So why is your acrylic pour cracking? Cracking occurs in acrylic paint pours when the top layer of paint dries faster than the underlying layer. As the bottom layer dries, it pulls at the semi-hardened skin on top and when the force is too much, a crack is created. Newly formed cracks will continue to widen until the paint is fully dried. While cracking is sometimes unavoidable, there are a few things you can do to limit the possibility of cracking. In addition, if a painting does crack, you can potentially salvage the painting by using some of the recommendations below.
If you are reading this blog you have, most likely, already had a painting crack. I can definitely feel your pain. As I mentioned before it is bound to happen to all artists. The consistency of your paint has a tremendous affect on potential cracking when the pour paints dry. Alcohol and water do not contain any binders. Because acrylic paint is water soluble, these additives also tend to break down the binders in the paint. Small amounts will not have enough of an effect on paint and are valuable to control consistency.
Too much of either will increase the potential of cracking. With thin paint, the top coat tends to dry very quickly. With thin paints, there is less binder to hold the paint together when dry. Having less binder reduces the stress that the semi-dried, but uncured, top skin can handle. The paint below will then dry and contract sideways, expanding the crack. Using acrylic pour paint that is too thick can have a similar effect that thin paint has. With very thick paint, as with thin paint, the top layer of pain dries the fastest and forms a skin.
The paint underneath takes longer to dry. When the paint is too think, there is more contraction happening as the water and solvents evaporate and move out of the paint. This causes stress. Acrylics were made to handle some stress, which is why they are considered more durable and flexible than other types of paints. However, when a very thick coat of paint dries and the volume of paint begins to shrink due to evaporation, that stress level can exceed what the dried top coat can handle and cause cracks to form.
Paint of any consistency, applied in a very thick layer, will also increase the likelihood of cracks forming during the drying process. Coats of too-thick paint are more common in the center of a stretched canvas painting surface where the canvas sags in the center due the the weight of the paint.
Many low quality white paints are made with a chalky materials that are notorious for cracking. I recommend never using craft paint in any shade of white off white, tan, eggshell, etc. How fast the paint dries can have a significant impact on cracks forming. As was mentioned previously, the top layer of paint drying too rapidly in relation to the drying speed of the bottom layer is a surefire way to increase the potential of cracks.
When a painting dries in a location that is too hot, the layers will tend to dry and different rates. Similarly, if there is not enough humidity in the air, the drying process for the top and bottom layers will happen at much different rates. Because acrylic paints are made of water and water based solvents, freezing temperatures will most likely cause cracking and other undesirable affects.
Again, this difference in drying times between layers of paint increases the chance of cracking. You can read more about the drying process of acrylic pour paintings here. Now that you understand what can cause cracking in your acrylic pours, how can we prevent it from happening? Try some of the steps below:. The easiest and most practical option to fix that cracking in your pour painting is to fill the cracks in with paint. Be sure to add slightly more than the crack will take as it will shrink as it dries.
Another option, which I highly recommend trying at least once, is using a single color of paint. This can be one from the original painting or a new color, like a metallic or pearlescent. Another viable option with a pour painting with cracks it is leave it be. Many famous paintings have cracks. Time, the elements, or simply moving the piece can create cracks. Many people that appreciate art, also appreciate the imperfection of the work. Sometimes as an artist we want everything to be uniform and perfect.
Get the opinion of those around you. Another option you have is to just give up on the piece altogether. There is nothing wrong with this option. This is art people. There is no right or wrong answer. One of the best parts about acrylic pour painting is that once a painting is dried and cured, you have the option to pour over the top of the piece to create something new.
Why is craze cracking? Similar to a scar on skin, these crazes look slightly different than skin around them and will reflect light making them more noticeable.
What causes paint to craze? Crazing can be caused imperfections in the acrylic paint or paint medium, environmental variables, paint consistency, painting surface preparation, and many other factors. Crazes form during the drying process. Read more about the acrylic pour drying processes here. I took up acrylic paint pouring a few years ago after binging fluid pours on Instagram and YouTube.
