MultiHub Forum

I've been painting with acrylics for about six months and I'm trying to move beyond basic blocking-in to create more atmospheric and textured landscapes. My biggest challenge is the fast drying time; I struggle with smooth gradients in skies and water, and my attempts at wet-on-wet blending often turn into a muddy mess. For experienced acrylic painters, what techniques or mediums do you use to extend your working time for large areas like skies? How do you effectively layer glazes to build depth without disturbing the underlying paint, and what are your favorite methods for adding physical texture, like using modeling paste or impasto, without the paint cracking as it dries?