Painting with acrylic paint is a recurring thing when painting furniture or house walls, but sometimes this type of paint can be somewhat liquid, and more so when the paint can is freshly opened. Let’s see then, a step guide in which we explain how to thicken acrylic paint.
The acrylic paint also called paint water or plastic paint is a type of paint easy application also dries fast, but also a painting something liquid which requires several passes or layers, if, for example, we want to paint a wall with a specific color and let’s see that it does not remain of the desired intensity or also when we want to use it for a dimensional effect. Luckily we can find products and remedies to thicken the paint as we see below.
Steps to thicken the paint
- It uses thick gel: A thickening agent that can regulate the consistency of the paint, especially the one that is acrylic, making it even brighter and with a superficial shine, to create a unique finish is the thick gel that we can easily buy in paint stores oo online. There are different types of thick gel: shiny, opaque and semi-glossy. Gel thickens acrylic paint, creates a brighter finish, and is a great choice for college work. It allows the painter to use dough techniques or even textured enamels. The gels are easy to use, just mix the paint and gel carefully little by little and use a spatula or a brush to apply the paint to the chosen surface. Thick gels change the glossy finish of acrylic paint into a matte, smooth, and non-reflective appearance.
- Use glossy gel or thickening paste: Glossy gels improve the existing gloss of the paint and allow you to paint the walls with thinner coats as the paint will be thicker, but a little more transparent at the same time. Semi-gloss gels are made by combining the thick, glossy gels to create the semi-gloss effect of the paint. A structured gel will add even more thickness. On the other hand, adding paste to paint is a great alternative to gels. Modeling paste is another way to thicken acrylic paint. With a small amount of paste, a three-dimensional finish can be produced on the chosen surface. The modeling paste is slightly difficult to mix without the use of a spatula and a good trowel. It provides the ability to sculpt, sand and dry use.
- Use cornmeal: A different option to thicken the paint is to use starch or cornmeal. Using household products may not be of interest to everyone, but it is an inexpensive option. However, cornstarch used as a thickening medium may not allow the paint to age well. Combine a cup and a half of water with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in a saucepan and heat over low heat until it forms a thick consistency. Once the consistency is as thick as the dough, remove the pot from the heat and allow it to cool. After the mixture is cold, add the paint until it reaches the desired consistency to work. Put the remaining thickening agent you’ve created in a container with a nice lid, to keep it the next time you use it.
- Use talcum powder: Talcum is another option that provides a uniform consistency to the paint but can be slightly greasy. Just apply a little talc (half a cup will suffice) in the paint and mix with the spatula until you achieve the desired consistency.
