Forget About It

Are you frustrated because a portion of your art just isn’t working? Instead of hiding it in the dark recesses of your closet, try one of these options. These techniques can be used to fix just about every problem you may be having with a difficult painting.

TECHNIQUE ONE: Erase It

Did you know that alcohol acts like an eraser even on dried acrylic? Yep, it’s a handy thing to know.

Spray rubbing alcohol directly onto the surface and let it sit for a few minutes, then rub off with a paper towel. Repeat as needed. For more control put alcohol on a paper towel, and then rub in the desired area.

TECHNIQUE TWO: Sand it Back

Use sandpaper to create a mysterious look.

This should be done on dried and cured acrylic, otherwise it gets gummy. Try various grits.

TECHNIQUE THREE: Paint More

Paint over a part of the painting you don’t like.

Use heavy-bodied paint or a heavy gel mixed with your desired color. Load up your palette knife and drag it lightly over the surface. You will get broken coverage and the underlying color will peek through.

TECHNIQUE FOUR: Cover It Up

If all else fails, glue something on top of it.

A thin rice paper was glued on top with polymer medium. Portions of the background show through, but the letters unify the piece.

TECHNIQUE FIVE: Create a Quiet Space

A little bit of gesso goes a long way.

When you need to introduce a light color onto an otherwise dark surface, you will need to add white first. Select an area and paint with gesso or light modeling paste. Let dry and add a light color over the gesso or paste.