FAQ
Common Shipping/Order Questions
Where do I find my tracking number?
Tracking info will be sent to you via e-mail once your order is fulfilled.
My shipment is delayed. What should I do?
Please check with your carrier. Once your package of Gaffrey Art Material leaves our facility, we are unable to influence the delivery process. We provide you with tracking information that you can get updates for once the shipment is ready.
I put in the wrong address. What should I do?
Please email us at info@gaffreyartmaterial.com as quickly as possible and we’ll see what we can do! If your order has already left our facility, you must contact UPS or USPS to reroute your order as we cannot facilitate the process once the package is out of our hands.
It's not a guarantee your order will be sent back to our facility. In some cases, packages sent back to us arrive months later!
What if I want to cancel or change my order?
We try to fulfill orders very quickly so our customers can enjoy them as soon as possible. That being said, we try to be as accommodating as we can for our customers so please e-mail us at info@gaffreyartmaterial.com as soon as possible and we’ll see what we can do!
Can I return my order online?
Refunds will be determined on a case by case basis. We have specific protocols for how we pack orders to ensure your order arrives safely. OPEN CONTAINERS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. All other art materials can be refunded. Send us an email and we'll find a solution for you.
My shipment was damaged. Can I get a replacement or refund?
Please contact us and we will replace your order with no questions asked. You may also request a refund or a Gaffrey Art Material store credit.
Do you ship paints internationally?
Someday! We are a small company (just 5 people) As we grow, we'll have the support to offer our products worldwide.
*Currently shipping to Canada. Please review our shipping policy before placing an order.
Common Acrylic Questions
How long does it take for Heavy Texture acrylic paint to dry?
All the paints we offer are Acrylic artist paints. That means they're all made from water-based acrylic resin, and act as such, drying faster than oil paints. You could have a two inch stack of our Heavy Body Texture that will dry quicker than a flat swipe of oil based paint. Our Heavy Body Texture Collection is also JUST A WATERBASED ACRYLIC PAINT. Drying time varies. A film will dry within a day, but drying all the way through depends on how much paint you use. We place our art work in front of fans to increase the dry time. For larger paintings, the initial drying happens quickly, but we give it two to three days before we hang them, and about a week before we ship them. Again, DRYING TIME VARIES, so we cant always give you an exact dry time.
How do I store the paint piping bag after use?
We designed the Packaging for our Heavy Body Texture Collection not only for easy application, but for minimal waste. When you’re done painting, you can either use our secure bag clip to seal the tip paint or transfer it to an airtight container. If you’re just putting your paint down for a day or so, pinch, fold or stuff the end however you see fit.
Do your paints crack?
Heavy Texture on its own will not crack. Our formula is designed to be flexible and durable once dry. However, certain factors may cause the paint to crack, such as diluting with water, mixing with mediums from other brands, applying the texture to uneven surfaces, or extreme environmental shifts, such as sudden temperature changes or direct heat.
Do I need to varnish over the texture areas?
Varnish is optional. Our acrylics are archival quality and adding a varnish is up to the artist's preference. We currently do not offer varnishes so exercise caution when using from other bands. We are not responsible for the effects a varnish may have on your artwork if it causes unwanted effects.
What does the Heavy Texture paint look like once it’s dry?
Our Heavy Body Texture acrylics have a glossy finish, and depending on application dry with an array of shades and variations. All acrylic paints will dry slightly darker than they appear when wet, due to the milky effects of acrylic pigment emulsion. Take Carbon Black as an example: when applied wet in larger amounts, the paint has a blue-ish hue, yet dries very dark. When spread out in a thinner fashion, those hues will be more visible on lighter backgrounds. Minimal shrinkage will occur once the water content evaporates from the paint, yet these effects are normal and hardly noticeable.
Can I paint on canvas or other surfaces?
Wood panels are the optimal choice for Heavy Body Texture. The strength and rigidity of wood allows the paint to stand taller, and adds integrity for work with a more sculptural effect. Use caution when painting on canvas with Heavy Body Texture. It may cause the paint to crack, or for the canvas itself to sag or tear due to the weight of the heavy texture. Our Acrylic Collection is fine on canvas if used traditionally, but for sculpting, we recommend wood panels.
I’m new to texture painting. Where should I start?
The founder, Justin Gaffrey, is a self-taught artist, and his career has been successful, prolific, and explorative. If he can do it, so can you. Our acrylic paint kits are a wonderful introduction to sculptural painting. They are designed for beginners to feel accomplished, inspired, and confident to build up their skills. Made with a limited color palette, you can’t mess it up or make the colors look muddy. If guided kits aren't for you, check out our youtube channel for tips and techniques so you can explore with a bit of know-how.
I’m afraid of wasting paint. What should I do?
By design, our paint is intended to be used in large amounts for a sculptural style. There's no waste here. Practice is as much the creative outlet as producing “finished work”. If you have limited resources, practice with smaller amounts before you jump into larger projects. That's how we do it.
