How to prevent your acrylic paints from drying out
Most artists choose to use acrylic paints rather than oil paints because they are allergic to the chemicals used with oil paints, or because they prefer the easier cleanup of acrylic paints. The problem is that because they are acrylic-based rather than oil-based, they dry out more quickly so you cannot use the same techniques as you would in oil painting. Also, if you leave them out for more than a few hours they become unusable. Here are some tips to overcome these problems.
- Extend the working time of your acrylic paints by misting them occassionally with water. Keep a spray bottle next to your palette and spritz your paints and painting when they are beginning to dry.
- If you like to squeeze out and use a lot of paint in a session, you do not need to throw away unused paint at the end of the session. Buy a Masterson Sta-Wet palette and disposable sheets. The palettes have sealable lids to keep in the moisture, and some also have an absorbent base that you soak in water to keep the paintings moist. The disposable sheet is useful for when the paints have dried – just throw it away and replace with a new one. This eliminates the need to keep cleaning your palette.
- Add a slow-drying medium to your paints instead of water. This not only extends the time you have to work with your paint, but also stops the paint leaving skins on the palette. It is good to use if you like the wet-in-wet technique as used in oil painting.