and subtract the second: 256 - 4 = 252.
[Edit]Find useful ways to practice your mental math. - Daily practice will make a huge difference.[9] If you want to increase your confidence and speed at mental math, make an effort to use those skills at least two or three times a day. These suggestions can help you make this practice more effective:
- Flashcards are great for memorizing multiplication and division tables, or for getting used to tricks for specific kinds of problems. Write the problem on one side and the answer on the other, and quiz yourself daily until you get them all right.
- Online math quizzes are another way to test your ability. Look for a well-reviewed app or website made by an educational program.
- Practice in everyday situations. You could add together the total of items you buy as you shop, or multiply the gas cost per volume by your car's tank size to find the total cost. The more of a habit this becomes, the easier it will be.
- In the real world, you don't always need to know the exact answer. If you're at the grocery store and trying to add 7.07 + 8.95 + 10.09, you could round to the closest whole numbers and estimate that the total is roughly 7 + 9 + 10 = 26.
- Some people find it easier to think in money than abstract numbers. Instead of 100 - 55, try thinking of a dollar minus a 50¢ coin and a 5¢ coin.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Paint With Acrylics Posted: 17 May 2021 09:00 AM PDT If you're feeling artistic, acrylic paint is a great medium to work with. It's really versatile—you can use it to paint a variety of surfaces, and it's easy to create a lot of different textures and effects. It also dries quickly, so you don't have to wait as long between layers as you would if you were using oil paint. However, you do have to be careful that the paint doesn't dry out while you're working with it. If you're ready to create your next masterpiece, we're here to answer your most important questions about working with acrylic paint! [Edit]How do you set up an acrylic paint palette? - Pick 4-6 colors and squeeze a small amount of each onto a palette. When it comes to acrylic paint, a little goes a long way, so only squeeze out a small dollop of each color to begin with. That way, the colors won't dry out before you use them, and you'll have plenty left in the tube to add more when you need it. Space out the colors around the perimeter of the palette. That way, you can use the center of the palette for mixing different shades.[1]
- Try starting with the 3 primary colors—red, blue, and yellow—plus black and white.[2] Or, if you prefer a more natural palette, you might start with white, yellow, red, brown, and blue.[3]
- If the paint is in a jar, scoop out a small amount with a palette knife.
[Edit]Can you mix acrylic paint to get new colors? - Yes, blend paints on your palette to get new hues. It's rare for painters to use an acrylic color as-is, straight from the tube. To fine-tune your color selection, pull 2 dabs of different colors to the center of your palette, and mix them with a knife or brush. This will help you create rich hues to give your painting a personalized look.[4]
- Lighten a color without changing its opacity by mixing it with a little white paint.[5] Similarly, make your color darker by mixing it with dark blue or brown paint.[6]
- Try looking at a color wheel while you're working. For example, if you look at a color wheel, you'll see that mixing red and yellow will give you a bright orange.[7]
- Work quickly as you're mixing paints, since acrylic paints dry out quickly.[8]
[Edit]How do you keep acrylic paint from drying out? - Mist your palette every 10-15 minutes while you paint. Fill a small spray bottle with water and keep it close at hand. About every 10-15 minutes or so, spritz the water over the paint that's on the palette. This should help prevent the paint from hardening while you're working.[9]
- If the paint dries in your palette, add more of the same color on top of it. If the dried paint is too built up, you can also scrape it out to get a fresh start.
