Artist's Acrylic Washes

Luis, I've never had that happen. When you say "Grainy" do you mean grainy like a piece of very fine sandpaper or grainy as in the edges allow the base paint to show through? I occasionally have some where the edges of the wash dry irregularly but never had it physically rough like it had sand in it. The pigment in artist's acrylics is slightly smaller than modeling paints, I think, so it should not be physically rough.

The only thing I can think of is that it didn't like the soap that you used and reacted with it or something. I'd try a different type of soap (I use diswashing detergent) and see if that helps.

Luis - I haven't seen that either and that's the brand I use... wierd. Maybe Scott is right on with that suggestion..

The only other thing I could think of, is if it was the very first of the tube maybe the paint exposed to the air had dried over a bit? Or had like a "haze" of dried paint at the end?

---edit--- never mind the second thought, I just read where you had tried it a second time.

this is the W&N Artist acrylics that i used:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a321/LuiS_42/5a876619.jpg

this is the grain effect that i get:

http://photobucket.com/albums/a321/LuiS_42/?action=view¤t=57cdc70a.jpg

i'm very sorry for the poor image guys, i just used my celfon to take the pics.
BTW, scott and tho, for your acrylics, when you just add water does it have this grain effect? cause if not then my paint must have the problem..

Luis I don't get results anything like that. This photo has several areas on it that have been washed with artist's acrylics:


The top of the ladder, the panel lines, the grilles to the right of the ladder, all over the landing gear, nose wheel, etc. All of that is acrylic wash, it's all I ever use. The gear was intentionally left pretty dirty so there are a lot of washed areas on it. No large areas like yours but you can see that the results are pretty smooth.

And yes I do know the mouth has a couple of wrinkles in it. That's the third attempt on that $!%#* decal and I had enough of it.

wow... outstanding build Scott!

Luis... I haven't had that problem either.. wierd.. here is my cockpit I am working on at present for a F3F-2 at Pearl Harbor, the floor is done with W&N Paynes Grey with more areas to follow:



How much water are you using with the sludge wash? I thin mine to look like coffee... it's thin and flows but totally opaque.. I also use a flat brush to mic it rubbing it into the bottom of the pallete I use for my washes to make sure it is mixed good...

are you gloss clear coating first? I am sure you do, it's just a rhetorical question trying to figure out what is happening... (basically I was talking /typing/ to myself haha)

---edit--- you say when you mix your acrylic with water you see grains in the bottom? it may be the paints' fault then... with me the paint I put in the water is like a piece of axle grease until I use a flat brush to mix it then it dissolves entirely into the water....

I think you have a bad tube of paint-- the pigment is not ground as fine as it should be. I've had the problem with the odd tube from most artist paint manufacturers. There are three solutions:

1) Pass the solution through women's hose to filter out the big chunks.

2) Or get a new tube.

3) Note, there is also the possibility that something in the thinner you are using is causing the pigment to clump. An additive in the soap perhaps? Try it with windex or rubbing alcohol.

i tried experimenting and thought of using dishwashing soap instead of liquid soap. the results were better but it still had those stupid grains.. i got frustrated and bought some W&N watercolor instead/. worked pretty good though.. is this ok? how is it in comparison to acrylics?

and Nat, i think your right, i might have gotten a bad tube.. i know because i mixed it with "just water" and already the grains were visible.. but i'll try that windex or alcohol just in case. thanks scott,tho and nat..

BTW, that is a fantastic build scott! and great seat nat

Artist's watercolors work just fine, Luis. I used them for a while until I switched over to artist's acrylics, and I know a couple of people who use them exclusively. That should work fine for you.

Washes are just like everything else to do with modeling. Once we find something that works the way we want it to we tend to stick with that method. I like acrylics, others like watercolor, oil, or enamel. The end results are all that matter.

Thanks scott looks like your up early.btw, i recently tried using tamiya flatbase with future and got good results. i used your advice on 1:4.. but what if i want to go "flatter"? is there a 1:3? just wondering.. thanks again!

Luis - I've used watercolors with good results, and as Scott said we use what we know and like, I've settles into acrylics and oils for my washes..

As far as the Future- it's all in there with ratios...

http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

And 3:1 Future to flat base was specifically mentioned in there I believe..

good luck!!!!

thanks tom, i knew i saw that 3:1 somewhere..