kiarazh asked: Hey! I really like your works!! I want to ask you something about the paints that you use for you painting if that's okay. I've noticed that you use cel vinyl acrylic for most of your paintings. Could you tell me the difference between cel vinyl acrylic and regular acrylic? why do you choose cel vinyl acrylic instead of regular acrylic? Thanks!

Working with cel-vinyl acrylic (aka Cartoon Color) is more similar to working with gouache than regular acrylic paint. It’s what BG painters used on HB, WB, Nick and CN cartoons and is the choice medium for many of my favorite contemporary artists.

Cel-vinyl is very opaque, self-leveling and dries to a matte finish. When working in my chosen style, all those traits are preferable over those of regular acrylic paint. Standard acrylic paint has a variety of opacities and sheen even across colors in the same set and is much thicker which can build up (in my case, unwanted) texture. Both dry permanent, but cel-vinyl can paint on various surfaces (plastic, wood, glass, etc) with similar durability to standard acrylic paint. The main disadvantage to cel-vinyl acrylic is that it appears slightly duller and generally can’t achieve the same deepness in its darks or vibrance in its pure hues as regular acrylic. The difference is fairly slight and can be counteracted by mixing in other acrylics.

To quote a far wiser and more talented artist, “It’s the best stuff on Earth!”

1 month ago  /  4 notes  / 

fiachrahackett asked: I love how you get those smooth flat slabs of colour which contrast to your textural tonal backgrounds, is this achieved through a certain technique (the smooth slabs of colour) or is it just due to the vinyl acrylic paint you use because i always have trouble getting smooth colour when using acrylic paint or gouache or ink. or is this due to the ground you use? or is there something really simple i'm not getting ?

The smooth, flat areas of color are a result of being deliberate with my paint. It’s slightly easier with cel vinyl acrylic, but can also be achieved with gouache if you’re careful. Just apply one or two layers (slightly watered down) of either of the aforementioned paints and be sure to use a big enough brush. A small brush will take too long, and could require 3 or 4 layers to cover the brush strokes. With gouache, you have to be careful not to lift the layer underneath, so the right amount of moisture is more critical (with practice). After each brush stroke, you’ll have to recharge the brush with paint. Not so with cel vinyl acrylic/cartoon color.

10 months ago  /  4 notes  / 

mrbsjames asked: love all the artwork you have posted

Thank you! Always happy to get positive feedback!

10 months ago  /  1 note  /