You'd think I would be adjusted to this dry weather by now. Well, apparently not! After two years of living in Los Angeles, I am still struggling with my faster than ever drying acrylics. Man, I never thought I would miss humidity at all.
I mean, I know this, I've blogged about it, but today it was just plain ridiculous. It was almost a 100F and it was sooo dry. I would paint a surface with my brush and literally touch it right after and it would be almost completely dry! I'm all for challenges, but what the hell...
Acrylics are not very opaque, they do not cover as much as oils. Some of the colors are pretty transparent. So, if you want to achieve a uniform layer of one color, chances are you are going to need more than one coat of paint. This is why I prepare "base" colors (not right out the tube) to use throughout the whole painting process. I am so picky I even use more than one container for some of them, to ensure I always have a fresh batch to my disposal. But the relentless desert heat just did not care.
Needless is to say, I spent a lot of time re mixing colors today. It's good I am not so much in a rush to finish this painting, because I sure did not get as far as I wanted to. I am glad this is happening to me now and not 10 years ago, though. I would have been so discouraged I would have probably stuck with oils (not that there is anything wrong with that)!
I have been reluctant to use "wet palettes" and sponges to keep my colors wet, but it seems that I'm going to have to look into it. You live and learn, I guess.
The painting is looking pretty good, though. So, I guess it's all worth it. Rant over. Now, back to homework!
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| Seriously!!!??? |
I mean, I know this, I've blogged about it, but today it was just plain ridiculous. It was almost a 100F and it was sooo dry. I would paint a surface with my brush and literally touch it right after and it would be almost completely dry! I'm all for challenges, but what the hell...
Acrylics are not very opaque, they do not cover as much as oils. Some of the colors are pretty transparent. So, if you want to achieve a uniform layer of one color, chances are you are going to need more than one coat of paint. This is why I prepare "base" colors (not right out the tube) to use throughout the whole painting process. I am so picky I even use more than one container for some of them, to ensure I always have a fresh batch to my disposal. But the relentless desert heat just did not care.
 |
| Look at all that expensive paint getting wasted! |
Needless is to say, I spent a lot of time re mixing colors today. It's good I am not so much in a rush to finish this painting, because I sure did not get as far as I wanted to. I am glad this is happening to me now and not 10 years ago, though. I would have been so discouraged I would have probably stuck with oils (not that there is anything wrong with that)!
I have been reluctant to use "wet palettes" and sponges to keep my colors wet, but it seems that I'm going to have to look into it. You live and learn, I guess.
The painting is looking pretty good, though. So, I guess it's all worth it. Rant over. Now, back to homework!