There are multiple instances where you might find that your Citadel paint is too thin for what you are trying to do. You have probably seen articles online that say it’s okay to add certain household products to your paint to thicken it. As simple as this might seem, you shouldn’t do this.
The best way to thicken your Citadel paint that is too thin is to use an acrylic medium that is specifically designed to thicken the consistency. These mediums can be modeling paste or texture gel.
If your paint is too runny, there are some other things you can try before adding a thickening agent. Sometimes, all it takes is a quick stir or shake to mix back everything back together and thicken the paint.
What Can You Add to Paint to Make It Thicker?
You need to be strategic and careful with what you add to your paint to thicken the consistency. The best product that you can use is one that is specifically designed for thickening acrylic paint like Citadel. For the best results, you should splurge and spend a little more on higher quality acrylic thickening mediums like texture gel or modeling paste.
You will always need to check the label to make sure that the product you are purchasing is designed for acrylic paints. There are thickening agents for other paints that will have ingredients that don’t mix with acrylics.
It is also important to make sure that you check the label to see if the product dries opaque or clear and whether it has a glossy or matte finish. The label should also say if the product will have any impact on the color of the paint. This will help you choose which one you want to use based on the specific miniature you are painting.
Adding your acrylic thickening medium to your paint is extremely easy. For the best results, you should transfer your Citadel paint into a different bowl that has plenty of space for you to add in the thickening medium allows you to stir without making a mess everywhere.
Start by slowly adding the acrylic thickening medium to the paint. It is easier to add more than it is to take some out. Stir in between each addition of thickening medium to make sure that you don’t add too much.
This will help you control the consistency and avoid making your paint too thick. It is commonly recommended that the thickening medium should not be more than one-fourth the amount of paint.
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What Do You Do if Your Paint Is Too Runny?
Runny paint is something everyone will have to deal with at one point. You might be tempted to just throw the paint away, but you might not have to. There are several solutions you can try before you resort to throwing your paint away and heading to the store to buy more.
The very first thing you should do if your paint is too runny is try to shake it or stir it. When paint sits for a long period of time, the solid pigments will sink down to the bottom and the liquids will rise to the top. If this is the case, you should be able to stir your paint pot and the paint will thicken up.
You can also try to use a tiny bit of acrylic thinning medium. This might seem counterproductive, but it will work to separate thick chunks of the paint and even out the consistency. You should only try this if you know for sure that there are chunks in the paint that need to be separated.
If there aren’t any chunks and your paint is just runny, you can try to add an acrylic medium that is meant for thickening paints. This includes products like modeling paste or texture gel. These products will mix in with your paint to get rid of the watery consistency.
What Not to Do
Just like there are things you can do right, there are also things that you can do wrong when thickening your Citadel paints. You might see some online articles that say it is a good idea to add regular household items into your paint to thicken it. While it seems like a great idea and super convenient, you will want to avoid doing this.
The biggest concern with adding something like cornstarch or flour to your paint is the impact the item will have on the longevity of your paint. While these household items will allow you to thicken your paint now, it probably won’t last long on your painting.
You will also need to consider the workability of your paint after adding different substances to it. Paints are made with a formula that makes them easy to use and work onto your canvas, or in this case your miniatures, and adding flour or cornstarch can impact this consistency negatively.
Another negative impact you need to worry about is how the actual color of the paint will look after you add cornstarch or flour. You can experience a shift in hue that might happen immediately or over time. For example, your red might turn into a pink and ruin your entire painting.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with paint that is too runny can be incredibly frustrating because you can have a hard time getting it to stick to your models. Luckily, you can easily thicken up your paint and make it easier to use on your miniatures.
You can first try to thicken the paint without adding anything to it by mixing it to reincorporate the pigments with the liquids. If this doesn’t work, you will need to consider adding an acrylic medium to thicken the paint. It is best to use an acrylic thickening medium like a modeling paste or texture gel.
There are also some things you should avoid when trying to thicken your paint. You should never add household items like cornstarch or flour to your paint because they can have negative impacts on your paint consistency.