I am often asked about the acrylic mediums I use to get various textures and change the consistency of my paint. Here's a quick list.
Acrylic Mediums
Gesso – used to prep canvases, to correct
dents and damage to a canvas, can be painted over a used canvas, wood panels,
or other surfaces to create a paintable surface, can be mixed with salt or sand
to build texture. Dries opaque (white) with a gritty, absorbent surface (but
also comes in black and clear). In the above picture, salt was mixed with gesso to create the gritty texture in the yellow sections.
Acrylic Flow Aid (Flow Improver) - used to
increase the fluidity of acrylic paints and works as a retarder (keeps paint from drying) to allow more blending time.
Matte Medium – a transparent
liquid that increases fluidity, transparency, and reduces sheen of acrylic
paint. Great for glazing, prepping paper or other surfaces. Can be mixed with
acrylics, ink and watercolor. Can be used to lay paper and collage. In the painting above, matte medium was used to glue down the paper in the sky.
Gloss Medium & Varnish – A transparent liquid that increases fluidity, transparency, and glossiness of
acrylic paint. Can also be used as a final varnish if painted over finished
acrylic or mixed media artwork.
Modeling (Molding) Paste - used to
create texture and attach small objects. Dries opaque with a smooth, absorbent
texture. Can be mixed 50/50 with paint. In the above picture, most of the textures (some gesso and sand) were made with Modeling Paste. Even the doily was stuck down into it.
Crackle Paste - used to create
texture. Dries opaque and cracks. Can be mixed 50/50 with acrylic paint. Used in the trees pictured above.
Gel Medium - used as an adhesive, to create texture,
transfer images, and to change the consistency of acrylic paint. Dries
clear with a plastic, non-absorbent surface. Comes in soft, heavy, self-leveling,
matte, and gloss. Great for thickening paint to palette knife as in this floral.
Gel medium was used to create the texture in this poppie piece as well as glue down the paper doily (behind the poppies) and the poppies themselves, which are made from painted paper towels.
Gold Leaf – a thin sheet of
gold (or imitation gold) that is used for gilding or part of mixed media art. You can paint over it as seen in the image above. I use the Mona Lisa brand.
Varnish – comes in liquid and
spray form, matte, gloss, and semi gloss. This is the final step of a painting.
Varnish protects the paint from dirt, dust, and UV rays. Keeps paint from
fading over the years, and evens out the final sheen of the artwork.
Two very similar paintings the left one in a matte varnish, the right one in a gloss.
Here is a link to my past texture posts:
Have Fun!