How to Slow Drying Time of Acrylics
You are excited to start your journey with acrylics. You set up your canvas and load your palette. Eager to break-in your paint brushes, you finally get started on your painting. All is going well when all of a sudden, you notice that your paint is feeling dry and tacky. It’s becoming increasingly harder to blend. Your excitement has morphed into frustration and self doubt. “Maybe I’m not good enough. This isn’t the medium for me” you think.
Don’t worry even the best acrylic artists have found themselves in this predicament. You definitely have what it takes to become a decent artist.
Acrylics are known for their incredibly fast drying time. This can be a blessing when building up layers and a curse when blending colors. Luckily through trial and error, I have discovered some great tricks for extending the drying time of acrylics. Hopefully a few of these tips will help you as well.
Here are 7 ways to make acrylics dry slower and blend smoother.
1. Add a retarding medium
Acrylic retarders slow down the drying process and give more time for blending and layering. These can be added to the paint or applied to the surface before painting
2. Use a wet palette
A wet palette keeps acrylic paints moist by holding them in a wet environment. This prevents the paints from drying out and extends their working time.
3. Spray the painting surface with water
Spraying the painting surface with water helps keep the acrylic paint wet and workable. This technique is especially useful in hot and dry environments.
4. Paint in a humid environment
Acrylic paint dries faster in dry air. To slow down the drying process, paint in a humid environment or add a humidifier to the room where you are painting.
5. Work in smaller sections
Instead of trying to paint the entire canvas at once, divide it into smaller sections. This allows the artist to work on one section at a time, preventing the paint from drying out too quickly.
6. Mix with a glazing medium
A glazing medium is a transparent medium that is used to thin and extend the drying time of acrylic paint. It also improves the transparency and luminosity of the paint. Mixing the paint with a glazing medium can help to keep it moist and workable for a longer period.
7. Store the paint properly
Acrylic paint should be stored in a cool and dry place. This will help keep the integrity of the paint. Exposure to heat and sunlight can cause the paint to dry out more quickly.
Acrylic paint dries quickly, which can be a problem for artists who need more time to work on their paintings. By using one or more of these techniques, artists can extend the working time of their acrylic paints and achieve better results in their paintings.
