Help Center
MyArtscape Products
Q: Are these
water-soluble paints?
No, our oil paints are
not water-soluble or they cannot be mixed with water. You can, however, use
medium or linseed oil to thin the paints.
Q: I got oil paint on
my clothes. How do I get it off?
If you get oil paint
on your clothes, scoop out the excess paint from the fabric carefully without
spreading it. Treat/blot the remaining paint repeatedly before it dries using
mineral turpentine on a piece of absorbent cloth or paper towel until the paint
totally comes off. If needed, rub in laundry soap and soak in hot water
overnight.
Q: How can I clean oil
paint off my brushes?
• Wipe off excess paint
from the brush using a piece of paper towel or rag.
• Rinse off the
remaining oil paint with odorless thinner or mineral spirits.
• Repeat wiping and
rinsing the brush until all remaining paint is gone.
• Rinse and lather
brush with soap and warm water until it runs clear.
• Using your fingers,
gently reshape the brush head back into its original form.
• Dry the brush,
handle and ferrule by using a brush stand.
Q: Can I use Linseed
Oil with these paints?
Yes, Linseed Oil can
be used as a medium for our MyArtscape oil paint. Take note that linseed oil
will yellow white paint over time.
Q: How long does it
take for oil paint to dry?
Oil paint generally
takes days or even weeks to dry depending on the thickness of your paint and
the temperature of the room you're working in. In a 27C / 80F room for example,
a thin layer of the MyArtscape oil can take about 16 hours to be touch dry.
Thick impastos on the other hand can take a few days or weeks.
Q: How do I prevent my painting from cracking over time?
Remember the ‘Thick
over Thin’ rule in Oil Painting. Since thin layers dry quicker, always apply
thick layers over thin layers to avoid cracking of paint.
Q: What is the Drying
Time for Oil Paint?
Oil paint generally
takes days or even weeks to dry depending on the thickness of your paint and
temperature of the room you're working in. In tropical areas ( 27 C / 80 F ),
a thin layer of the MyArtscape oil paint takes about 16 hours to be touch
dry. Thick impastos, on the other hand, can take a few days or weeks.
If you prefer your
paint to dry quickly, we recommend that you paint in washes or thin layers and
mix a bit of linseed oil with your oil paint. Another trick I've learned from
fellow-artists is to use acrylic paint for the background or as an
underpainting as it only takes a few minutes to dry.
Linseed oil is made from the seeds of the flax
plant. It adds gloss and transparency to paints and is available in several
forms. It dries very thoroughly, making it ideal for underpainting and initial
layers in a painting. Refined linseed oil is a popular, all-purpose, pale to
light yellow oil which dries within three to five days.
Q: Can I use Linseed
Oil with these paints?
Yes, Linseed Oil can
be used as a medium for our MyArtscape oil paint. Note that linseed oil will
yellow white paint over time.
Q: These Oil Paints
are Too Thick
It's true that our oil
paints will be thick with a buttery consistency straight out of the tube.
Depending on how you are painting, most oil paint artists prefer thicker paints
as you can thin it to the desired consistency, especially if you're going to
follow the Fat over Lean rule in oil painting. This is also because making oil
paints thicker will be impossible.
We recommend that you use a palette knife and mix the medium into the paint on
the palette since this helps get the right consistency you want. The brushes
you use are important too. Soft brushes usually intended for watercolors and
acrylics may not work as well as expected with oils so we suggest using a brush
with stiff bristles similar to hog's hair.
You may also want to try acrylic paints if you need to work with something that
flows
smoother. This can be
used for your underpainting.
Q: Do I need to use
Oil Mediums like Gamsol and Galkyd?
It actually depends on
how you plan to use the paint. Our oil paints have a thick and creamy
consistency, which works well for wet-on-wet techniques. If you prefer more
control or fluidity, you may need to use an oil medium like Gamsol and Galkyd.
If you plan to use medium, please do make sure that each layer you work on is
dry before doing another layer.
Q: How long does this
paint last?
Our paints should last
up to 5 years.
Q: Strong odor or
smell on oil paints
It is very rare, but
some customers are more sensitive to the smells of oil paints and may find the
smell too strong to work with.
