how to thin acrylic paint for spraying

This article was co-authored by Kelly Medford. You can add gesso by stirring it in with your paint using a clean paintbrush. You can do this by either mixing the acrylic with water on separate palettes or in a small cup. For thinning acrylic craft paint for airbrushing, you can use rubbing alcohol or try some Windex. To do this consistently, you should note the process you used when you achieve a particularly desired shade through thinning. Check the thickness by running the paint through a funnel. Acrylic paint is water-based and thus water-soluble when wet, so water can be used to thin it. Using it in its original thick state would easily overtake the painting, like a bull in a china shop, totally making it harder for you to create that sexy smooth sunset blend or that fine-looking thin branch. Access my traceable library containing stencils based on my step-by-step video tutorials, ready for you to download. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Instead, when trying to create blends or apply wide applications of thin paint, consider using a wider brush (perhaps a 1″ flat wash brush) to help you cover more area and evenly apply your thin paint without the need to create more layers than you want. Apply a small amount of paint to your palette. Make pop art acrylic paintings you’ll actually love, even if you have ZERO drawing skills. Reading your comments on how to revitalize my paints really helped me to finish a special effects painting project. The paint was rather thick and it kept clogging the airbrush tip. W… If you try to melt it, it will just burn. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. This can be improved by adding acrylic binder and some water. However there are few things to keep in mind when diluting paint with water. Pour the paint into the bucket. When we talk about consistency, we’re talking about the flow and texture of your paint, medium, and additive mixture. [1] X Research source As this is a quick-drying kind of paint, using too much from the tube can result in expensive waste. For the best result, you can get glass paint to paint on the wine glasses. When paint becomes very thin and light in color/consistency, dirt and other colors of paint left behind on tools can easily infuse into your paint and ruin the color. Simply grab a clean wet brush and a clean dry cloth or kitchen paper. I haven't used in many years and don't know if I can add something to revitalize the many bottles I have. Acrylic paint is a medium commonly used by artists. The airbrushing spray quality of the water thinned paint was on par with the X20-A thinned paint with the same thinning ratio and air pressure, and the finished product is essentially identical. Some common household items you can use include the following: Some artists swear by using isopropyl (aka rubbing) alcohol for thinning their paints, and this is relatively true but with a caveat. What type of paint can I use? Many acrylic palettes are made of clear plastic which, if the paint hardens to it, can be difficult to clean. So, if that is an effect you want to avoid, consider adding 25-30% water to your paint to dilute it. You should still maintain a good grip, as the smooth surface of your palette will be prone to slipping or sliding as you grind at the paint with your palette knife. High concentrations of rubbing alcohol (90%+) can actually gum up your acrylic paint and cause it to gather like cottage cheese. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. And just in case you have no clue what gesso is, it’s basically a white (or clear) paint mixture consisting of a binder mixed with chalk, gypsum, pigment, or any combination of these. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. The amount of water required varies with the brand and quality of the paint. You need to use a water-based product. I shot Model Master Acrylics for years with great results. Best approach is to use painter's masking tape. How is this relevant? You may find that you can prevent the drying process by using a dampened piece of paper or card stock when blending. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Depending on how thick the paint has become, you can use a little bit of water or clear medium. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Dried acrylic paint can never be recovered. Use a textured gel to add more thickness. You can thin acrylic paint to achieve differences in consistency and color, allowing you to attain effects that would have otherwise been impossible. To thin acrylic paint, start by putting a small amount of paint on your palette. % of people told us that this article helped them. By using our site, you agree to our. I always recommend products that have been helpful to me and my readers, and I hope you’ll love them as much as I do! Read More: 5 Easy Ways to Keep your Acrylic Paint Wet for Longereval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'thebuzzedartist_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',142,'0','0']));eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'thebuzzedartist_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_1',142,'0','1']));eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'thebuzzedartist_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',142,'0','2'])); Flow improvers help break down paint viscosity so it can better flow and spread on canvas, without compromising color strength or saturation. How can I recover it? Apply quick thin coats with it and let them dry between applications for a few minutes until you get the depth of color you are seeking. If the paint is too thick, you won't have an even flow out of the airbrush gun and the gun will continually get clogged. Another way to thin out acrylic paint is to mix in various acrylic mediums with your paint. Once the acrylic has been used in a wash and dried, you will not be able to rehydrate the paint. Stay-wet palettes slow the drying process and often come with a covering and sponges to keep your acrylic paint from drying out too soon. Maybe you have used too much paint, and some have already started drying out? Adding too much water however can cause the binders to break down so much that the paint won’t be able to adhere together or provide good coverage. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. Latex paints are easy since they can be thinned with just a little water. The Buzzed Artist is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. If the paint is easily sprayed and gets you a smooth finish, then you can start the project. Other finishes common in acrylic paints are gloss and matte. You may find it easiest to set your palette down on a sturdy surface before attempting this. Use two strips and set them side by side with the opening between them the width of the line you want. The masking tape will keep the paint underneath protected from the second application of paint. ", "Helped with how to revive old acrylic paint.". What is a poor, distraught artist to do in such a situation! I have created watercolor effects just by using acrylic paints, diluting it with a lot of water (about 60%) and creating washes and layers of color. You must mix it thoroughly – the best way to ensure this is to have the mixture in a lidded container that is tightly sealed, and then to shake it with vigor for at least a few minutes. Comment and share below! If you still find yourself struggling to get that perfect spread of thinned paint, struggle-bussing with a #10 shader brush to create a smooth background color is just not the right call or use of your time. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 415,754 times. wide. Thinning Your Acrylics with Basic Techniques, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Thin-Acrylic-Paint-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Thin-Acrylic-Paint-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4c\/Thin-Acrylic-Paint-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid1384558-v4-728px-Thin-Acrylic-Paint-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"