5 Tricks for Wasting Less Paint
In brief: How can you paint a larger picture with less paint, not by skimping, but by using it economically? Here are 5 simple tricks: close your paint tubes, squeeze out paint carefully, spray your palette with water, mix shades from light to dark, and save any leftover paint from your palette.
How can you save paint? How can you paint a larger picture with less paint?
Don’t skimp on paint. Give your picture as much as it needs, because that’s the only way to get good results. But don’t waste it!
Close Your Paint Tubes
This may sound obvious, but... Acrylic paint dries as water evaporates. If you leave a tube of acrylic paint open, the paint inside will no longer be fluid after a few hours. It will dry out. Once dry, paint like this can be thinned with a special acrylic medium or water. Otherwise, it will simply dry out and be ruined. Oil paint dries much more slowly. If you don’t close the tube, it will probably dry only at the top. Once you remove this “plug of dried paint,” everything inside should be fine, but be careful anyway.
Squeeze Out Paint Carefully
If you’re using acrylic paints, put only as much paint on your palette as you’ll need for the next half hour of work. Acrylic paint takes about that long to dry, and once it does, you won’t be able to use it. If you’re using oil paints, you can prepare the paints you’ll use throughout the day on your palette. That’s one reason painters like oil paints.
Spray Your Palette With Water
Many painters use this trick to keep acrylic paint fresh on the palette. Simply pour water into a spray bottle and mist the palette every 5–10 minutes. Of course, this only applies if you’re using water-thinned paints! Never do this with oil paints.
How to Mix Paints
When mixing a new shade from several paints, it’s always better to add dark paint to light paint so you don’t end up with a large amount of paint left on your palette that you don’t need. For example, if you want light gray, don’t start by adding white to black. Do it the other way around.
Save Leftover Paint from Your Palette
Don’t throw away mixed shades. Put them in small containers and use them for painting or at least for underpainting your next picture. Any containers or plastic cups that you can cover with plastic wrap will work. The only important thing is to keep the paint from coming into contact with air. You can also use plastic wrap to cover the entire palette when you take a break while painting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does acrylic paint dry so quickly?
Acrylic paint dries by water evaporation. If you leave the tube open, the paint will dry out within a few hours and become unusable, so always close the tube tightly.
How much paint should I squeeze onto my palette?
For acrylic paints, squeeze out as much as you need for the next half hour, since that’s about how long they take to dry. With oil paints, you can prepare enough for a full day of work.
How do I keep acrylic paint fresh on my palette?
Spray the palette with water every 5 – 10 minutes. This trick works only for paints that can be thinned with water, never for oil paints.
In what order should I mix paints?
Add dark paint to light paint, not the other way around. This way, you’ll use less paint and won’t have an excess of an unwanted shade left on your palette.
Can I save mixed shades?
Yes. Put them in containers or cups covered with plastic wrap so the paint doesn’t come into contact with air, then use them for your next picture or for underpainting.
Read More on Our Blog
- Do you know what color theory and the color wheel are?
- 12 Tips for Beginners: How to Get Started with Watercolor Painting
- Can You Paint on Canvas with Watercolors?
Paint Wisely, Don’t Waste
With these tips, you’ll not only save money but also extend the life of your paints. If you’re running low on anything in your studio, restock with us.
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