Blending Mediums

[Tarok]

Hey all,

I was wondering if anyone out there is using blending mediums?

I was reading an acrylic painting article by Tim Flagstad who seems to swear by W&N Blending Medium for Water Colours, which he uses to dilute his acrylics instead of water. And having read the article I decided to give it a try...

Tim says it improves the viscosity, and slows the drying rate. I definitely agree with him regarding the viscosity, the acrylics definitely stay put. The problem I have though is that the colours are still drying too fast for me... the other problem is that it's drying glossy...

Is anyone else using Blending Mediums with their acrylics? Any advice??

Rudi

 

[itifonhom]

Hi Rudi,
well I´m definetely an oil painter, although I use acrylics for detailing and small areas. But since I´m used of blending a color rather than layering it and I read the article of Tim too I thought of giving the Blending Medium for watercolors from W&N a try. Well, Tim is right 100%, this medium is really wonderfull, I can blend acrylics with ease, flowing is better and the drying time can be varied from 1-2 minutes to 10-15, depending on weather conditions and how much medium you add. You can of course also add a mix of medium and water and "play" with the drying times. I recommend it with all my heart, although I think it´s not a product for hardcore acrylic painters that use layring and feathering. As it´s name suggests, is a "Blending Medium". Highly Recommended!!

Anastasios.

 

[Calvin]

...

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Tarok+Nov 10 2006, 09:34 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Tarok @ Nov 10 2006, 09:34 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>...the other problem is that it's drying glossy...[/b]

Yep, that's a common problem with this sort of additive unfortunately. The best advice if you are using something like this is to add as little as possible to get the desired effect, but still you may be left with the prospect of having to use a matt overcoat, which personally I'd try to avoid like the plague.

<!--QuoteBegin-Tarok@Nov 10 2006, 09:34 AM
Any advice??[/quote]
Get used to the natural drying time as much as you can - fighting the fast drying of acrylics can often cause more trouble than it's worth. Using a larger brush might help; we typically paint with quality rounds anyway and they should have a very good point, so a 2 can be used for many jobs that one would normally think to use a 0 or even something small, you just have to load the brush just so.

Einion

 

[Nap]

Rudi ,
I use W & N blending fluid , really useful for acrylics and also works well with Arisan water soluble oils , the only thing is I am impatient for the end result !!! still never mind its always worth waiting for ( Putting the figure under a lamp for a couple of hours also helps in matting the result )

Regards Kev