Our oil paints are
made with linseed oil, which is not really toxic. Usually, with oil paint, the
odor would completely disappear once the paint is completely cured. Oil paint
generally takes days or even weeks to dry depending on the thickness of your
paint and temperature of the room you're working in. Please do work in a
well-ventilated area when you are using the paints.
Turpentine and mineral
spirits are also often used by most oil paint artists, but both are considered
to be toxic and may have had a hand in causing the odor from the painting.
Q: Can I thin my
acrylic paint with water?
Yes! You want to be careful how much water you use. If you use too much water,
the paint will start to take on properties similar to watercolor paint. So you
may want to experiment with adding a lot of water! A more reliable way to thin
the paint is to use an acrylic medium.
Q: How should I clean acrylic paint from my brushes?
- Wipe off excess paint from the
brush using a towel or rag
- Rinse off the remaining acrylic
paint with lukewarm water and mild soap.
- Repeat washing and rinsing the
brush until the water runs clear.
- Shake or wipe off excess water.
- Using your fingers, gently
reshape the brush head back into its original form.
- Dry the brush, handle and
ferrule by using a brush stand.
Q: I got paint on my clothes. How do I get it off?
If you get acrylic paint on your clothes,
always rinse it off immediately with water. Acrylic paint is water soluble and
can be easily removed. However, note that acrylic paint is permanent if it is
allowed to dry.
Q: Can it be used for Paint Pouring? (100ml and 300ml
Bottles)
If you'll take a look at our reviews, one of our customers
even uploaded some of his fantastic work creating cells. Please do note that
our acrylic paints are heavy bodied so you may need to dilute our paints with water,
acrylic medium, or both to get the correct consistency for pouring.
Q: Why is there no
Cadmium Red in your sets?
Our acrylic paints do
not have Cadmium Red included because even though they are standard on most
sets, we found that it's not a very popular color. We do understand that each
paint color is formulated differently but our alternative for Cadmium Red is
Vermillion. This doesn't mean that Cadmium Red is inferior, but we chose to add
Vermillion instead because most artists prefer Vermillion due to its brighter
and stronger pigment compared to Cadmium Red. Cadmium Red also tends to give a
somewhat muddy shade when mixed with other colors compared to Vermillion.
Q: How long does this
paint last?
Our paints should last up to 5 years.
Q: Acrylic Paint Drying
Stages
Our acrylic paints are
a heavy body paint (thicker than normal acrylics).
Acrylics have two
stages of drying and our paints may take longer in the second stage of drying
because of this. During the first stage, thin films of paint can feel dry
within seconds while thick films may take a full day or more to form a skin
over the paint that is dry to the touch. Then the second stage is when the
whole thickness of the film takes time to dry completely. For very thin films,
this may take a few days. Though the skin may feel dry within a matter of
seconds, the paint in the center is still wet and the paint will not adhere to
the surface unless it is completely cured.
The drying stages of acrylic paints can also
be affected by the humidity, temperature, and generally how thick the coat of
paint was used. A painting should not be put into any closed-in storage
environment until fully dry. We recommend placing your painting in a warm room
with low humidity. Lower temperatures will slow down the drying process and
using a dryer or fan directly on the paint surface may cause the paint to crack
or wrinkle.
Q: Drying Too Fast
To lengthen the "open" time or the time before the
acrylic paint dries, you'll need to mix what you call a "retarder" or
an acrylic gel/medium into your paints after applying them to your palette.
Q: Acrylic Paints in Freezing
Temperatures
Acrylic paints cannot withstand prolonged or
repeated freezing. The paint is water-based, and freezing and subsequent
thawing of the water component of the paint can damage the molecular
composition of the product.
The temperature may affect the paint's consistency
so it'll not only be difficult to use but also not as effective as normal. The
ideal temperature for storing the acrylic paints is room temperature, between
60F and 80F (16C - 26C).
Q: How do I Set or Cure the
Acrylic Paint on Fabric?
To set the acrylic paint permanently, iron your
fabric and make sure to put a thin cloth in between so that the paint does not
stick to the iron. You can also iron the opposite side instead.
Q: Can Acrylic Paints be used for the
following?
Airbrushing
Our acrylic paints are
heavy bodied so we don't truly recommend this for airbrushing. You can try
adding airbrush medium to thin it out but heavy bodied acrylics would require a
lot of airbrush medium to get a good airbrush consistency.
