How to Fix Mistakes in an Acrylic Painting

Steps

1. 1. Spot a Ridge of Excess Acrylic Paint on the Canvas

   Load a flat brush and paint a stroke the way you normally would. If you carry too much paint, a thick ridge builds up along the edge of the stroke.

   Tip: Wipe a little paint off the brush on the palette edge before each stroke.

   

2. 2. Wipe the Acrylic Paint Ridge Toward the Same Colour

   Use a fingertip to wipe the ridge away. The key is direction.

   Tip: Keep a damp paper towel close so your finger stays clean between wipes.

   

3. 3. Smooth the Wiped Acrylic Patch With a Clean Brush

   A finger wipe can leave an odd texture. Wipe most of the paint off your brush so it is almost dry, then stroke lightly over the patch to even it out.

   Tip: Light pressure works best. Pressing hard pushes the paint back into a ridge.

   

4. 4. Wipe a Fresh Acrylic Mistake Off With Your Finger

   When a whole stroke is wrong and you notice right away, wipe it hard with your finger. Most of the wet paint comes straight off the canvas.

   Tip: Act fast. Thin acrylic can dry in a few minutes.

   

5. 5. Scrub the Acrylic Mistake With a Wet Flat Brush

   Dip a clean flat brush in clear water and dab off the excess, leaving it quite wet. Scrub back and forth over the stain.

   Tip: Check your rinse water. Muddy water puts colour back on the canvas.

   

6. 6. Lift the Thinned Acrylic Paint With a Dry Brush

   Rinse the brush, then squeeze it completely dry on a paper towel. Press it onto the wet mark and it soaks up the thinned paint.

   Tip: A thirsty dry brush lifts more than a paper towel does on its own.

   

7. 7. Turn a Leftover Acrylic Mark Into a Leaf

   If the paint dried before you caught it, try making the mistake part of the picture. Heather turns a stubborn green mark into a little falling leaf with a fine brush.

   Tip: Repeat the new shape once or twice elsewhere so it looks planned.

   

8. 8. Paint Over the Dry Acrylic Mistake in Background Colour

   For a dry mistake you want gone, lift as much as you can with the water method first so no raised shape shows through. Then mix a colour to match the background.

   Tip: Test the mix on a hidden edge and let it dry before you paint the patch.

   

9. 9. Blend the Acrylic Cover Patch With Matte Medium

   The cover patch will have a hard edge where it meets the dry background. Without rinsing, dip your brush into a little matte medium.

   Tip: Use only a little paint and medium on the brush. Less blends better.