Bubbles and Chalk Washes

thanks, everybody for their feedback! I'm new to the form, so it is surprising to have so much support from our common modeling community!

You may have added too much soap. Only a drop or two will do.

Hey, McT, Sounds like an interesting application. I can understand how the dish soap would foam up with even the slightest amount of agitation as you brushed the solution across the surface and hit indentations or raised places, and that's exactly what would happen if you did get the bubbles. The surface tension of the bubbles pushed your chalk wash away. Then when the bubbles popped, you got those circles. I saw online that someone recommended white vinegar as an anti-foaming agent, but it might be too harsh for your other finishes. I don't know that this would work, but maybe try adding some defoaming agent to the wash next time, like what people add to carpet shampooers to prevent sudsing. Probably wouldn't take much. I'd test it on something first. :-) Barrett

Not a big problem , just more work.Also typical with sludge washes bubbles.Some modelers often use a bit of dish washing soap in their wash.It creates bubbles.

Bubbles show up when -if applied by brush can cause bubbles if going to fast by stroke with a brush in the same direction.Go slow and if any bubbles appear.Poke them with a thin new brush.Common artist do that to their paintings whe bubbles appear with their paints.99.9% of acrylic paints do that.Enamel washes are rare with bubbles.