Can I use other acrylics from other brands with the Gaffrey paint?
Heavy Body Texture and Acrylic Color Collection are mostly compatible with other acrylic brands, as they are water based. Yet, the quality and chemistry of other acrylics vastly differ. Results may vary so do a small mixing test to see if they are compatible. For optimal results, stick with gaffrey paints.
How long will it take for a color to be back in stock?
GAM is a small team. Our whole business is run and operated by 5 people. Our production staff is really just two. We try hard to keep up on stock, but there's only so much four hands can do. Appreciation doesn't begin to describe how proud we are that you use our paint, so bear with us, as our little company grows, we’re constantly working to make our production run smoother. Our timelines for restocking may seem non-existent, but the truth is we’re sometimes just not exactly sure when specific colors will be back in production. Trust us, when we know, we’ll tell ya! Join our email list and we'll keep you as up to date as we are ourselves.
How do I request a new color?
Send us an email at info@gaffreyartmaterial.com This is what being an artist-run paint company is all about! We’ll do our best to make it happen.
How do I clean or remove dust from my paintings?
Once the paint is dry, it’s nearly indestructible. Acrylic paints are basically flexible plastic. You can use a damp lint-free towel to remove dust, spray your artwork with a garden hose, or use a duster to remove debris. None of this will not affect the integrity of the work.
What is the difference between Gaffrey Heavy Texture acrylics and molding/modeling paste?
Our Heavy Body Texture collection is the answer to all those goopy and annoying molding pastes needed to achieve the raised effects of textured work. Our acrylics are exceptionally smooth, highly pigmented acrylic paints which hold stiff peaks without extra mediums or mixing needed. We did the work for you, so you don't have to waste money, time and guesswork to achieve rich, quality, texture every time.
Why have you changed your packaging?
We are learning as we go and making improvements to make sculpting with paint more enjoyable and user friendly. Since Heavy Body Texture is the first of its kind, we had to develop the first of its kind packaging. Constant testing and consumer feedback informs our choices to change packaging. With that being said, our mid-viscosity is now being called the Acrylic Color Collection, and is the same acrylic paints you know and love, only packaged in paint tubes for easier application.
I ordered paint in a tube or jar but it’s not thick like I see on social media. What should I do?
It happens! Heavy Texture is packaged in piping bags and Acrylic Colors are in tubes. We are learning as we go and doing our best to create content that accurately portrays each medium. Sometimes we miss the mark and do not explain the difference of mediums clearly enough. Send us an email and we'll get you the right paint.
Can I mix paints with the Titanium White Heavy Texture to create new colors?
Absolutely! This is our signature style we are hoping to share with the world. Use one of our palette knives to mix any gaffrey paint with Heavy Body texture.
How do I clean my brushes/knives?
Remove the excess paint with a rag or paper towel while the paint is still wet. Rinse with water. DO NOT RINSE IN THE SINK. Acrylic paints are not intended to go down the drain. You may also allow the paint to dry on your palette knives and peel the paint off.
How do i prevent the paint from falling off my wood panel?
Paint on a flat table or adjust the angle of your easel accordingly. Always dry your work on a flat surface.
Can I mix your acrylics with oil paint?
Oil paints are hydrophobic and acrylic paints are water-based. The general rule of thumb is to paint acrylic first on a flat plane and you may add oil paint over it. DO NOT MIX WET OIL WITH WET ACRYLIC PAINT.
Is it weird that I want to eat your paint?
I know it's cruel to make paint that looks like frosting but please don’t eat the paint. Heed the cautionary statement from our toxicologist, “If swallowed, do not induce vomiting, call physician immediately. For emergency health information, call your Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.” Use common sense.
Can I use a paintbrush with the Heavy Texture?
Use paintbrushes for a more traditional impasto style like Van Gough. If the desired effect is to have more height and body, we recommend using palette knives or pipe the bag to sculpt the paint.
What do you do with all the leftover paint scraps?
Make more art with it! Our warehouse is the Willy Wonka of paint factories with Justin Gaffrey’s paint studio in the heart of it. The paint scraps are repurposed into more art. Even the paint we get on the ground gets peeled up and used, literally.
I’m interested in stocking gaffrey art material in my store. Who should I reach out to?
We are the sole proprietor of gaffrey art material products and not accepting wholesale offers at this time.
Can I dilute Heavy Texture with water?
It is water-soluble but we do not recommend it. Heavy Texture is designed to be super thick as as a sculptural material.
Do I need a gesso to prime my surface?
We don't offer gesso as a surface primer, instead we feel our Base Coats is a superior alternative. Base Coats function the same with the added benefit of being an artist paint with added marble dust which gives it the tooth needed for adhesion.
Why is it that the Clear Heavy Texture doesn’t dry clear?
By default, Clear is formulated with acrylic emulsion that has a milky appearance. In thin layers, it will be transparent. In large amounts, exceeding an inch, will require a long time to appear clear. The name Clear is a shorthand around the warehouse for mixing medium so the name stuck.