Liquitex Flow-Aid Fluid Additive<\/a>.<\/p>\nRemember we were talking above about the acrylic polymer emulsion that is used as the binding agent for acrylic paints?<\/p>\n
Well, in this bottle of Liquitex, it is 100% acrylic polymer emulsion.<\/p>\n
This means that unlike water, you don\u2019t have to worry about going over a specific ratio that may cause peeling or chipping of the paint.<\/p>\n
Instead, you can keep adding this medium until you get the exact results you desire<\/strong>.<\/p>\nWhen it comes to long term preservation of a piece, this will be a smart pick to go with given that it relies on the same ingredients<\/strong> that are already found within the acrylic paints<\/strong> themselves<\/strong>.<\/p>\nNote: If you plan on using these same flow additives across other mediums such as oil, you likely won\u2019t achieve similar results.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/span>Still Not Seeing The Results You Want?\u00a0 Why Are You Thinning So Much In the First Place?<\/span><\/h2>\nOne thing that many artists are guilty of (myself included), is that we get so wrapped up in a piece and may expect certain results only to be disappointed\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026and that\u2019s completely ok!<\/p>\n
However, it\u2019s worth reinforcing that sometimes we should step back for a minute and examine our process a bit more closely<\/strong> rather than just mixing countless mediums to try and thin an acrylic paint.<\/p>\nTherefore, we would recommend this:<\/p>\n
If you are going for a certain shade and aren\u2019t getting there when thinning your acrylic paint, is it just simply a question of mixing the right colors together?<\/p>\n
Regardless of the reason however, it\u2019s important that we always try to approach problems differently and really rely on that creative instinct that we are already so good at using!<\/p>\n
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<\/span>Working With A Primed Layer Will Help Produce Results<\/span><\/h2>\nIf you make your own canvas or are simply trying to use your thinned out acrylics on a non-traditional surface such as metal, wood, or something else, then it may be worth noting that you should at minimum, use a primer of sorts.<\/p>\n
One staple of any artist\u2019s studio, and one that we find ourselves recommending time and time again is gesso.<\/p>\n
Gesso is simply a primer that will easily attach to most surfaces traditional or otherwise and provide an excellent base for your acrylic paint to attach to.<\/p>\n
If you are thinning your paints to a wash or even a stain, then you will want to make sure that there is some primer involved.<\/p>\n
Not taking this step will likely result in the surface just simply sucking up all the paint without giving you the results that you are trying to achieve.<\/p>\n
<\/span>What Type Of Brush Are You Using For Your Thin Acrylic Layer?<\/span><\/h2>\nDepending on where you are at in the painting you are currently working on, you will often want to make sure you are using the right type of brush.<\/p>\n
While this may seem a bit elementary for some of the more seasoned artists out there reading this, it\u2019s worth reminding the folks who are undertaking acrylic painting for the very first time.<\/p>\n
If you find yourself using a standard round #6 brush to lay down your initial wash on a 20\u201d x 24\u201d canvas, you will want to rethink your approach<\/strong>.<\/p>\nIn the case of the initial wash for your painting, you will want to go with a much wider brush<\/strong> (think at least a couple of inches).<\/p>\nWhile you could purchase a nice wide brush from an art store, if you plan on having a multi-layer paying, then you can likely get away with using a brush purchased at your local hardware store.<\/p>\n
While significantly cheaper, a foam brush (as opposed to a bristle brush), will be able to get a much more even coat<\/strong> of the thinned out acrylic paint onto your surface of choice.<\/p>\nThis will not only yield better results for your painting as a whole, but will save you from the frustration of trying to brush out imperfections in the surface when using a much smaller detail brush.<\/p>\n
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