Two paint strips of red and blue: painted wet-in-wet, the colors melt into a soft blend; painted onto dry paint, they meet in a hard edge.

Concept · Working With Each

Blending

Soft blends in acrylic depend on keeping the paint wet long enough to work.

Oil needs no such help.

  • Mist the palette with water to keep acrylic wet.
  • Add a little retarder, an additive made for acrylic that slows drying.
  • Too much retarder leaves a weak film that may stay sticky, and slows full drying.

See

Image: Made for this site · Original work

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