Effects

Liquitex offers a variety of speciality products including Fluid Mediums, Gel mediums, Texture Gels and Additives which have been specifically designed to achieve various techniques, applications, and special effects.

Fluid Medium Effects

ALL FLUID MEDIUM EFFECTS

  • Increase Flow

  • Dry transparent or translucent

  • Extend the volume of thin paint

  • Make an excellent archival adhesive for collage

Fabric Medium

Enhances blending, workability and adhesion of acrylic colours for painting directly on fabric or un-primed canvas. Reduces dry paint stiffness. No heat setting required.

Attributes

  • Enhances the workability of acrylic paint on fabric.

  • Controls bleeding of colours thinned with water.

  • Provides a smooth, consistent flow to Soft Body Artist Colour.

  • Prevents uneven application of paint to rough textured fabrics.

  • Reduces stiffness of dried acrylic paint on fabric.

  • Eliminates the need to scrub or abrade rough textured fabrics in order for paint to adhere to or penetrate into surface.

  • Does not require heat setting.

Application

Painting on Fabric

Colour Blending on Fabric

  • Mix into acrylic colours to improve wet-on-wet blending techniques.

  • Medium can be added directly onto fabric to blend colour.

Watercolour on Fabric

  • Use Fabric Medium 5:1 with Liquitex Soft Body Artist Colour to control colour bleeding.

Pouring Mediums

Liquitex pouring medium exampleDesigned to not craze in poured applications, which creates even poured puddles and acrylic sheets. Mix with Soft Body Acrylic Colour to promote drying with a smooth even coloured film.

Attributes

  • Creates even “puddles,” poured sheets, and flowing applications of colour. 

  • Does not craze, crack, or hold bubbles in the paint film upon drying. 

  • Retains high gloss and wet appearance when dry. 

  • Will not add transparency when mixed with colour.

  • Flexible, non-yellowing and water resistant when dry.

Application

  • Mix with Soft Body Acrylic Colour to promote drying with a smooth, evenly coloured film.

Iridescent Medium

Adds richness to acrylic colours by creating a metallic/pearlescent effect. Dries translucent and will not oxidise. Can add shimmer or sparkle to a picture even in the smallest amount. Achieve the most dramatic effects when mixing with transparent colours. Try painting on top of any dry colour for unique effects.

Attributes

  • Soft Body

  • Produces a range of iridescent or metallic colours when mixed into acrylic colours.

  • Opaque when wet, transparent - translucent when dry.

  • Will not oxidize.

Application

  • Acrylic Sheets, Collage, Glazing and Transferring Printed Images.

  • Mix with small amounts of colour, gradually adding more colour until desired iridescent quality and transparency is achieved.

  • Transparent and translucent colours work best. Opaque colours can also be used.

  • Colour will become more transparent as percentage of medium increases.

  • Colours increase in their iridescent quality and become much more reflective upon drying.

  • For Mother of Pearl colour, use directly from container.

  • For use on fabric, thin 50% with water.

Airbrush Medium

Liquitex airbrush medium exampleA pre-filtered, ready to use medium that easily thins any acrylic, watercolour or gouache to the right consistency for spray application. An excellent choice for colour washes and watercolour techniques when used with acrylic colours. Mixes well with other mediums to adjust the body and handling properties. Maintains integrity of acrylics even at high dilutions and decreases airbrush clogging and paint build-up. Use with Liquitex soft body colour for best results.

Liquitex Airbrush Medium is specifically formulated for thinning acrylic colours for airbrush application. Mixing colours with Airbrush Medium will ensure that the colours do not lose their flexibility, durability and adhesion.

Attributes

  • Low viscosity.

  • Pre-mixed blend of acrylic polymer emulsion, water, retarder and Flow-Aid.

  • Ready to use pre-filtered and pre-reduced to the proper consistency for airbrush technique. Add as much or as little as desired.

  • Formulated for thinning acrylic colours for airbrush application.

  • Ensures colours do not lose flexibility, durability and adhesion.

  • Easily thins acrylic or any water-soluble paints to a sprayable consistency.

  • Allows thinned acrylic paint to be sprayed efficiently and retain paint film integrity.

  • Liquitex Airbrush Medium mixes easily with all Liquitex Soft Body Concentrated Artist Colours to produce airbrush paint with the proper viscosity for airbrushing.

  • Can also be mixed with Liquitex Heavy Body Artist Colours.

  • Can be mixed with all Liquitex paint, mediums and gesso.

Application

  • Airbrush - Thinning

  • Mix Airbrush Medium into Soft Body Concentrated Artist Colour. No need to strain.

  • Mix Airbrush Medium into Heavy Body Artist Colour. Strain to remove any undissolved colour.

