The question of thinning paints applies to several other painting topics as well.....
So, the question---\"Why do I thin my paint?\"
First, the answer isn\'t \"because everyone does it\"----
The only reason you do *anything* to the paint, or your painting tools, is to accomplish a specific goal. I\'ll explain via example:
Result: The basecoat shows brushstrokes.
Fix: Thin your paint and/or work wet-to-wet with your brush.
Result: My glazes are splotchy.
Fix: They are losing surface tension. Add some binder. You can effectively add binder by removing water---or by adding a medium. It\'s all relative and depends on what you\'re trying to accomplish.
Result: My washes won\'t recede properly.
Fix: Break the surface tension with an additive. Add water or flow improver--whichever you like better, of course.
Desired outcome: I need the paint to be transparent for a layer.
--Thin the paint to the point it\'s transparent.
Desired outcome: I want to cloak to be blue.
--Pick up a blue bottle of paint.
Desired outcome: I want my blue paint to be transparent for layering.
Thin the blue paint.
Anyway...I know some of those are a bit facetious, but the point in fact is this:
If you want to hammer a nail, why do you use the flattened head as opposed to the claw?
Because it works better that way.
That should be the same reason you do anything to your paint or to your tools----because it works better when you do.
The trick is this---\"working better\" is subjective. That is, it has to work better from YOUR perspective, not someone else\'s.
Cheers,
Kev