I love that a left-brained technology nerd like myself can create amazing art. Hopefully this websites allows you to experience how fun acrylic paint pouring really is. See more about me here. Yeah so I got a little overenthusiastic and globed ungodly amounts of gesso without the layers drying properly. Your blog explained the process behind my mistake well. Wonder what the science is behind that. Fun fact: I left my canvas on the floor while I was layering with gesso and the floorboards beneath the canvas were became very cold!
Stuff is interesting. I should go to bed. Acrylic paint is very finicky with heat for sure. Thanks so much for all advice. Thanks again. You are most welcome. I am sorry to hear your painting is cracking. If you have mostly big cracks on only a few cracks you could try filling them in with a complementary color or a neutral color to give the piece some pizzazz. If you decide to paint over it make sure you fill in the gaps and let it dry first or it will causing odd mounding in the new painting.
Any advice on using house paint successfully as my base? Not sure what is it about white specifically. I normally use a bit of Liquitex pouring medium or glue-all when I mix whites to help keep this from happening. People like Elyse Fournier YouTube use house paint as their base coat with quite a lot of success, especially for pearl cells on the outside of their paintings. There is definitely a slight difference between latex house paint and acrylic artists paints and as a former house painter I can tell you that anything more than a tiny coat of latex paint is going to crack.
When you varnish or seal the paint will the presence of the cracks be eliminated? Or is it recommended to fill them before you seal the canvas? Cracks will still show through finishes. A thick coat like resin will remove the texture of the crack because it is so thick but it will still be evident when you look inside at the painting.
Thanks for the article and all the information. I personally like the cracks and think it adds character and depth to my paintings. Not sure my client will agree though. So true. I have filled in some of my cracks with complementary colors and they really do create some awesome interest to the work. Acrylic paint pouring is a two-edged sword.
Keep a journal of your paint ratios and mixes and adjust slightly each painting to help you narrow down what is causing the problems. Thanks for your advice. Drying cracks example: As it can be seen, the under layer becomes exposed. On the other hand, ageing cracks are developed over a much more extended period of time. They are usually formed as a result of the interaction between all the materials of the painting, from the support to the varnish layer, as well as the relation of all these components with the environmental conditions.
They appear frequently in paintings on canvas. Tacking garland cracks are created due to an excessive tension of the fabric during the stretching of the canvas. Some other cracks are associated with accidents that happened to the painting during its lifetime. Some examples of this type of external damage are spiral cracks, usually developed as a result of an impact, or feather cracks also called herring bone cracks generated as a consequence of an accidental scraping of the painting in the back, for example during the keying of the stretcher.
Spiral cracks are usually developed as a result of an impact. Feather cracks also called herring bone cracks are generated as a consequence of an accidental scraping of the painting in the back. Cracks per se are not a problem. They belong to the aged painting and they are part of it. The problem arises when they become associated with a failure of the binding agent producing layer separation. Here are the top reasons why your latest paint job already has cracks. Prior to painting, there are many preliminary tasks to complete like selecting a color, finish, and painting tool.
One very important task that often gets overlooked is preparing the surface before painting it. This is critical for a smooth paint job with no hiccups. This will help ensure that the paint adheres to the surface correctly and looks at how it is supposed to in the end once it dries. Poor preparation is a common culprit in why paint cracks, chips, peels, and bubbles. Before painting, always make sure the surface is clean.
This will prevent dirt, dust particles and any other gunk stuck to the wall from being sealed forever and potentially ruining the aesthetic of your new paint. Another trick that can make all the difference is filling-in dents or holes in the wall. Depending on the surface, you may also need to sand it down and use a primer. They say that you get what you pay for and when it comes to paint, this can be very true.
The less you pay for paint could also mean the less likely it is to stand the test of time. This could result in it peeling, cracking, or chipping more easily and sooner than a higher quality paint would. Prior to selecting your paint, make sure to do your due diligence.
It never hurts to research a product, ask around and read the reviews. This will help inform your decision and give you a heads up if problems are in store later down the road. Of course, price is usually a big factor in these decisions but consider paying more now for higher quality, longer-lasting paint. You may also save money in the long run investing in better paint by avoiding future retouch and repainting costs. A common reason for cracking paint is an error being made during the painting process.
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