As an acrylic painter, achieving a smooth and even paint application on the canvas and avoiding a patchy paint situation is essential for me. Yet sometimes, I still encounter the frustrating issue of patchy paint, where things appear uneven and inconsistent. But fear not! In this blog post, we’ll explore the common reasons behind this problem and share some simple yet effective tips on how to fix it.
Understanding Patchy Paint on Canvas:
Patchy paint on canvas occurs when the paint distribution is uneven, resulting in a blotchy or stippled look. There can be a couple reasons behind this problem, this includes:
Improper surface preparation:
If the canvas is not properly primed or prepared before painting, the paint may not adhere evenly, resulting in patchy areas.
Not letting paint layers dry:
Acrylics dry fast especially if you are not using any mediums. This can result in a rush to try and do the most in the shortest space of time. Causing us to start painting over a tacky paint layer which makes the new layer mix into the previous one. Leading to an uneven or blotchy application.
Adding too much water:
Adding water to acrylic paint is great to create different effects,work the paint for longer and so on. But sometimes using too much water and applying the paint too thinly can cause a patchy or somewhat stippled effect on your painting.
So,How Do You Fix Patchy Paint on Canvas?
Thankfully, there are several simple tips you can follow to fix patchy paint on canvas and achieve a smoother and more even paint application:
Prep your canvas properly:
Make sure your canvas is properly primed before you start painting.You don’t have to worry about this step if you have purchased an already primed canvas. Priming helps the paint adhere better to the surface, resulting in a more even application. Gesso is a commonly used primer that is suitable for acrylics. Check out my previous post about Gesso and canvas prep.
Let the Paint Layers Fully Dry :
Since acrylics dry quite quickly compared to other paint mediums, this shouldn’t take too long. Especially if you are not using a medium which slows drying time. However, in the case you’re impatient, you can use a hairdryer to speed up the drying process. This ensures the paint is fully dry so that you can start on your new layer. Painting in thinner layers can also help the layer dry faster.
Add small amounts of water to acrylic paint:
If you’re using acrylic paint, adding a small amount of water can help improve its flow and spread, resulting in a smoother application. Start by adding a few drops of water and mixing well to create a smoother texture. Alternatively, you can use a spray bottle filled with water and just lightly mist your palette to keep the paints from getting tacky.
Patchy paint can be frustrating,but I hope this blog post gave you some solutions. Proper surface preparation,allowing layers to fully dry and lessening the amount of water to acrylic paint,are all simple tips that can help you achieve a smoother and more patch free paint application on your canvas. Remember, if you ever encounter the question of ‘how to fix uneven acrylic paint?’ In the future, you now have some solutions to try out.
