I need some advise on paint!!

[Dion Battles]

 I have some paint questions that I need answers too, and I think others wiil like the feedback from this topic.

 I have watched the videos over and over and I am beginning to think I am just dumb. :) Here is my issue;

 

 As the paint dries on my projects, it becomes non-existant. All that comes through is the grey concrete with some slight hints on the colors I put on. It looks good for awhile, but then goes away. I know the concrete is soaking it up, but when I watch the painting videos, Nathan just paints away and before you know it, his stuff looks killer!

 Can you tell me how much drying time between base coats and final coats, or do you even let it dry? Also, how much should I be reducing my base coats with water? I am using the Behr concrete silconized acrylic stains. Mainly because that is what is readily available here.

 The techniques I am getting down, but the paint I am not happy with. Like I said, I have watched the videos and read the topics. Please let me know what I am missing or doing wrong.

 

 Thanks everyone so much for your time

\

 Dion

[Nathan Giffin Vertical Artisans]

Ok this is a great question...

There are several things that could be going on here.

First your paint, stain ,colorant ect could be watered down to much. Try less water... Top coats should be very "soild" meaning they should stay on the surface. If they are "soaking in" then they are to diluted.

Stains like Spectrum or Elements can have the water reduced if purchased in concentrated lots. Base tones are supposed to be either darker or lighter but it the top coats that really pull the stone into your final finish.

You can also try reactive stains as well to get deeper colors. Stains will tend to be on the light side of the color saturation. I have even used straight stain with no water element involved but this could leave a film on the surface of the rock. But for small details its works out.


Hope this help.

[Dion Battles]

Yes this does help. I think I am watering it down to much............. i went out this afternnon and painted it again and now the stones are almost all grey. Do you think the Behr product is a good product to use?It is a siloconized acrylic and I like that it is readily available and there are alot of colors to choose from, plus I can just run up get more! Also, can you give me any other hints with this type of paint or just go about it as your videos say too?

Can you tell me a little more about the Spectrum and Elements? Are they something different or is it the same type of paint, just a different brand? I found the only supplier of the Elements here locally, it takes about a week to come in and he has never sold any before. He has no knowledge of the product, so he wont be much of a help to me if I need it?

Thank you for your help.

VerticalArtisans.com said:

Ok this is a great question...

There are several things that could be going on here.

First your paint, stain ,colorant ect could be watered down to much. Try less water... Top coats should be very "soild" meaning they should stay on the surface. If they are "soaking in" then they are to diluted.

Stains like Spectrum or Elements can have the water reduced if purchased in concentrated lots. Base tones are supposed to be either darker or lighter but it the top coats that really pull the stone into your final finish.

You can also try reactive stains as well to get deeper colors. Stains will tend to be on the light side of the color saturation. I have even used straight stain with no water element involved but this could leave a film on the surface of the rock. But for small details its works out.


Hope this help.

[Jeff Datin]

Hi Dion,

I was cruising the site for the first time in awhile and came across your post. By the way, Nice work on your first project.

What ever you do, do not use the siliconized Behr paints! Not that their not good stuff but they don't work for what you need it to. They are hard to blend and don't thin well. Only use 100% acrylic paints. Do not use latex paints either! What you need to do for the simplest way to practice getting your coloring techniques is to go to a hardware store (Home Depot, Lowes or any store that carries paints). Ask if they have any returned paint. Most all of them will. You can usually get a gallon for 5 bucks or less. Pick a few colors, earthy tones and a grey or similar. Pick up some mixing cups and pour in about 3 to 5 tablespoons. Obviously this will be real thick. Use a wood paint stir stick and start to add water. Always stir as you add water and continually check the stick to see if you can see the wood through the paint. When the wood is very slightly visible, stop adding water and test on some concrete. It is at this point that you can start adjusting your densities and saturaton points.

This is a small modified excerpt from my technical color manuals I have written that I am slowly preparing to publish. Don't worry to much about the colors themselves, just the technique of blending and adding the right amounts to key areas.

If you have any more questions on the coloring, look me up on the Concrete Artists Network.

I hope this will help!

Jeff

[Nathan Giffin Vertical Artisans]

Yes ... Spectrum and Elements are not paint....they are nano pigmented stains...... big difference.
They penetrate like a stain and the pigments have there own bonders and resins.

[Nathan Brownell]

Hello Dion,

I will lend a suggestion on making stains. Try using BASF acryl 60 at a ratio of 1 quart of acryl to 3 quarts of water. This ratio can be broke down to accomadate what amount you may need.. Then proceed with liquid color pigment. There are numerous manufactures of these pigments. Also obtain yourself a color wheel to help with the blending of colors. Always write down your formulas to have for future reference. Hope this will help. You will get the transparency that you are looking for. Also the color does not tend to completely change once the stain is dry. Therfore allows you to really see what you are layering.

[Mike Meredith]

Stick with exterior masonary/stucco paints.....Dilute with water up to 3 parts water one part paint. Speckles can be 1:1. Highlights can be 1 part paint, 2 parts water. Buy Richards DVD and learn all the tricks! Well worth the money.

[Dion Battles]

Thanks for all the info! There is alot to choose from and I look forward to trying alot of these methods. I think this is a good descussion for alot of people. Painting is not always as easy as it looks in the videos!!!!!!!!