Reviving acrylic paint, particularly if it has completely dried into a solid state, is often difficult or impossible. Acrylic paint dries by forming a plastic polymer film as the water evaporates, and once this process is complete, the paint is typically permanent and cannot be returned to its original liquid state.
However, if your acrylic paint is only slightly dried out, thick, or has a skin formed on top, you might be able to loosen it up or make it usable again. Prevention is often more effective than trying to revive paint that has significantly dried out.
Can You Revive Fully Dried Acrylic Paint?
Generally, no. Acrylic paint is essentially plastic suspended in a liquid (usually water). When the liquid evaporates, the plastic particles fuse together into a solid film. This process is irreversible. Trying to add water or mediums back to fully hardened acrylic paint will not dissolve the plastic and return it to a usable paint consistency.
What to Do for Slightly Dried or Thick Paint
If your paint is just a bit thick, has a rubbery skin on top, or is slightly dried around the edges, you can sometimes improve its consistency:
- Remove the Skin: Carefully peel away any dried skin layer from the surface of the paint in the container.
- Add Water: For water-based acrylics, adding a small amount of clean water and stirring it in can help loosen thick paint. Add only a few drops at a time and mix thoroughly. Be careful not to add too much water, as this can weaken the paint's binder and pigment load.
- Add Acrylic Mediums: Acrylic flow improvers or thinning mediums designed for acrylics can also help restore consistency without weakening the paint film as much as water might.
Preventing Acrylic Paint from Drying Out
The best approach is to prevent your paint from drying out in the first place. Proper storage is crucial.
As mentioned in the reference:
- "You may also want to look into our open slow drying acrylics open acrylics are formulated to dry much slower." These types of paints, often labeled "Open" or "Slow Drying," are specifically designed to remain workable for much longer periods than standard acrylics.
- "...And are much less likely to dry out in storage." Because they dry much slower, these specialized acrylics are significantly less prone to drying out inside their containers when stored properly.
Using slow-drying formulas like "open acrylics" is an excellent way to minimize the problem of paint drying out in storage, saving you the frustration of trying (and often failing) to revive it later.
General Storage Tips:
- Always ensure lids or caps are tightly sealed after use.
- Store paint containers upright in a cool, consistent temperature environment.
- Remove excess paint from the neck and lid of the container before sealing.
By taking preventative measures and choosing paints designed for a slower drying time, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of needing to revive dried-out acrylic paint.
