Grey (and the annoyances thereof)

[Dribble Joy]

I\'ve been having problem with glaze-blending greys.

Specifically I have been having problems with the powder granulating out as I thin the paint down; which I have to do as greys tend to be very strong pigments.
I have been adding washing-up liquid to act as an emulsifier (2-3 drops in half a pint), but it\'s not working too well given the extent to which I have to dilute. I\'ll end up thinning with neat Fairy if this goes on much longer.

Are there ways to avoid this? This is my preferred method of blending and the only one I am actually any good at (though most here would say otherwise).

Special thinning products? Non-powder based acrylics?

Here\'s a pic of what I mean, the half-finished base of my current project. It\'s a bad picture, but you can see some of the granules and the distinct edges of the layers.

 

[exilesjjb]

I find if I use anything else but paint thinner I get the problem you describe. It is not as bad if you use distilled water but I use a VC thinner can remember the exact name as at work but most companies do there own thinner.

 

[Dribble Joy]

Would using some matte medium help, or am I thinking of something else?

 

[exilesjjb]

might be talking out of my bum but think matte medium takes the shine out of paint when you blend it. But as I am new to the blending lark will not stake my life on that

 

[mickc22]

it should help to some degree and act as a binder, keeping the pigment in suspension

Just a tiny dip on the end of your brush, added to what you are already doing should be sufficient, you want to try an intermediate glaze over the entire base to tie in the layers

I also use VMC glaze medium, a 15:1 (mediumaint) ratio will give you a super
thin glaze

hope that helps

Mick

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Dribble Joy
Non-powder based acrylics?

All paints are based on pigments which are originally dry powders so no choice there.

But what you\'re doing shouldn\'t be a problem (obviously) since this is how most of us paint at least some of the time.

I suspect there\'s a problem with the paint itself, it might be past its best. Maybe it\'s drying partly on the palette and you\'re picking up part-dried paint as you load the brush? Or maybe some dried residue from the cap or threads?

As Mick says, some matt medium would probably help a bit but I\'m not sure it would solve the problem entirely.

Einion

 

[Dribble Joy]

Went to the art shop today and got some Acrylic Flow Improver.

It\'s magic, even when I mix the paints and thin them to almost 20:1 they don\'t separate out on the palette, which means I\'ve been able to build up the layers how I wanted to.

Subsequently found it online - here.

Probably not the right stuff, but it works, so I don\'t care too much .

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Dribble Joy
Probably not the right stuff, but it works, so I don\'t care too much .

Up to a point anything that works is the right stuff

Not like Future is intended as a paint additive but that doesn\'t stop it from doing some neat things, ditto with talc, pastel dust, PVA glue, powdered marble and a couple of other things.

Einion

 

[Lastman]

Originally posted by Einion

Originally posted by Dribble Joy
Non-powder based acrylics?

All paints are based on pigments which are originally dry powders so no choice there.

I suspect there\'s a problem with the paint itself, it might be past its best. Maybe it\'s drying partly on the palette and you\'re picking up part-dried paint as you load the brush? Or maybe some dried residue from the cap or threads?
Einion

A paint expert told me that all the modern acrylics use a liquid pigment, so you\'re probably right about it being dried paint.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by Lastman
A paint expert told me that all the modern acrylics use a liquid pigment, so you\'re probably right about it being dried paint.

Liquid pigment is a bit of a contradiction in terms, although I know what he was likely referring to - probably a suspension, made up industrially to make it easier/faster to make the finished paint. The original pigments are all dry powders though.

Einion