How Do I Stop Acrylic Paint From Drying Too Quickly?

How Do I Stop Acrylic Paint From Drying Too Quickly?

Special acrylic medium or additives called retarders can be added to your acrylic paint already on the palette and will extend the length of time that the paint stays wet. These are available in jars or tubes of varying sizes and quantity and these mediums can have a varied effect on the look and handling quality of acrylic paint.

Drying Time

Acrylic paint has an extremely rapid drying time. This can come as a shock to novice artists, especially if they work more slowly and cautiously while building up their confidence with their brushstrokes.

Retarders

Using a commercial retarder allows a much longer working time with the paint. It also allows more time for mixing and blending colours on the canvas or painting surface or use wet-on-wet techniques.
Remember not to add water as this compromises the retarding medium, so mix it directly with undiluted paint.

Suppliers

Retarders and slow-drying gels and liquids specifically manufactured for acrylic paints can be purchased from all good art supply retailers. These retarders can give up to 40% longer working time to spend on a painting. Furthermore there are also heavy gel mediums commercially produced, these increase paint transparency and bulk out the paint allowing for impasto effects perfect for use with painting knives.

Spray Bottle

Another way to keep the acrylic paint on the palette from drying out too quickly is to moisten the paints with clear water in a spray bottle. Use the spray bottle to mist the paints occasionally, but remember that adding too much water can dilute the richness of the pigments.