Applying washes over enamels?

Everyone has their own favorite mixture for washes, but mine is either artist's acrylics or artist's water colors. Either one works fine, and as long as the surface is smooth they will come off easily. If the surface is flat they will get down in the texture and are very hard to get off. Water color tends to come off easier than acrylics. Mix them real thin with plain water, and add a couple of drops of dishwashing detergent.

I have had good luck by spraying your favorite gloss coat and using artist oils thinned and washed with lighter fluid. I think Windsor & Newton makes a line of artist oils that you can thin with water. Check your local Hobby Lobby. I have yet to try spraying future. Fom what I have read, it takes a little practice to master.

If you're fond of enamel paints, try letting the base coat cure until you can't smell it anymore (it may take a week or longer). Then make the wash with turpentine and oil or enamel paint. The turpentine is a sufficiently gentle solvent that it shouldn't lift fully cured enamels.

Thanks for all your tips!

OK, a couple of simple little things to remember;

A wash is best applied over a gloss coat.
if your gloss coat is enamel, then was with acrylics
If your gloss coat is acrylic, then wash with enamels/oils

Cheers
Darren

I've heard that some clear coats can go a bit yellow-ish over time. Is this true and if so, is there a way to avoid it?

Cheers

This particular problem has been discussed before and it seems that yellowing has nothing to do with the gloss coat. Yellowing occurs because the gloss coat was applied before the base coat was given sufficient time to dry. In most cases, it is the base coat that is changing.

Thanks. I don't suppose you can remember roughly which post that discussion is in - I searched for it and could not find it. I would be interested to read it, but if not then it is not a problem. Thanks for the advice

QUOTE: Originally posted by darson OK, a couple of simple little things to remember; A wash is best applied over a gloss coat. if your gloss coat is enamel, then was with acrylics If your gloss coat is acrylic, then wash with enamels/oils Cheers Darren

What if your gloss coat is laquer, like MM Gloss? Future, I assume, counts as an acrylic?