Painters Online Logo

Login/register

Studio

Water colours in tubes

Welcome to the forum.

Here you can discuss all things art with like-minded artists, join regular painting challenges, ask questions, buy and sell art materials and much more.

Make sure you sign in or register to join the discussions.

Hang on Studio Wall
Author
Message

Susan Banks

  • New Member
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 3
Posted
I have recently been given some tubes of water colours, but they are very hard and will not squeeze out. Is there a simple solution. Adding clean water are is there another solution. I would be very glad of any answers, and suggestions.
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

  • Prestige User
  • Reputation: 20472
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 7180
Posted
Sounds as if they're getting old and drying out. If they become impossible to squeeze out, I would suggest slicing the tube open and preferably digging the paint out and putting it in wells: you can use the split tube as a well, but the sharp edges of the metal could damage your best brushes (and fingers). There's not a lot you can really do to soften paint that's started to harden in tubes - you could add glycerine, but how to get it to penetrate through the tube? You could TRY immersing the tubes in hot water, which might soften the paint a bit.

Susan Banks

  • New Member
  • Last active:
  • Posts: 3
Posted
Thank you Robert I will try that, I did see a n item on U tube about using tablet ( for the week ) containers to put your tube paints, I'll try that with you suggestion.