We're in beta — ekphra launches officially on August 19, 2026 with Art Meets Word at Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery. Thank you for your patience as we polish things along the way.
Art Lab
Colour Lab | Materials | Creative Healing | Art History | Medium | Molding Paste
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MEDIUM
Molding Paste
Molding paste — sometimes called modeling paste — is an opaque, marble-dust or chalk-based medium that builds hard, three-dimensional surfaces. Unlike gel medium which dries transparent, molding paste dries opaque white and can be sanded, carved, drilled, and painted over. It is the primary medium for creating topographical texture and sculptural relief in acrylic painting.
Properties ▾
Base: Acrylic polymer + marble dust or chalk Consistency: Very thick — palette knife application Dries: Opaque white Hardness: Hard (sandable, carvable) Weight: Standard / Light (hollow sphere) Shrinkage: Low
Techniques ▾
Sculptural ground
Apply molding paste to canvas or wood panel with a palette knife before painting. Build ridges, valleys, and surface texture. Allow to dry completely — 24 hours for thick application — before painting over.

Embedding objects: Press found objects, fabric, sand, or organic material into wet paste. When dry the objects are permanently set. Paint over the entire surface to unify.

Light Molding Paste: The hollow-sphere formula is significantly lighter — essential for large-scale work where standard paste would be too heavy. Holds peaks with slightly softer edges. Slight flexibility when dry.

Carving: Apply a thick layer, allow to dry to leather-hard (partially dry), then carve or incise with tools. The marks are permanent when fully cured.
Molding paste is porous when dry — it absorbs the first layer of paint differently from a sealed surface. Prime with a thin layer of gesso or gel after the paste is fully dry if you want consistent, even colour.
Works in ekphra ▾
No works found yet — artists using Molding Paste will appear here.
Notes ▾
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