Winsor & Newton Acrylic FLOW IMPROVER

This medium increases the flow of acrylic colors without changing color strength and creates crisp edges. In 2.5 oz. bottles.

To Thin or Not to Thin?

Often considered an advanced technique, the art of thinning acrylic paint forms the foundation of the mastery-level skills set. As such, most painters come to learn of the technique later in their careers, long after they have mastered the essential skill of brush control. Unfortunately, this approach essentially amounts to putting the cart before the horse, for once a painter comes to learn how to thin paint, he or she must then endeavor to re-master brush control, often reliving frustrations long since forgotten. Had they instead learned how to properly thin paint from the get-go, much time and energy could have been saved for these artists.

That said, there's no better time like the present to learn this skill and to begin applying it to your own work, no matter if you're a fledgling painter just beginning to explore the vastness of art, or a seasoned veteran looking to take your work to the next level. So, what are you waiting for? Let's get you started.

(Working on miniatures, in particular, requires acumen in this skill.)

Flow improvers, sometimes referred to as "thinners", affect acrylic paint in exactly the manner in which their name implies -- they enhance fluidity and "flow." Unlike water, however, flow improvers don't dilute the pigments within the paint but instead work to maintain color strength and vibrancy by suspending the pigment in solution rather than allowing it to sink, as it will in water. A number of flow improvers also adjust surface tension, which in turn allows the paint to flow more smoothly from the brush.

As if a lack of consensus regarding products and solutions wasn't enough, most painters learning to thin their paints become doubly discouraged by the lack of precise measurements used by experienced painters when adding thinning solution to paint. The art of thinning paint isn't an exact science. Each brand of paint requires different ratios of thinner to paint for different applications, and as with solution creation, where scientific precision falls short, practice and experience must suffice. Be prepared to spend some time experimenting with different ratios and mixtures until you develop a system that works for you and the brand of paint you use. Don't worry; you'll eventually hit on something that does the trick. (If this sounds like we are leaving you in the dark with only whispered promises of perseverance's payoff, we do apologize. But, in fact, practice does make perfect.)