Hi Dianna Tim Fisher got some to try and if you read his blog he gives a really good report on them...the weather here could have a lot to do with the blending summer and winter...on the Oz forum there are people talking of the lack of blending qualities of all acrylics here...one of the older artists told us that he adapted his painting to suit...but i'm just starting out again so i don't have much experience with acrylics...we were not allowed to use tham in our class in the 80's...my little shop where the price is right is very low on stocks the girls are quite embarrassed about it they have to take what the management send...so i'm hoping against hope they are going to present us with something new...please keep me updated on your opinion of Golden...I know Jackson's have them but they charge up to 50% more than anyone else but 1 or 2 tubes at a time soon adds up

That's interesting Patsy that other people have found the Interactives difficult to blend when that's why they were supposedly developed. I was sent a free sample of Golden from a shop when I was looking for the Interactives but I haven't tried them yet- just 3 small sachets but enough to see how they work. I'll let you know when I get round to them.

Oh dear sorry Diana yes I use Interactives too but at the moment they dry too quickly in the heat so leaving them alone...I was on my Oz site tonight and some of the artists there were complaining about the lack of blending properties with these acrylics...one of the guys suggested Golden Acrylics I have never tried them but he swears by them for their blending properties...but I wouldn't quite call myself an artist or expert yet being newly back after a long time and new to acrylics which I decided to use instead of oils because of the solvents...but I bought some no fume solvent and I think because i'm not a quick painter that the next large painting I do will be in oils

Patsy I should maybe have made it clearer; it was the Atelier Interactive paints I was using, not their regular acrylics. The "Interactives" interacted too much!

Oh I love acrylics, don't get me wrong. I've been using them for maybe 20 years. I'm just disappointed with the Atelier for portraits. They are fine for other subjects but for smooth skin tones, they didn't work for me. It wasn't retarder I needed; in fact they stayed wet too long and instead of blending, the new layers or colours moved what I'd already put down. Once I have the basic shade I need, I like to blend my colours on the canvas and they weren't playing ball. I can blend ordinary acrylics much better.

Hi Diana sorry to hear of your experience with Atelier I have found them wonderful but I always mix a couple of drops of retarder with them and mix well with a palette knife you will see them become more creamy...I always loved Flake white but can't get it anymore because of the lead...try again with a new tube of white statrer packs may be a bit suspect...they also do a nice irridescent one which really shimmers it's a number 1 so not too expensive...but some like acrylics some don't...I really struggled with them at first but love them now...varnishing an acrilic painting just brings to life it's amazing...good luck

No Phil, I'm afraid not. I am disappointed as my first attempt with them went really well but for portraits they just don't do it- not for me anyway. It's titanium white that they include in the starter set and it made everything really chalky looking. Maybe if I had more colours of my own choice and had to do less mixing they may work better but I shall stick to animals or landscapes with them to use them up then it's back to the regular sort.

Hi Diana..I like the result that you have posted here...so the 'Interactives' did not live up to your expectations then?