Tim Holtz Distress Paints are mixed media water-soluble paints designed by Tim Holtz and manufactured by Ranger.
Distress Paint is a waterbased acrylic paint that at times, acts like watercolour while its still wet then dries permanent on almost all surfaces. Tim calls it water reactive - a bit of water splattered on its surface before its completely dry creates amazing effects and textures! Fabulous paint for adding colour to images, making backgrounds, pet rocks, scrapbooking, journaling, cardmaking, display projects and dimensional masterpieces. All kinds of crafty fun :)
Its a smooth fluid paint, able to adhere to most surfaces, permanent when dry and once dry (allow at least 24 hours) it can be written or doodled over with your favourite mark makers - Dina Wakley Scribble Sticks, Caran D'Ache Neocolor II Crayons, Distress Crayons, Dylusions Paint Pens, Alcohol Inks, Ranger Archival Ink, Chameleon Pens, Posca Markers and Pencils, Acrylic Paints, Jane Davenport's Finishing Pens, Zig's Black Photo Pen, Dina Wakley's Ranger Black Fudeball Pens... just to name a few.
Distress Paints were originally created with a sponge dauber (dabber) top and screw on lid, they now have a flip top lid (but I have some dauber lids if you need them, simply ask). The old sponge tip was fantastic for swiping quick backgrounds or blending over large areas. To use Distress Paint with a flip top lid, simply use the Ink Blending Tool (or paint brush) to pick up the paint from your craft mat and apply paint everywhere you wish.
Once semi dry, spatter with a sprinkling of water and watch the magical bubbles and rings appear! Love it :)
To look after your sponge daubers, simply spritz with Distress Ink Refresher after your day of painting. This will help stop the sponge from drying out. Spare flip top and dauber lids are available if you'd like them (if available).
Other ways to use these paints are with spatulas, paint brushes, foam blending tools, dip pens, marking tools, silicon tools, fingers, sponges, brayers and rollers, stencils, stamps, gel press printing plates and much more.
Wash up and clean all tools and accessories before the paint dries! Have fun :)
New Colours in the Distress Range ... From May 2020, Ranger and Tim Holtz planned to release 12 new colours to the Distress range starting with a pretty shabby chic pale blue called Speckled Egg. Next was a rustic red called Crackling Campfire, then followed was mid to dark green of Rustic Wilderness, pretty pink Kitsch Flamingo, blue green (like oxidized copper) Salvaged Patina, medium blue Prize Ribbon, deep mysterious dark purple called Villainous Potion, pretty peachy pink Saltwater Taffy. June 2022 introduced to us a beautiful moody ocean blue called Uncharted Mariner. Next was Lumberjack Plaid, a real cherry red for colour no.10 released 29th October 2022. A stunning palest grey called Lost Shadow was found on 28th January 2023 (colour no.11) ... the last new Distress will be Mystery Colour No.12, being announced and released sometime in the future, during 2023.
Colour charts are updated regularly and are available for your personal use :) Hopefully it helps you see what colours you have and what you might wish to get next. The blank charts are for you to create instant reminders of how your favourite mediums look once they're dry.
··· Download colour charts and swatch sheets here ···
To help you find all of Tim's Treasures, here are some links...
- Die Cutting (essentials from Sizzix, Bigz Dies, Thinlits, Framelits, 3D embossing folders, texture fades, Sidekicks, die cutting machines, accessories).
- Distress Range (inks, reinkers, paints, spray stains, oxides, embossing glaze, enamel pins).
- Idea-Ology (stickers, layers, findings, trinkets, embellishments, fasteners, charms, adornments, pendants, glass jars and more).
- Paper and Card (cardmaking, scrapbooking, journaling papers and mixed media surfaces).
- Stamps (cling rubber stamps designed by Tim, made by Stampers Anonymous).
- Stencils (stencils in various beautiful designs and 2 different sizes)
- Tools, Storage and Accessories (Distress tools, heat tools, glass media mat, storage tins and other useful treasures).
All of Tim's Treasures in one place (sort using the drop down tags) ...
- Everything by Tim
If you need more information about these paints or questions about anything else arty, write to me anytime and I'll help you.
Happy Creative Day!
:)
Jenny
... originally written 29 June 2016. Edited to keep information up to date.
