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Acrylics drying to quickly

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Philip Smith

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Posted
Hi all I'm sure some of you are experiencing the same problem during this hot humid weather , that being your acrylic paints are drying to quickly especially if they are used straight from the tube.... If I was to use a retarder would this make blending much more easier such as painting clouds etc... As yet I have not tried any method such as retarder as I just don't know how much to use and which is the best make to purchase, so I would value any suggestions a more experienced acrylic painter would do and use...

Ruth Dolan

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Posted
As regards drying too quickly I think the simplest remedy is the best...Spray, spray and spray with water, both your squeezed out pigment and your ongoing painting surface.. I find this more reliable than using a retarder, although I do use a flow medium mixed with the pigment occasionally..
michael

Michael Edwards

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Posted
Well I don't consider myself an experienced acrylic artist and only use the medium for abstracts (for which it is emminently suitable) and, like Ruth, I spray, spray and spray. It never dries out on the palette since I only squeeze out enough for the next few brush/knife strokes. However I guess if you're working fiddly/photorealisticly then a stay wet palette comes into its own.