Paint, markers, spray paint, dyes; what works best?

[BeachAmigo]

The playa is extremely dry and paints and markers dry out before I can finish a project.
What are some tips on being able to paint and draw on the playa!
Many thanks for sharing!
BeachAmigo

[Orchid]

What are you trying to paint? Can you paint it before you get to the playa?

[Eric]

On-playa I would just do your preliminary sketches in colored pencil or watercolor pencil, then do your actual finished pieces when you get home.

If you haven't used the watercolor pencils, they're great- you can work them like a regular pencil, add a bit of water the pigment turns to watercolor, once it dries sharpen your lines with it as a pencil again.

Lots of brands available in a range of colors- I like Derwent's "InkTense" line- they turn super vibrant once you get them wet.

[accordionMan]

I've done a lot of painting of benches at center camp and the latex paint, though it drys fast, it is great to work with. Make a mistake, paint over it 2 minutes later.

I've used markers in conjunction with paint and that works well to a point... because the surface we are working on is wood, it gets raggedy very fast.
If you are doing a mural, there are several ways you can approach it.

1- Wing it and paint on the fly.

2- Design it on an 8"x8" piece of paper with a grid and then translate it on the playa at actual size: 8'x8'

3-Do the same as above, but translate it at home onto paper 8'x8'. On the playa, rub charcoal on the reverse side of your image. Then tape up your art and then rub the image onto the wall.

I'm doing #3 this year.

[Isotopia]

Maybe this is about semantics but are you talking about spray painting things while on the playa or are you talking about painting on the physical playa itself?

[oneeyeddick]

Keep your markers in a ziploc baggie or something airtight so they don't dry out.