Trying Open Acrylics! Painting without solvents

[@evydraws-art]

Thank you for this video! I usually mix the open acrylics with the heavybody ones, too, to balance that thinness but still get the slightly slower drying time. I rarely if ever use them on their own, or even at more than like 30% of the mixture, so I very much related to your voice-over haha. It's a bit of an awkward product that strangely works wonderfully for me but ONLY in specific mixes. I really love your paintings, your color choices like that teal next to the blueberries are perfect!

[@mckenziekvalsten]

Thank you! That’s really cool that you’ve learned the best ratios for your work. I love learning about how different people use their mediums. There is so much creativity in it

[@S.Shampagne]

I have loads of open paints and never thought about mixing them with my regular acrylics. Do you wait the recommended 30 days before varnishing the finished paintings when you use open? I've been avoiding using the opens because of the long wait for the paint to fully cure xx

[@mckenziekvalsten]

I use Gamvar varnish by Gamblin because it’s made so you only have to wait for the paint to dry before you varnish (rather than fully cure). It definitely speeds things up! I haven’t had any issues in the years I’ve used it :) (Although I’ve mostly used it on oil paintings! I’m not positive that it’s the same with open acrylics, although I have used it on those after a week)

[@gatchpaints]

Great video. I wonder if using regular paints with the Open white, would increase the time a bit at least when making lighter tints. such as cloud blending into sky.

[@mckenziekvalsten]

That’s a really good question! I bet you’re right. I think would be great for blending larger areas like skies

[@gatchpaints]

Sometimes I just need a couple extra minutes before it gets tacky, but I also forget to dip my brush in water, so maybe it's me. 😆@@mckenziekvalsten

[@PaintIt4Ward]

You can paint OILS without any solvents. Why not just do that? You literally need NOTHING but oil paint, linseed oil and some brushes . Open paints are so bad😊