Clouding problems

[Kyle]

I am finding that with some later stages of painting, my dark shadows and some of my highlights are becoming clouded or "filmy" looking - an annoying white film builds up. :angry: I paint withVallejo acrylics and sable brushes, and I use only distilled water to rinse my brushes between strokes. I am fairly fastidious about rinsing my brushes after every use, etc.

If you have any thoughts, please let me know!

Thanks!

Kyle

 

[garyjd]

Kyle, My few feeble attempts at acrylic painting have seen the same thing happen. Be sure that your paint is thinned and that you're using small amounts at a time. If you're working out of a palette with those little wells make sure your paint is not only thin but freshly mixed. There may be a problem with pigment settling to the bottom of your paint mixture. Perhaps a more successful acrylic painter can chime in.~Gary

 

[Kyle]

Thanks Gary.

I do paint from a palette, and you are right, I do notice that the paints tend to separate. I probably am not being careful enough on steady mixing of my colors.

Thanks again :lol:

Kyle

 

[MattS]

Kyle,

Try what Gary mentioned and shake your paint bottles more thoroughly before use. The white film you are seeing is actually similar to talcum powder and is put in the paint to help flatten the finish. Andrea paint seems to do this more than Vallejos, for me anyway.

Let us know if this works.

Matt S

 

[Kyle]

Great - thanks Matt. I'll be a bit more vigorous on shaking those bottles!

Kyle

 

[klnw_84]

Hi Kyle,

I am currently using Andrea paints to paint as well and occasionally do encounter this problem too. What I did was not only do I shake the bottle well before use but after the desired colours has been mixed, occasionally during painting I would give the paint mixture in the palette a swirl to mix the mixture well again. Do pay extra attention when alot of white paint is mixed into any paint mixture as this problem will be much more evident. Hope that helps!

Kevin

 

[Kyle]

Thank you, Kevin. And I do admit that sometimes I paint for long stretches (3 hours or more) and neglect to "change out" old paint. I find that it will get a but sludgy and thick after a couple hours.

Again, thanks for the tip!

Kyle

 

[klnw_84]

Dear Kyle,

Its common for paints regardless of medium to turn sludgy and thick due to the evaporation and as I mentioned the evaporation speed is largely dependent on the medium itself.

While oil's evaporation speed can be slowed down using a retarder and its consistancy balanced by adding a few drops of thinner(for oil) occasionally during painting, acrylic paints like Vallejo and Andrea which we use water to dilute, can be mixed, diluted and stored in any airtight container to extend its holding time.

A trick from Calvin Tan is he uses empty camera film container which are air tight to store his paints after mixing. The paints can be taken in amounts you would need for that period of time you are painting with the rest capped and stored aside.

But remember to always swirl or mix the paints before application. Enjoy!

Kevin