The beauty of acrylics is their accessibility, ease of use, and quick drying time. The tricky part of acrylics is… their drying time.
How do you keep acrylic paints from drying out while you work?
Depending on the climate where you live, the time of year, and your individual painting style, you will find that your paints dry out at different rates. In some cases this may work in your favor, but what about when you’ve mixed the perfect color and it’s drying out faster than you can use it?
There are a few hacks for that.
Read on for some tips to keep your paints fresh and workable.
1. Sta-Wet Palette
Do you have to squeeze time to paint into your busy life? Building your palette can be time-consuming, and when you find that perfect color, you want to keep it going!
These handy, resealable palettes are perfect for any water-based painter with a busy schedule.
Sta-wet palettes come with a sponge layer that you moisten and keep in the bottom of the tray so that your colors stay fresh even with the lid off. Add a layer of disposable palette paper on top to keep working until you’re ready to change out your colors.
I use two trays: one for warm colors and one for cool tones. This helps me easily reach for a the right temperature when mixing new colors, or when I feel my painting needs more warmth or cooling.
I cannot recommend these enough! Get one for yourself here.
2. Misting
A simple spray bottle full of water works wonders for keeping your paints wet just long enough to work back into your painting. You can spray your palette and directly on to the painting itself. Just keep in mind when applying water to your painting – if you spray at close range you may get some drips. I personally love this effect, and as Bob Ross would say, embrace these “happy accidents”.
3. Mediums
Slow-drying mediums called Extender, Retarder, or Open mediums can be added to acrylic paint to increase the time you have working with all of those beautiful colors you just mixed. These mediums come in liquid and gel form and matte or glossy finish, so be sure to select the right medium for the desired effect of your project.
4. Open acrylics
Some paint companies have begun manufacturing acrylic paints that behave like oil paints in that they stay wet and malleable longer than traditional acrylic paints. You may like these ultra-soft paints called OPEN Acrylics if you want a water-soluble option and enjoy the extra time to work.
These are all great options to experiment with until you find the perfect combination that works for you.
Leave a comment and let this community know your favorite way to keep your paints fresh!
Greetings from dry and finally a bit cooler Southern California. I’ve learned to contend with fast drying acrylics since the start. Thanks to reading your blogs and a few others, and my oldest daughter who’s been painting for years and quickly moved to oils, I equiped myself with the supplies you mention. I have 3 StaWet pallets but didn’t think of segregating the colors. Now I will. I learn something new from you every time I read your blogs and articles. BTW, after a year hiatus due to breast and lung cancer surgery, I started painting again last month. My new creation is “Fire in the Sugar Cane Field”, “Fuego en las Cañas”, a scary event both my brother and vividly recall from our childhood, when an uncle’s sugar cane field was burned behind our house in San Germán, Puerto Rico. He, my cousins and I remember my first rendition when I was between 15 & 16 & aspired to be an artist and author, a dream I’m realizing now at 85. None of us can find that painting.
It’s hard to read comments in such a pale color!
Thank you for the painting tip!