- Use a stay-wet palette to keep the paint wet longer. You can either purchase a stay-wet palette, or you can make your own by stacking together about 6-10 sheets of paper towels. Soak the paper towels thoroughly, then place them in a tray and put the paint directly onto the paper towels.[10]
[Edit]What is the best canvas for acrylic paint? - Choose a primed, stretched canvas for a simple option. If you're a beginning painter, canvas will be your go-to painting surface. The easiest way to buy canvas is to purchase one that's already stretched over a wooden frame. These are often primed in advance, as well.[11]
- Go with unprimed, unstretched canvas to save money. Unstretched canvases are typically sold as fabric wound on a large roll. You'll need to stretch the canvas tightly and nail it to a wooden frame.[12] Then, paint a layer of gesso on the canvas and allow it to dry before you begin painting.[13]
- Opt for a thick watercolor paper if you'd like to use watered-down acrylic. If you like the watercolor look but prefer to use acrylic paint, try painting on art paper that's at least 300 lb. weight. Since art paper is cheaper than canvas, this can be a good way to experiment with acrylics.[14]
- Keep in mind that paper will absorb some of the paint, so your finished work won't be as vivid as it would if you used a non-porous surface like primed canvas or wood.
- If you use thinner paper, it will wrinkle or warp, and it may tear.
[Edit]What brushes should you use for acrylic paint? - Use large, flat brushes to outline the shapes of your subject. When you're starting an acrylic painting, start by creating the rough shapes of the objects in your picture. For example, if you're painting a scenic mountain view, begin by outlining the bold contours of the mountain peaks.[15]
- If you have a large background area, you may want to put down the base color after you paint your outlines. Then, fill in any details later in the process.
- You might find it helpful to work with opaque acrylic colors while painting outlines—typically, this will be color straight from the tube. Then, when you're detailing the painting, work with more transparent colors, or paint that's been thinned with water or a thinning medium.
- Use smaller brushes to add details to your painting. Once you've completed the major shapes of your painting, pick up your smaller detail brushes. Use these to add touches of detail, like fine lines or texture. Try out a variety of fine-tipped brushes to create different sized lines and visual effects on your canvas.[16]
- For example, once you've contoured the large mountain peaks, use smaller, more pointed brushes for filling in details like individual trees, a lake, or campers on the shore.
- Experiment with brush shapes to create different effects. The shape of the brush will have a big impact on how the paint looks when you apply it to the canvas. Try keeping a variety of brushes on hand so you can easily add variety and detail. For example, you might use:[17]
- Round brushes for lines and detail work
- Flat brushes for making big, bold strokes and filling in large spaces
- Fan brushes for blending and feathering
- Angular flat brushes for filling in corners and fine details
[Edit]Do you wet the brush before using acrylic paint? - Use a wet brush to get even coverage on your canvas. Most of the time, you'll use a wet brush to work with acrylic paint. This will allow the brush to glide evenly over the surface of the canvas, so the paint will evenly coat the background. This is especially helpful when you're painting a large area or shadowy backgrounds, but you should wet the brush any time you want a solid color on the canvas.[18]
- Try a dry brush to add more texture and detail work to the painting. If the brush is dry, it will skip a little when you run it across the surface of your painting. This will give the paint a grainy look, so it's great for areas where you want to add a little bit of texture or detail.[19]
- For instance, you might dry brush the ground in your painting to create the appearance of grass.
- If you're dry brushing, be sure to blot the brush dry thoroughly if you rinse it between colors.[20]
[Edit]How do you thin out acrylic paint? - Make the color more translucent by adding water. When applied straight from the tube, acrylic paints can look thick and opaque. Change the paint's opacity by adding more water to the paint that's on your palette. The more water you add to the paint, the more transparent the color will become.[21]
- When you're mixing acrylic paint with water, don't add more than about 20% water compared to the paint. If you use more than that, the binding agent that makes the paint stick to the surface might fail, causing the paint to peel off once it's dry.
- Thin out acrylics with glaze or paste to change the texture of the paint. If you only use straight acrylic paint on a canvas, the entire painting will have a bland, uniform texture. Thinning out the acrylics with mix-ins will vary the visual textures. So, mix in other mediums, such as glaze or texture paste, when thinning the acrylic. In general, thinning out your acrylic paint will give it a liquid, watery look once it's dried.[22]
- Glazes will give the dried paint a satiny color and a bright, shiny texture.
- Texture pastes add a rough, chunky texture to the paint, but may dampen the color a bit after drying.
