According to a user on Reddit, a method for keeping acrylic paint wet on canvas involves using wet paper towels and a large zip-top bag.
Keeping acrylic paint workable on the canvas can be crucial for blending and layering techniques. Unlike oil paints, acrylics dry relatively quickly. One practical tip shared on Reddit involves a simple and effective approach to slow down this drying process, both during painting breaks and for short-term storage.
The Reddit Method: Wet Paper Towels & Zip Bag
A specific technique mentioned by a Reddit user on March 4, 2024, for keeping acrylic paint wet on canvas is as follows:
- Step 1: Apply Wet Paper Towels: The user states, "I place 2-3 folded wet paper towels over the top" of the canvas where the paint is applied.
- Step 2: Seal for Storage: To maintain moisture when not actively painting or for storage, they "store it using a large 2 gallon zip lock bag that I reuse over and over and over again until it breaks."
This method reportedly helps keep the paint wet while it's accessible and actively seals in moisture when stored, extending the open time of the acrylics on the canvas surface.
Why This Method Works
This approach utilizes basic principles of moisture retention:
- The wet paper towels directly provide humidity close to the paint surface, preventing evaporation.
- The zip-top bag creates a sealed, humid environment around the canvas, trapping the moisture from the paper towels and preventing external air from drying the paint.
It's a practical, low-cost solution for artists looking to pause their work without having their palette or canvas dry out too quickly.
Other General Tips for Keeping Acrylics Wet
While the Reddit method focuses on the canvas, other techniques complement this for palette management and overall workflow:
- Use a Stay-Wet Palette: These palettes use a base layer of absorbent material (like sponge or paper towel) soaked in water, covered by a semi-permeable paper. Moisture from the base keeps the paint wet.
- Mist with Water: Periodically misting the paint on your palette or even lightly on the canvas (depending on technique) with a fine-mist spray bottle filled with water can help. Be cautious not to over-wet the paint or surface, which could dilute colors or affect adhesion.
- Add Mediums: Incorporating acrylic mediums like retarders or flow improvers into your paint can extend its drying time. Retarders specifically slow down drying, while flow improvers can make the paint more fluid, which often indirectly keeps it workable longer.
By combining methods like the wet paper towel and zip bag technique for the canvas with strategies for managing your palette and paint consistency, you can gain more control over the drying time of acrylics.
