Open Sez Me

About 2 years ago I started thinking I wanted to try something new and create a new challenge for myself.  I need that every now and then.
I had been using the Jo Sonja Acrylic paint for 25 years and had developed my own style of techniques.  But it was time for a change.  I could feel it every time I sat down to paint. My painting soul was starving.  I was bored.  I couldn’t think of anything to paint.
Get the picture?  Good.

About that time I learned of Chroma’s new paint called Interactive.  It’s an acrylic paint but used with water it will stay open longer and will re-open with water for more blending purposes.
So I tried the Interactive and it was pretty good.  I enjoyed it but it didn’t work just the way I had hoped.  It was nice to try for a change but I wasn’t convinced to switch over.
So I kept writing my instructions for both paints since I just wasn’t ready to go all the way.

I designed and taught two projects at the National Conference with the Interactive and the painters seemed to like it.  It’s nice paint.  There’s no question about that.

But a painting friend who calls herself my “all the time friend” told me about another new  acrylic paint that stays open with water made by the Golden Paint Company.  It’s called Golden Open Acrylic.  You use it with water to keep it open longer and you can brush or spritz water over it to re-open it for blending.
Okay.  That sounded pretty much like the Interactive.
But I was searching you see.  And you can’t look at just one option and make a decision.

I was getting ready to take the portrait class with Karen Patton last July so I thought it would be the perfect time to give it a try.  I already didn’t know what I was doing so I might as well confuse myself a little more.  Right?
So I bought and mixed all the colors needed for the class and off I went.
One day into the class.  I was hooked.  I really liked the way the paint worked and I soooo loved the blending properties.
Remember – I’m from an oil background.  What I liked about the paint was that it could be blended almost like oil.

So I painted a few more projects with the Golden Open and found that I liked it better with every project.  The rooster “Good To Be King” is one of them.

The paint has another characteristic that is similar to oil.  It’s more transparent than most of the acrylic paints.  But my methods Always involve many layers of paint so this doesn’t really present a problem for me.

But the kicker……….?   Look at the photo below.

LAST JULY – and that would be 2011.  Twelve months ago.  I set this palette of portrait colors aside when I finished my two portraits.  Every once in a while – maybe every 2 months or so – I opened the palette and added plain tap water to the paper towel.  That’s all I did.

Today the paint is as fresh and creamy as the day I put it in the palette 12 months ago.
There is NO MOLD.
There is NO SMELL.
There is NO DRIED PAINT.

I have not thrown away any paint since I started using Golden Open.
While the Chroma Interactive is a nice paint – it does mold just like the Jo Sonja paint does.
That was the determining factor.

Now in case you’re worried about buying yet ANOTHER brand of paint.  Please rest assured.  My design packets can all still be painted with Jo Sonja just the same way I’ve always done it.  The color conversions are listed in all the packets.

But if you’re looking for something new like I was maybe you’d like to give Golden Open a try.
I buy mine on line at Dick Blick.  They usually have a pretty good sale and the shipping is free if you order $50.

Love to you all
Ronnie – in the Golden phase of my life