- Don't use more than about 30% of your chosen medium, or else the paint might not coat the surface of your canvas.
[Edit]How do you blend acrylic paint on the canvas? - Paint a line of one color, then a line of another, and blend with your brush. Place the two lines so that one is just above the other. Then, swipe your brush back and forth along the lines, working up and down as you go. This will create a smooth gradient so the colors look like they're blended into each other.[23]
- You'll get the smoothest transition if both of the colors are wet while you're working. However, if you want a more textured look, lay down the darker color, let it dry, then brush the lighter color over it.
[Edit]Can you layer acrylic paints? - Yes, work in layers to create texture and dimension. When you're working with acrylic paints, it's best to work in layers. This will allow you to create dimension, like creating shadows and highlights in a tree by using varying shades of green.[24]
- Leave enough time for each layer of paint to dry before you paint another layer over it. Thin layers will dry in about 30 minutes, while thick layers will take over 1 hour to dry.
- Add dark colors and broad shapes, then move to light colors and detail. When you start painting, lay down your outlines, large shapes, and any shadowy areas first. Use the darkest colors that you've laid out on your palette. Then, as you add each new layer, gradually lighten the colors, adding detail, texture, and highlights.[25]
- Acrylic paints don't mix once they've dried. If you start painting with the lightest colors first, then go over them with darker colors, the darker colors will just cover up the lighter paint—they won't become lighter.
- This is just a general rule—sometimes if you add too much highlight, you may need to go in and fill in a little detail with a darker color. That's totally fine!
- If you're used to working with watercolors, you'll notice that this is the opposite of that process, where you always work from lightest to darkest.
[Edit]How do you create texture with acrylic paint? - Splatter paint with a wet brush to make thick chunks of color. Dip a paintbrush or toothbrush into water and then coat the bristles with paint. Hold the brush firmly in one hand, then strike the brush right below the bristles with the other hand. The paint will fly off in thick clots and stick to the canvas.[26]
- Splattering is a great technique to use if you're making an abstract art piece. Or, try splattering to add texture to your painting.
- Try holding the brush about from the canvas to control the spatter area. You can also use masking tape to block off any areas you don't want splattered.
- Create a stipple effect by dotting the paint on the canvas. To stipple, coat the bristles of a paintbrush in paint, then tap the tip of the paintbrush gently against the canvas to create a feathered, dotted effect. This would work well for painting birds or animals, or to bring a feathery texture into an abstract work.[27]
- When you're stippling, never slide the bristles along the canvas. This will smear the stipples together and ruin the effect.
- You can also dip a sponge in paint, then dab the sponge lightly on the canvas to create a bubbly effect.
[Edit]How do you get perfect lines when you paint with acrylics? - Lay a piece of masking tape on the canvas to make hard edges. Masking tape can be used like painters use painter's tape when outlining the edge of a ceiling, for example. Apply masking tape directly to the canvas, or to already dried paint without damaging it. Simply press the tape down so that no paint can escape under its surface and bleed underneath. Then, after you've painted your hard edge, remove the masking tape to reveal your perfectly straight line.[28]
- This technique would work well for the sharp sides of a mountain peak or the clean lines of a building.
[Edit]How do you clean acrylic paints off a palette? - Let the used paints dry before disposing of them in the trash. Do not wash your color palette, since the acrylic paint might clog your pipes. Instead, use a plastic tray as a color palette, and let the leftover paint dry after you're finished using it. Then, peel the paint off from the tray when it's completely dried.[29]
- You could also just apply new, wet paint directly over the dried paints. It's best to use the same color as the dried paint—the colors won't mix once the paint is dry, but it might be hard to see exactly what color you're using if you layer different colors over the dried paint.
- If the paints are still very wet, you might be able to just wipe them out of the palette with a damp paper towel.[30]
- Rinse the paint off your brush before switching colors so your painting doesn't get muddied.
- Acrylic paint is great for a variety of different surfaces, so use your imagination! For instance, you might try painting on wood, rock, glass, metal, or ceramic.[31]
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