Aquarium Ornaments
Although our acrylic
paints are non-toxic, we do not recommend using them on aquarium ornaments.
They have never been tested for this purpose and, over time, may leach
chemicals that are safe to humans, but toxic to fish.
Canvas Shoes
Yes, you can use acrylic
paints to customize canvas shoes. We recommend thinning out our paints with
water first. They may be too thick due to the paints being heavy bodied.
Ceramic
It would depend on the
type of ceramic you are planning to paint on.
If you are planning to
paint on a ceramic dish that you are going to eat on afterward, bake it in an
oven on a low temp after the acrylic paint has dried. Though our paints are
non-toxic, it is not recommended to paint on a surface that will touch your
lips without curing it first through baking.
If you are planning to paint a decorative ceramic piece, it should be ok to
just apply an acrylic topcoat or varnish/sealant after the acrylic paint has
completely dried.
Children's Toys /
Infant Toys
Although our acrylic
paints are non-toxic, we do not recommend using the paint on toys that infants
or little kids may put in their mouths.
Denim
Yes. Be sure to wash
the fabric beforehand to remove any dirt or residue and so that it slightly
shrinks before painting over it. Acrylic paint will feel a little stiff when
dry so it is advisable to mix it with a fabric medium/textile medium to make
the paint softer and the denim comfortable to wear. The fabric medium will also
help the acrylic paint adhere to the cloth better.
Fingernails
Yes. Some nail artists
that would use acrylic paints instead of nail polish since it's much easier to
use. It also dries a lot faster but you would end up with a matte type finish
on instead of the usual glossy ones with polish. You can apply a topcoat to
make it glossy though and it is still removable with acetone.
Galvanized Metal
Yes, they should work
on galvanized metal surfaces! Please do note however that the galvanized metal
needs to be prepared properly to ensure the paint lasts long. You'll want to
clean the metal first since the galvanizing process, which is designed to
prevent rust, leaves an oily film that can prevent coating adhesion.
You'll need to clean the metal first with either vinegar or galvanized metal
cleaner. Galvanized metal also has a specific primer you need to use so that
paint will adhere to it. After applying the primer, you can then paint it using
acrylic paints.
Glass
Yes, our acrylic paint
can be used on glass. Use a tile or glass medium to make the paint adhere to
the glass better. Please also make sure to clean the glass before painting to
get rid of any dirt and oils that may interfere with the paint.
Though our acrylic
paints are non-toxic, we do not recommend using the paint on surfaces that will
touch your lips without at least sealing or curing it first.
Leather
Yes, acrylic paint can
be used on leather. We have seen a lot of people use acrylic paint on leather
shoes and bags just to give their old ones a new look. Make sure that the
leather is not particularly soft or does not wrinkle easily so that the paint
is less likely to crack. Acrylic paints adhere well to leather as it is
water-based. It is advisable to remove any dirt, oil or wax from the leather’s
surface before applying the acrylic paint. Also, consider sealing off the paint
with an acrylic finisher for best results.
Metal
Our acrylic paints
should work on metal and would work better than latex-based paints. You may
need to use a primer before applying paint to make sure it adheres
better.
Murals (Interior and
Exterior)
Yes, our acrylic paint
set should work well alone for an interior mural. Our paints are lightfast and
waterproof so it should be okay, but for exterior murals, since it will be more
exposed to different climates, a top coat or varnish would be needed.
Nylon
If mixed with textile
medium, our acrylic paints can work as a fabric paint for nylon fabrics. If the
fabric will just be displayed and not worn, however, then only the acrylic
paints will do.
Plastic
Yes, the acrylic
paints should work on plastic but for the paints to adhere better, you'll need
to use a primer or apply a top coat.
Polymer Clay
Yes, you can use it on
polymer clay. Bake the clay model first before applying the paint, then use a
gloss when the paint dries. If you prefer, you can also bake the paint with the
clay to cure but this needs to be done at a low temperature.
Pot Holders
Yes! After the paint
dries on the holder, you need to heat set it to “fix” or cure the paint. To
heat set, simply place the painted fabric in the dryer for 15 minutes once the
paint completely dries. You can also heat set by using an iron. Just lay
another cloth over the painted fabric to protect it and iron over the painted
design for a few seconds. This is important since it will make your design
completely dry and safe from washing off.
