this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2026
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Maybe it’s just been the “apple barrel” cheap brand, but it seems that the lighter green varieties turn into a completely thin green liquid after a few years that smells vaguely like an alcohol/“chemical-ly.”

It’s specifically the greens that do this, so I’m wondering if there’s something in the green pigment that reacts with the binder after time. Most other cheap acrylics tend to dry out - reds more so. Is there some sort of slow chemical reaction happening with the greens instead?

Edit: I found a bottle of Orange just now that went off in the same way. Apple Barrel, matte, “Pumpkin Orange” 2047E.

It’s just a very striking way for paint to degrade. Drying out or just have the binder separate I get, but this one has to be involving some sort of fun chemistry.

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[–] andros_rex@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

I’m not really talking about the pigment quality so much as the binder texture (I’m pretty blind to color change in general, except when it’s really obvious/disappointing as with natural pigments)

It goes from being a thick gooey paste to very thin liquid - stuff that seems more like alcohol in density than water. It still binds well to canvas, wood, and most plastics - anything that I normally use acrylic for, I just have to use it for paint pour techniques because it’s too runny to even really use a paint brush with. Doesn’t even feel like watercolor, but very much like a more opaque alcohol paint. It’s unfortunate that it smells so miserable.

[–] sga@piefed.social 1 points 5 days ago

second option still stays. it is posible that green pigment when it degrates releases something much less viscous and foul smelling (my guess is ammonia, as amines are very common in dyes).

Sorry i did not get what you were saying the first time. lack of sleep does not help either.