Atelier Interactive Acrylics

Kayleen Stewart · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 1793 Location: Yarra Valley

Have you used rehardened on the canvas first?
That slows acrylic up a lot.

By the way I have read up on other forums the response to this product and one comment was that it could be used like egg tempera and that it took a little getting used to.

Omphaloskeptic · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 855 Location: Merimbula

Kayleen Stewart · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 1793 Location: Yarra Valley

Sorry O
Typo: I meant to write - Retardener Embarassed

Omphaloskeptic · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 855 Location: Merimbula

Brad Buchel · Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 4:00 pm Post subject: Re - Atelier Interactive Acrylics

We actually interviewed Jim Cobb in December, Jim is the founder of Chroma, he and his staff invented Atelier Interactive. The interview with Jim will be online as part of http://www.artinterview.com.au soon... Very Happy

Brad.
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Kayleen Stewart · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 1793 Location: Yarra Valley

domestic goddess · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Brisbane

A quick question....
I've been using the Atelier Interactice acrylics intermixed with the older ones for a while with no probs, but now want to play with the longer drying time offered by the new formulation. Have any of you been able to buy the fine mist sprayer made by Chroma to complement these paints?..or can anyone recommend a fine sprayer in its place. I've tried every art shop I can find, the sprayer doesn't seem to be supplied in Aus.

Brad Buchel

DJH · Joined: 25 Dec 2005 Posts: 19 Location: Caloundra

I bought my little (250 ml) Atelier atomiser from the same Art shop in Towoomba that sold me some atelier Interactive acrylics. Any atomiser that gives you a similar nice fine even spray should be fine, I guess.

Kayleen Stewart · Joined: 18 Feb 2006 Posts: 1793 Location: Yarra Valley

A cheap $1.50 spray bottle usually found in the gardening section works well. I use one for my acrylic and watercolours.

minxdragon · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 2596 Location: Melbourne

I so have to try this Very Happy

sounds like fun!
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Omphaloskeptic · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 855 Location: Merimbula

I'm finally getting the hang of working with these paints. A little experience along with the Interactive specific mediums has made it a lot easier to achieve certain effects. The Slow Medium & Fast Medium/Fixer are finally available here, long after much of the rest of the world had them.

Both of them came in really handy on the piece 310.652 which I just posted over in the ab/con forum.

The Slow Medium works nicely in extending the open time and with judicious use of water spray one can work and rework subtle blending over a large area without much hassle. I use an airbrush to spray the water. It's much easier to control and to evenly cover a large area. (my compressor makes about as much noise as a refrigerator so it isn't a bother)

The piece mentioned above is on C.P. watercolour paper that has 2-3 coats of gesso and was done in several layers. The base was a transparent gradation of a neutral yellow at the top to a red-orange at the bottom and additional variations to the sides. Using the Slow Medium and water mist I could gradually blend and make adjustments over the whole piece rather than in sections.

This layer was covered with Fast Medium/Fixer to enable working over it with glazes, misting with water for blending, scumbling, etc. without worrying about disturbing what's underneath.

After the ground layers were fully developed and textured another layer of Fixer was applied and then the dark shapes were added. Rubbing out portions after the paint was dry to the touch was used to develop textures and forms by exposing the bright transparent colours underneath. The texture of the watercolour paper and the way the paint wipes off the Fixer layer can provide some nice effects.

Finally another layer of the Fixer went on and the final adjustments of hue and temperature were made.

I really like being able to work freely knowing that I can always go back to the stage in the underlying layer. I had tried this using the Atelier Binder Medium but found that it could effect the underlying layer more than the Fixer and didn't seem to offer as much protection. I also found the Slow Medium very useful. The non-Interactive specific Atelier Mediums don't seem to respond to the water spray in the same way, with them you lose some of the 'Interactive' qualities of the paints.

minxdragon · Joined: 24 May 2005 Posts: 2596 Location: Melbourne

The more I think about it the more I am getting interested in doing some acrylic work, (more than I have done). I like the idea of the less toxicity (I am NOT interested in Genesis please don't suggest them) and Liam hates Turps! (there are other considerations as well..) having used them for a bit O, would you say the interactive ones behave more like oils?
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'A vision's just a vision if it's only in your head, if noone gets to see it it's as good as dead- it has to come to life!'

Website: http://www.jennierosenbaum.com
Blog: http://jenniespalette.com

Omphaloskeptic · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 855 Location: Merimbula

Hi Minxie,

One area where the Atelier Interactive are more like oils is the longer open time and the consequent ability to easily blend and adjust large areas. I don't have a lot of experience with regular acrylics because I found the rapid onset of the 'stringy' stage too constraining.

Although in some ways I prefer oils, they present the opposite problem for me with the much longer drying time leading to long waits between layers.

BTW, I use M. Graham, a very fine quality walnut oil based paint and don't use turps or any other solvent when painting or cleaning up. You might consider them if you want to continue with oils without the toxicity of solvents and the smells. And if you run out of salad oil the walnut oil tastes wonderful!