Resin
We haven't tested this
out personally, but if you'd like to just tint the resin to a different color
(which will still be transparent), you can get a resin dye or tint instead of
acrylic paints. Acrylic paint is generally water-based, so not a great
compatibility when mixed with resin. You can, however, paint resin when cured
or coat acrylic paints with resin when it's dry.
T-Shirts
Yes, you'll need to
let the paint properly dry and set before washing so that the paint will not
smear or wash off. To do this, you can iron the opposite side of the shirt
after you paint it.
Tole Painting
Yes, it works on
almost any surface as long as it doesn't contain wax or oil. Make sure to
thoroughly clean the surface before applying the acrylic paint. It is important
to prime the wood to make sure that the pores are filled and the paint is
absorbed evenly.
Vinyl
The MyArtscape Acrylic
Paint can be used on almost any surface including vinyl as long as the surface
doesn't contain wax or oil. Just please make sure to thoroughly clean the
surface before applying the acrylic paint.
Wax Candles
Our acrylic paints can
be used on wax candles, but you'll need to mix it with a candle painting medium
in order for the paint to stick. It will also help if you dab on the candle
with a piece of cloth and alcohol to remove the oils from the surface, making
the paint adhere easier.
Q: Should I mix water
with the watercolor paint from the tube?
Absolutely! Watercolor
is a transparent medium. You are meant to dilute the paint with water, which
will increase the transparency and make it go further.
Q: How should I clean watercolor paint from my brushes?
- Wipe off excess paint from the
brush using a towel or rag
- Rinse off the remaining
watercolor paint with lukewarm water and mild soap.
- Repeat washing and rinsing the
brush until the water runs clear.
- Shake or wipe off excess water.
- Using your fingers, gently
reshape the brush head back into its original form.
- Dry the brush, handle and
ferrule by using a brush stand.
Q: I got paint on my clothes. How do I get it off?
If you get watercolor paint on your clothes, always rinse it off immediately
with water. Watercolor paint is water soluble and can be easily removed. Always
try to remove watercolor paint before it dries as it may become permanent if it
is allowed to dry.
Q: Mold Developing on
Watercolors
In rare cases, mold can develop on watercolor
paints in a palette. Some of the factors that cause this is when the paint is
left damp with the lid closed on the palette. It’s best to let the paint
air-dry after using it and lightly spray the paint with water again before
using. You can also place cotton balls soaked in tea tree oil inside the
palette to help prevent any mold development. This will not affect the quality
of the paint.
Other causes may be
due to the humidity where the paint is kept. We recommend that you use a
palette with an air-tight lid and only squeeze out the amount you think you’ll
need from the paint tubes.
If mold has already
developed on your watercolors, you’ll need to disinfect your palette using
alcohol or disinfectant liquid. You may scrape the mold off the watercolors,
but it would be best to use fresh paint to prevent further mold development.
Q: There's no
black tube. How do I create my own black pigment out of this set?
Most watercolorists
prefer mixing dark primary colors together to achieve a varied black pigment.
This can give more life to a painting and enable you to adjust the mix to make
it warmer or cooler as needed. In our set, you can combine Prussian Blue,
Crimson and Yellow Lemon to achieve an interesting black pigment or you can
also mix Deep Green and Crimson together to generate Black.
Q: How
long does this paint last?
Our paints should last up to 5 years.
Q: What should I do if
I receive a set with stray hairs?
We
quality check each set before sending them to you, but we know we don't always
get it right. If you receive brushes with stray hairs, please rinse them with
warm water and reshape the heads. In many instances, this will return the hairs
to their original position. If your brush has a single stray hair, you may wish
to take a sharp craft knife and carefully cut the hair at the top of the
ferrule.
Q: How should I clean
my brushes?
·
Wipe off excess paint from the brush using a towel or rag
·
Rinse off the remaining oil paint with odorless thinner or mineral spirits.
·
Rinse off the remaining acrylic/watercolor paint with lukewarm water and mild
soap.
·
Repeat washing and rinsing the brush until the water runs clear.
·
Shake or wipe off excess water.
·
Using your fingers, gently reshape the brush head back into its original form.
·
Dry the brush, handle and ferrule by using a brush stand or the holder (if
provided).
Q: How can I lengthen the lifespan of my brushes?
