New Acrylic Painting Tip - adding retarder to the spray bottle

Keeping your Acrylic paint mixes wet and usable seems to be one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when painting using this medium. This time Barry shares a great way to help avoid the paint and mixes from drying too quickly. Please visit www.mccannfineart.net.au

[@terihooverartandphotography]

Catching this video in 2023- thank you!

[@anjanettedomantay4511]

I love this video. Thank you for sharing!

[@jutta3378]

Thank you, Barry, for making this video, very interesting! I recently spotted a bottle of acrylic palette spray at my local art store, the product is made by a well-known fine art supply company whose name starts with the letter "L". It's quite expensive to buy. I wonder did they steal your idea? Your method works really well so I'm delighted that I can make my own spray now.

[@mccannfineart]

I had always wondered why the acrylic paint makers didn't have a commercially ready made spray to help keep our mixes wet and usable. Thank you for your comment.

[@TheWipal]

see i was thinking of doing this but i was also wondering if any breathable particles end up in the air when we end up praying it,,, hmm.. thinking i should get tubs of paint so i can just mix big batches 😤😫🦠

[@mccannfineart]

I was concerned with any harmful particles in the air as well at first but now I believe that as the retarder is water based and non toxic and the spray bottle I use is not an aerosol and therefore the water droplets and larger and tend to stay where they are sprayed, then it is safe enough for me to use it this way. If you are concerned at all, then you could consider using a face mask, as we are all so use to wearing them these days!!!!

[@JoyceHAnderson-rp5bf]

Thanks. That clears up that question for me too.@@mccannfineart

[@Artinstruction4u]

I have watched your videos and your wife Lucys video. Could you tell me where to find the Schmincke Acrylic Retarder and also the Acrylic Medium that you use. I live in the US and cannot find it here or anyone that ships to the US.

[@mccannfineart]

Again, I apologise for the slow reply. It is a sad fact that Schmincke do not sell their acrylic products in the US when they are happy to sell their other products. They believe there is no market there. All I can suggest is buy the product online from a supplier from another country. I use The Art Scene which is an art supply shop based in Sydney Australia.

[@dkoriss1]

Hi thanks for your tip, do you apply the water-retarder mix on to the palette or on to the canvas?, or both ?

[@mccannfineart]

I only apply the retarder and water in the spray bottle to the paint in order to keep them open or usable. By doing this, I find there is no need to spray the canvas because with the wet paint on my brush I am able to paint the shape with the correct edge on the canvas and this will stay wet until I have the desired effect .

[@dkoriss1]

@@mccannfineart thanks for your reply, keep rolling these informative videos!

[@starmazaheri7448]

@@mccannfineart Thank you very much for this useful video🌷

[@mccannfineart]

@@starmazaheri7448 It is my pleasure.

[@WrestlingPlayz]

@@mccannfineart The Problem I have when I spray the retarder and water mix is when it dries it leave a spray like water spots on my artwork in areas where I didn't have to blend. Is there anyway around that?

[@57mobird]

Hi, thanks for the tip - just wondering if it's a one-time-only misting of your paint mix and that's it, or do you mist your paint again every so often? Can you overdo it?

[@mccannfineart]

No, it is not a one time job. I spray the mixing area on my palette many times during the painting session. I spray my mixes every time they start to get thick and difficult to pick up from the palette surface. The mist also settles on my paint blobs that have been squeezed out of the tube and this helps these to not skin over or dry out. You can over do the spraying. My aim is to keep the paint thick to achieve an oil-like look to my work so too much spraying can result in making the mixes into puddles and the result is thin layers of paint similar to that of a watercolour mix. I rely on the way my brush picks up the paint to tell me when to spray...if it grabs and is hard to pick up, then I spray a fine mist from a distance and not blast it up close.

[@57mobird]

@@mccannfineart Thanks so much for the reply! That's all very helpful, and I appreciate it.

[@mattariety955]

thank you for this valuable tip!

[@soledude]

👌👌👌

[@julstvn]

Can i do this to all acrylic retarder?

[@mccannfineart]

Yes, is the short answer. You can add a retarder (or slow drying medium) to most acrylic paints and also the spray bottle and this will help slow down the drying time. I like to use the retarder made by the same company that makes the paint. For example, I use Schmincke retarder with Schmincke paints and Winsor and Newton retarder (or a slow drying medium) with Winsor and Newton paints. I believe there is no problem crossing over with most brands. If you are using Chroma Interactive paints then there is no need to add a retarder to paint or spray bottle because there is a retarder already added into the paint at the production stage.

[@julstvn]

@@mccannfineart i will try the tip.. thank you so much for the explanation

[@ellwaaa]

hayy can u use this mixture for multiple times or do u have to re-do this retarder-water mixture for each new painting?

[@mccannfineart]

I mix up a small spray bottle with the 1:10 ratio of retarder and water and use it until it is finished and then I mixed up another lot. The small spray bottle usually lasts for about two small paintings or one large and is good to use for weeks.

[@ellwaaa]

@@mccannfineart thank u for the reply!

[@araujojoser9161]

Good afternoon! My name is Araújo, I'm from Brazil. I see that in your videos you paint your paintings canvases without the chassis, only the fabric on a wooden plate fastened by crepe tape. I ask you: When you sell your paintings, you have them put on the chassis, glue on eucatex or MDF or simply sell these canvas paintings only on cloth fabric, without wooden support, or frames. Thank you for your feedback. Hug!

[@mccannfineart]

Sorry for the slow reply...Yes, when the painting is completed I have it stretched onto a stretcher frame by the framer. I find the solid backing board a better surface to paint on rather than the flexible springy surface an already stretched canvas provides. By having a harder surface to paint on I find it easier to release the paint from my brush...a little bit like spreading butter on toast compared to spreading butter on fresh bread.

[@bun4742]

tqsm sir

[@keithatkinson1989]

Hi Barry I have been following you on utube and colour in your life I live in Brisbane have tried all the large art suppliers up here and no one carries schminke or if they do its so small a rang can you tell me where I can purchase schminke super retarder from in Australia or where you Aquire yours from. Kindest Regards Keith

[@mccannfineart]

Hello Kieth, We get our Schmincke supplies through Art Basics or The Art Scene in Sydney. They are the largest importer of Schmincke products in Australia and you can order your supplies from them on line or get in contact with them and let them know your local art supply shop and they will organise one of their reps to visit the store and help them keep supply of the the Schmincke products. We also have products for sale and you can contact us through our website www.mccannfineart.net.au Best wishes, Barry.