How to Get Rid of Lines With Heavy-Body Acrylic Paint

Brush strokes can be difficult to erase in heavy-body acrylics.

Heavy-body acrylic paints are a thicker, creamier type of acrylic paint when compared to traditional, soft-body acrylic paints. Because of their viscosity, heavy-body paints retain more texture and brush strokes than soft-body paints. While this is useful when creating textures or peaks in your painting, there are some occasions when brush strokes and lines left behind distract from the painting itself. In these cases, it is necessary to apply the paint in a way that does not leave lines.

Things You'll Need

• Heavy-body paint
• Paintbrush
• Small, cranked painting knife

Instructions

1. Apply the heavy-body acrylic paint with a paintbrush, using a little more paint than necessary to cover the area.

2. Immediately follow with a painting knife, held parallel to the canvas. Using a very light touch and keeping the knife absolutely parallel, gently move the wet paint across the area, erasing brush stokes or lines.

3. Continue until there are no visible lines remaining in the paint. If necessary, add more paint with the paintbrush and continue the process until you are satisfied with the results.

Tips & Warnings

• It can take practice to consistently use this technique successfully. If the painting knife does not remain absolutely parallel to the canvas, the knife will leave lines in the paint.

References

• Liquitex: Products: Paints: Heavy Body Artist Colors
• Painting Ideas and Techniques: Paint Brushes and Palette Knives