·
Always clean your brushes
immediately after use.
·
Never allow paint to dry on
the brushes.
·
Never leave the brushes
soaking in water.
·
Never stand the brushes on
their heads.
Q: The paintwork on the handle is chipping off
If
the brushes stand in water for extended periods of time, water can penetrate
the ferrule and into the wood. The wood expands, cracking the paintwork. Although
we treat the wood with a high quality protective oil to prevent this from
happening, we suggest that you avoid soaking the brushes in water for hours.
Q: How do you remove ink from brushes?
Try
cleaning the brush with rubbing or isopropyl alcohol. Inks will stain the brush
bristles no matter what cleaner you use, but it should not be adding any tint
when you use it again. We do recommend that you keep a brush that will only be
used specifically for inks.
Q:
Where are the brushes made in?
The
filaments on our MyArtscape Brushes are made in South Korea while our handles
are manufactured in China. Our synthetic bristle brushes are handmade and assembled
in our factory in China.
Q:
Why are the bristle hairs shedding?
Our
factory has added a protective coating to the brush heads to maintain their
shapes during the different shipping stages. We encourage our customers to wash
the protective coating off before painting with the brushes. It is normal for
any brush to experience some minor shedding during this initial washing as the
loose hairs are removed. We can assure you that the brushes will not experience
substantial further hair loss after washing them initially.
Q:
How do we reshape the bristles?
You
can reshape the brushes by swishing them in a cup of hot water (not boiling)
for a few minutes. Once cool enough to handle, reshape the tips of the brushes
using your fingers. This technique helps a lot with brushes with stray hairs,
bent bristles over shipping, and removing shedding hair.
Q:
How do I fix loose ferrules or brush heads?
You
can fix the ferrule in place by applying an epoxy or thick glue between the
ferrule and the handle. A super glue should also work.
Q:
What is a rake brush used for?
The rake
brush has a unique cut and can be used for creating hair, beards, feathers,
fur, grass and wood grain. Its shape will be of help to you if you think of
painting animals, people, and plants. It's the newest addition to our set,
replacing one of the flat brushes.
When
you're using either of the rakes you can choose to thin your paint depending on
the effect you're trying to achieve. To get the light texture just apply very
little pressure. Don't overload the hairs with paint. The idea is to make sure
that the bristles stay apart. Rakes are available in many sizes.
Q:
What are your available paint brush sets?
Our Paint Brush Sets from the Smallest Bristles to
the Largest
-
Miniature or Detail Paint Brush Set
- 6 Deluxe Starter Paint Brush Set
- 7 Pocket Paint Brushes
- 7 Travel Paint Brushes
- 15 Short Handle Paint Brush Set
- 15 Long Handle Paint Brush Set
- 15 Imitation Bristle or Synthetic Paint Brush Set
Our Paint Brush Sets from the Shortest Handles to
the Longest
-
7 Travel Paint Brushes
- 7 Pocket Paint Brushes
- 6 Deluxe Starter Paint Brush Set
- Miniature or Detail Paint Brush Set
- 15 Short Handle Paint Brush Set
- 15 Long Handle Paint Brush Set
- 15 Imitation Bristle or Synthetic Paint Brush Set
Q: How do I use graphite paper
to trace a design?
Draw a pattern by placing tracing
paper or normal paper over a design and tracing it with a pencil. Once
completed, position the graphite paper (shiny side down) where you wish to copy
the design. Place your paper (or tracing paper) with the design on top of the
graphite paper and trace the design with a pen or a stylus.
Q: How do I erase the
lines?
Use a kneaded eraser. Press and lift
the eraser to remove the graphite lines. A standard rubber eraser will not
erase the lines. This paper has a wax content to prevent the paper smudging,
which also creates darker and more persistent lines. When tracing, avoid
pressing too firmly as it may be difficult to fully erase the lines.
Q: Are the sheets reusable?
Yes, you can save money by reusing
the sheets many times! Note that once you have traced a line on the graphite
paper, it will not be capable of laying down graphite again. Consequently the
quality of the tracings will decline with each reuse.
Q: What should I do if I do not
receive my order?
If you don't receive your package
within 7 days, please contact Amazon Support by clicking this link. An Amazon
Customer Support Representative will more than happy to help you with all
shipping issues.