Painting Clean-up

Bird in a Cage

Splatter, Spills, and Spoils It

When you clean up, you can get everything but what is on the canvas. A splatter on the canvas can be pretty, artful, or appropriate. You don't have to paint over it unless it gets painted over in a second layer. Usually, splatters are so small that they will not be seen anyway. If you are a careful painter, you won't have many splatters.

Splatter should land on an unimportant tabletop or a sheet for catching drips. Mostly it won't go on the wall. Always save a small can of extra house paint from repainting the walls to paint over splatter, if you have a problem with doing that a lot. I haven't had a problem with it. But some people get messy with paint. If you are messy, try painting in the basement where splatters don't matter.

You shouldn't spill your water jars, palette paint, tube paint, or water on your brush. Sometimes you can get enough water on one big brush that it is enough to be a spill. I have never spilled. If you are a beginner painter, you may have a problem. Start small with paper, watercolor, and small jars and brushes. Once you have built up the muscle, you can handle your water jars without dropping them. Even though the paint is diluted, if you spill it, it will stain the rug.

Also, be careful not to knock it over moving your arm. Place jars beside the canvas, not in front of it. When you swipe, you won't swipe near the jars. Spills should be cleaned up quickly. Wet acrylic will wash off mostly with plenty of water or soap and water to reduce the stain. Dry acrylic won't wash off. No real worries, it shouldn't spill.

If you think your splatter or spill has spoiled it, look again when it dries. It may be a stopping point. A ruin that finishes the painting. You may like it dry. It may be painted over with another layer. It may be pretty seen with a new layer next to it. Pick one and try it, if you are unsure. You can still save your painting for a splatter or spill.

Splatter, spill, or spoil it can be included in your story about your painting, if you find story in it. Sometimes a splatter is a story, but too small to tell about. You pick the pieces of your story you tell. Leave one out. It is still a good story. Say, "My splatter also adds this to my story." It is fun.