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  • #456246
    Bugsmasher
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        Switching from oils to acrylics. To create substitute for Bob Ross Liquid White in acrylics, I’m considering combination of acrylic gesso + retarder + either Liquitex Airbrush Medium or Liquitex Palette Spray. Which has more polymer, airbrush medium or palette spray? Objective: to avoid using water.

        Or, what about simply coating canvas with film of gel retarder followed by gesso (or titanium white)? Too high % retarder?

        Looking for working time of 1 hour, needed for large canvasses.

        Bugsmasher

        #624585

        Thank you for reaching out!

        The most common practice in acrylic seems to be applying a layer of retarder gel and then painting into it while it’s wet. You can also experiment with mixing retarder gel with white acrylic or gesso in order to get the level of tooth and/or specific drying rate you prefer. Of course, with acrylic, the drying time will vary with ambient temperature and relative humidity, so you may find you need to change up your formula at different times of year. You also have the option of adding a retarder in small amounts to a gesso. Unlike the retarder gel, which has a balance of polymer to maintain film integrity, the retarder alone must be added sparingly to ensure proper drying and film formation (specific instructions will vary by brand).

        - your friends at Blick Art Materials

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