P3: Acrylic Paint

Section 1: Inquiry Question and Concept Exploration

Explanation of the guiding question or concept

Inquiry Statement: How can I use color, shape, and line to transform a flat surface into a dynamic, three-dimensional form?

Inquiry Writing: I can use color, shape, and line to transform a flat surface into a dynamic, three-dimensional form by experimenting with color combinations and exploring new forms. The different mix of colors affected my painting by giving it more life, and adding a pop of color between dark and similar colors made that specific place stand out. (56 words)

Pop of colors: Example in my painting

The red, positioned between the dark colors, makes it stand out. (11 words)

Section 2: Connections

Cultural, historical, and artistic influences with critical evaluation.

Sari Shryack

I chose this artwork because I found it a really interesting still life painting from an image. I find the vibrant colors and details in the painting to be really good, with a tropical, summer vibe that I like. I love how acrylic paint allows for the incorporation of so much detail into the artwork, and how the vibrant colors play a significant role in the work. (67 words)

Citation from artist: "I wanted to paint a late summer in Texas themed still life, which is why I included watermelon and prickly pear in the composition 🍉 No such still life would be complete without a Topo Chico and it’s beautiful icy blue-green bottle 🧊Texas wouldn’t be Texas without the foods, traditions, and influences we’ve borrowed and learned from Mexico, a richness I’m always grateful to celebrate.

Late Summer Still Life

11x14”

Acrylic on board"

Section 3: Investigate

Visual evidence of material tests, alternate compositions, sketches.

"Acrylic Painting Crash Course" video notes:

Acrylics dry faster, which makes artists paint faster
Cadmium Yellow Light, Ultramarine Blue, and Quinacridone Red are the primary colors of Limited Palette 1.
When choosing primary colors;
- What colors are going to go with the tones I choose
- What colors will mix accurately to create the color I want to use
Titanium black and white
Phthalo Green + Red makes a good black for the artist in the video.
Fluid acrylics: washes and glazes
Heavy acrylic:
Binder in the paint, pigment in the paint
Not all paint is created the same; not all paints are made the same. They are thicker, more fluid, different levels of pigment
More expensive paint will likely be denser, containing a higher concentration of pigment.
Gesso is an acrylic primer that prepares the surface for painting.
Depending on the surface, the texture is different, which in turn affects the painting. Some artists like the texture, and some artists prefer a smoother texture
Get synthetic brushes: natural paint brushes get clumpy and won't work as well as synthetic brushes
The paint can also be affected by how wet it is or how dry the brush is
Color theory: it's all about mixing colors
Many mixtures of colors
You can make a small canvas of many, many different combinations, and in the back, put the three primary colors you used for the whole canvas
Complementary colors: Yellow and Purple, Red and Green, Blue and Orange
Primary Colors: Yellow, Red, Blue
Tint: Lighter, Tone: Darker

(247 words)

Acrylic Study Worksheet

In this project, we investigated color theory and the mixing of colors using acrylic paint. We learned about the color wheel and how to mix different colors to create a range of tones and shades. We explored the traditional color wheel, including primary colors, secondary colors, complementary colors, split complementary colors, experimented with color mixing, and experimented with monochromatic colors, progressing from tint to tone. (63 words)

Section 4: Create

Visual documentation of steps of creation

Reflexion

First, I did the drawing method of “copying and pasting” one paper to the other by using pencils, and by doing that, it was pasted to the canvas I used. Then, after that, I chose a color and started painting on top of the pencil lines, the discoball lines. When I finished painting the lines, I realized they were too thick, but I kept going, trying to make the squares bigger in some way to cover the thick lines within. When I had some reference images, I analyzed them to determine which colors would best complement my desired outcome. I then chose different colors and shades, added highlights and shadows, until I completed my work. (115 words)

Section 5: Final Artwork

Final Artwork

Title: Beach Disco Fever

Artist: Luciana Vichera

Size: width/height in cm

Date of Completion: 11-5-2025

Why: Mix and match different colors that are opposite or not closely related to each other on the color wheel, while still creating a pattern in the discoball. (27 words)

Section 6: Communicate and Reflect

Challenges, successes, and self-evaluation of how the artwork aligns with the inquiry question.

Through my painting process, I have learned a great deal by exploring the painting and color wheel, among other important factors. I believe I have gained a wealth of knowledge from just a few classes, learning a great deal. Some problems I faced during my painting process were that I made the lines too thick at the beginning. I found the solution by asking Ms. Shambureck for advice. She suggested I paint the squares larger, likely because of the very thick lines I had drawn. Additionally, I knew I would need a thinner brush for the next class when doing the painting. I found myself wanting to do that, but still, I had limited time to really well finish it like I wanted to (to look similar to a reference image from Sari), but I kept going and found myself liking what I was seeing, just not exactly as I hoped I would've made the acrylic painting. I believed I had worked really well during this past class. I have been paying attention to instructions on how to clean the pallets, brushes, etc., and what techniques to use to improve the painting, such as highlights and gradients, to give it more shape. I asked Ms. Shambureck for her feedback and comments on it many times, and even though it's not perfect, or similar to the reference images, I am satisfied with my painting and found it a really fun project to do, which I could do by myself by watching more videos on how to do it effectively. (258 words)

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