How to Blend Wet Paint into Dry Acrylic

Blending wet paint into a dry area of acrylic can feel tricky at first, but it’s a great way to add soft transitions and painterly effects to your work. In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to blend wet on dry using different brushes, textures, and paint types. You can watch the full video below and follow along with the techniques. I also have a free Acrylic Painting Supply List to help you gather all the materials you need.

Watch the video

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Art Supplies Used in This Video

Tips for Blending with Student Grade Paint

When you're working with student grade acrylics like Liquitex Basics, blending into a dry area is totally doable—it just takes a bit more care. I like to start by identifying which colors I used in the dry area so I can reuse them in the blend. Then I add a fresh color on top and gently dab with the angled tip of my brush.

To get a smoother transition, I rinse and blot the brush so it’s only slightly damp. From there, I dab in soft circular motions around the edges where the wet and dry colors meet. This helps create a more natural blend. You can adjust your technique as you go by wiping off excess paint, adding a little more water, or reintroducing the base color to balance things out.

How to Blend with Heavy Body Acrylics

Blending with heavy body paint gives you extra control and smoother transitions because of its opacity and thickness. I used a muted green and lightened it slightly by mixing in some of the original dry color. That helps avoid adding shadows that are too dark or stark.

With heavy body paint, you can cover the dried layer more easily, which makes the blend look more seamless. I find that I can keep more texture when I want it, or remove it if I prefer a smoother look. It’s easier to blend out brushstrokes in this type of paint, and it responds well to light layering and dabbing. That makes it a great choice for artists who like a little more forgiveness while they work.

Scumbling Technique for a Softer Look

Scumbling is one of my favorite techniques when I want a softer, cloudlike blend over dry acrylic. It works best when you use an old brush—especially one that’s already frayed or beat up—because the bristles can handle all the friction of rubbing.

I load the paint lightly on the side of the brush and then scrub it over the dry area. This creates a soft, transparent layer that blends into the background. I often go back over parts of the scumbled section using a circular dabbing motion to eliminate any hard lines. If the brush gets too dry, I just flip it or reload a bit. Scumbling works best over larger areas, but you can use it in small spaces too if you’re careful.

Using Chunky Marks for Abstract Blends

Blending doesn’t always have to be smooth. When I’m working on an abstract piece, I like to use big chunky marks to create a textural blend. Instead of aiming for a perfect gradient, I build the illusion of blending by layering different brushstrokes and marks in various directions.

This approach makes the piece feel alive and expressive. It’s a great option if you want your painting to have a more raw, emotional texture. I use a combination of dots, lines, and broad strokes to bring everything together. Even though it’s not a traditional blend, the repetition of color and form makes it feel unified in the end.

Final Thoughts

Once you get comfortable blending wet paint into dry acrylic, it opens up so many new creative possibilities. Whether you're after a soft scumble, a smooth heavy body transition, or bold abstract texture, there's a method that will fit your style. Experiment with different brushes and paints until you find the techniques that work for you.

If you want to keep improving your skills, I recommend reading my article on How to Paint Flat Areas of Color in Acrylics. It’s a great companion to the techniques I shared here and will help you build cleaner foundations for blending.

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