Any advice on how i can "make" liquid black for an undercoat or priming the canvas as one would with liquid white? Can I just add thinner to black paint and use that? Also, can you mix acrylic and oil paint?
Making liquid black
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Docluv2run You cannot mix acrylic and oils: chemistries are different.
liquid black: check articles section, somebody wrote about liquid black. I had article about liquid white. However liquid black is a bit trickier. Check what pigments in the Bob Ross liquid black ( it may actually be mix of blue and brown, green and alizarin) add oil to it and thinner. If you just use a lot of thinner it will not have covering power to make it super dark. Proportions of oil and thinner : work out on your own as it will depend how long you paint and how long you need it to stay wet. More thinner - means faster drying time and sinking into the canvas. You just need to try and see what works for you. I would say premix oil and thinner 1:1 and start adding to your paint few drops at a time and see when you get the consistency you like and can manage on canvas.
In oil painting: there is no right or wrong way as there are different techniques - it is understanding of your materials and making your supplies to help you achieve your objectives with less stress. Only solution is to go and try it out.
Docluv2run if having 1:1 mix of oil and thinner makes it feel slippery add more solvent. If too scratchy add oil.
It will also depend on quality of your canvas as some canvases pull paint inside them and do not allow move it later on, so as you see it is trial and error and finding your own solution.
you can do it! Just open your mind that there are no single super solution that fits all and be ready to learn, analyze and scrape unsuccessful attempts. This will give you a lot of freedom and will remove stress of trying to do things “correct” way.
thanks sunnylady.....I will do the trial and error. Somehow I think that is best since it is a better way to learn. The other option I thought of this morning was to use a combo of liquid clear and black oil paint. Will let you know how it works out and what combo works best. Appreciate the advice!
I did the liquid clear and carbon black oil paint. It's consistency was fine and worked out well since I didn't have liquid black. I did the Ocean Sunrise from guest artist Audrey Golden and was pretty happy with the results.
Docluv2run great news! Just keep in mind if too much liquid clear and painting stays vertical all paint can slide down. We had Voy Kay (member of 2”) with such issue. But maybe he had too much as first layer…