How do you make acrylic paint flow on canvas?

To make acrylic paint flow better on canvas, you can use a few techniques including the addition of flow improver to your paint.

Methods to Enhance Acrylic Paint Flow

Here are some methods to achieve better flow with acrylic paints on canvas:

Thinning acrylic paint with water is a common method to improve its flow. Water reduces the paint's viscosity, making it easier to spread.

How to: Gradually add small amounts of water to your paint, mixing thoroughly after each addition, until you reach your desired consistency.
Considerations: Adding too much water can dilute the pigment, resulting in a less vibrant color.

Flow improvers are designed specifically to improve the flow and leveling properties of acrylic paint.

How to: Add a few drops of flow improver to your mixing water, and then mix the water with the paint. The flow improver helps the paint flow off the brush better.
Considerations: Be cautious not to add too much, as this may cause the paint to become frothy or create small bubbles when spread, as stated in the provided reference.

Several types of acrylic mediums can be used to enhance flow.

Pouring Medium: Pouring mediums are designed for creating fluid art and can greatly increase flow.
Retarder Medium: Retarder slows down drying time, giving the paint more time to flow and level.
Glazing Medium: Glazing mediums make the paint more transparent, which can be useful for layering and blending techniques.

The surface of your canvas can also influence how well the paint flows.

Gesso: A smooth and well-primed canvas (often achieved with gesso) provides a better surface for paint to flow.
Wet Surface: Slightly dampening your canvas with water can sometimes help paint to spread more easily. This method must be used carefully since it can greatly affect the paint consistency.

Test: Always test your mixture on a small area before applying it to your main artwork.
Layering: When using flow mediums, work in thin layers to prevent the paint from becoming overly thick and pooling.
Brush Selection: Using a soft brush can aid the flow of paint and reduce the appearance of brush strokes.
Workspace: Make sure your canvas is horizontal to allow the paint to flow evenly.

Method	Description	Pros	Cons
Water	Dilute the paint with water.	Simple and cost-effective.	May reduce color vibrancy.
Flow Improver	Add a few drops of flow improver to the mixing water.	Improves paint flow without diluting pigment.	Using too much can cause bubbles and frothing.
Pouring Mediums	Use acrylic mediums made for pouring.	Enhances flow significantly and is useful for fluid art.	Can be more costly than other methods.
Retarder Medium	Mix paint with a retarder medium.	Gives paint more time to flow and level.	May slow drying time significantly.

By utilizing these methods you can effectively adjust the flow of your acrylic paint to achieve your desired results on canvas.