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MEDIUM
Gel Medium
Gel medium is essentially acrylic paint without pigment — the same 100% acrylic polymer binder, colourless and transparent. It is the most versatile and widely used acrylic medium, accounting for nearly 40% of the acrylic medium market. Available in five consistencies (Soft, Regular, Heavy, Extra Heavy, and High Solid) and three finishes (Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Matte) — each combination serving a different purpose. The name refers only to viscosity, not to softness or weight when dry.
Properties ▾
Base: 100% acrylic polymer
Consistency: Soft / Regular / Heavy / Extra Heavy
Finish: Gloss / Semi-Gloss / Matte
Dries: Transparent
Flexibility: Excellent
Archival: Yes
Compatibility: All acrylic paints
Techniques ▾
Glazing
Mix a small amount of colour into Soft Gel Gloss. Apply in thin transparent layers over a dry ground. Each layer intensifies colour without losing luminosity beneath.
Collage adhesive: Use Soft Gel Gloss neat, straight from the tub, to adhere paper, fabric, or found objects. Brush over the top as a seal. Archival strength — stronger than most commercial glues.
Impasto with knife: Load Heavy Gel onto a palette knife and apply in thick, sculptural marks. Mix in colour unevenly for a marbled effect. Peaks hold their shape completely when dry.
Extending paint volume: Add Regular Gel to heavy body paint to increase volume without thinning consistency. Colour becomes more transparent but brushstroke quality is preserved.
Isolation coat: Thin Soft Gel Matte 2:1 with water and brush over a finished painting before varnishing. Creates a non-removable barrier that protects the paint layers.
Collage adhesive: Use Soft Gel Gloss neat, straight from the tub, to adhere paper, fabric, or found objects. Brush over the top as a seal. Archival strength — stronger than most commercial glues.
Impasto with knife: Load Heavy Gel onto a palette knife and apply in thick, sculptural marks. Mix in colour unevenly for a marbled effect. Peaks hold their shape completely when dry.
Extending paint volume: Add Regular Gel to heavy body paint to increase volume without thinning consistency. Colour becomes more transparent but brushstroke quality is preserved.
Isolation coat: Thin Soft Gel Matte 2:1 with water and brush over a finished painting before varnishing. Creates a non-removable barrier that protects the paint layers.
Finish and consistency are completely independent. A Heavy Gel Matte and a Heavy Gel Gloss feel identical when wet and hold identical peaks — only the dried surface differs. Choose consistency for what the work needs structurally, and finish for how you want it to look.
Works in ekphra ▾
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