  • Start by mixing 50% Airbrush Medium to colour. Mix thoroughly. Add more Airbrush Medium as necessary to facilitate flow through the airbrush. Each colour may require a different percentage of Airbrush Medium to colour, due to variation in colour pigment size and concentration of pigment.

  • Airbrush nozzle size and spraying pressure (PSI) will determine Airbrush Medium/paint mixture. Larger nozzles allow for greater amounts of paint in the mixture.

  • Keep airbrush wet during use. Do not allow paint to dry in airbrush.

  • Clean airbrush with water, water/ammonia mixture, airbrush cleaner or alcohol.

See our range of Liquitex fluid mediums

Gel Medium Effects

ALL GEL MEDIUM EFFECTS

• Add Body
• Increase “open” time
• Dry transparent or translucent
• Extend the volume of paint
• Hold brush or knife marks
• Make an excellent archival adhesive for collage

String Gel

A self levelling gel with honey-like consistency. Gently pouring yields a long, constant-flowing string of gel. Mix with acrylic colour for interesting application effects, to enhance depth of colour and to increase transparency and flow. Mixed with acrylic colour and brushed, colour 'follows' the brush creating long streaking effects.

Attributes

  • A self-levelling gel with a syrupy, honey-like consistency

  • Enhances depth of colour and increase transparency and flow

  • Dries glossy and transparent

  • Permanent, non-yellowing, flexible and water resistant when dry

Application

  • Pouring or dripping the gel from above produces a long, string-like application.

  • Mix with acrylic colour and brush to creating long streaking effects, as well as to enhance depth of colour.

Texture Gels

Liquitex Texture Gels contain particles that produce a variety of unique textural and dimensional effects. They may be mixed with acrylic colours, other mediums, or used on their own. Dry Texture Gels can be over-painted with acrylic or oil colours and can be used as an under painting textural ground. Mix any texture gels together to achieve unique surfaces.

ALL EFFECTS TEXTURE GELS

  • Dry Flexible

  • Do Not Yellow

  • Dry water-resistant

Ceramic Stucco

A favourite medium of many artists. This thick, fine textured gel can be applied with a palette knife to give the surface finish of an Italian fresco. It dries to a light grey matte stucco finish and is a great absorbent ground for washes and glazing. Try painting over the dry surface with airbrush medium or drawing with pastel or charcoal.

Liquitex ceramic stucco

Attributes

  • Soft Body

  • A thick, low lustre, fine texture gel, that dries to a light grey matte stucco finish.

  • Excellent for producing thick 3-D effects, as well as thinly coating surface.

  • Excellent ground for acrylic and oil paint, oil pastel, oil bars, pastels and graphite.

  • Somewhat susceptible to abrasion. Coat with Liquitex Varnish for added protection. Apply varnish carefully to avoid foaming and clouding.

  • Works well with brush application.

Application

  • Apply with palette knife, trowel, paint brush, etc. Different tools produce different effects.

  • Mix acrylic paint into Texture Gel or let gel dry and paint on top.

  • Mix with Gloss Medium & Varnish to produce textured glazes.

  • Add Liquitex Gloss Gel Medium or Gloss Heavy Gel Medium when using additional aggregates (such as sand) to avoid brittleness.

  • Texture Gels can be thinned with small amounts of water if necessary.

  • Varnish with care to avoid foaming or clouding. Spray apply if possible.

General Information

  • Contains specific aggregates, which produce a variety of unique textural, dimensional and reflective effects, when mixed with acrylic paint.

  • All seven Texture Gels may be intermixed to increase the variety of possible textures.

  • Formulated for maximum flexibility and adhesion. Will not chip or crack on canvas.

  • Can be applied to any material or surface that will accept traditional acrylic media, such as canvas, paper, wood, etc.

  • Texture Gels are lightweight, non-toxic and dry to a water resistant, non-yellowing surface.

Glass Beads

A medium body gel that contains clear round plastic beads and dries to a semi-gloss surface. Perfect for creating a 'bubbly' but smooth texture that can be dramatic when mixed with colour. When poured it creates a flexible shimmering film for a wide variety of applications. Works well as a surface to paint over with colour. Can be used under oil or acrylic.

Liquitex glass beads medium

Attributes

  • Soft Body

  • A medium body gel that contains clear, round aggregates that dry to a semi-gloss, reflective ("bubbly") surface.

  • For most dramatic reflective effects, mix with transparent or translucent colours or apply straight from container over dried paint.

  • For reflective textural glazes, mix with Liquitex Gloss Medium & Varnish and small amounts of Liquitex Soft Body Concentrated Artist Colour.

  • Suitable as a ground for acrylic and oil paint. Works well with brush application.

Application

  • Apply with palette knife, trowel, paint brush, etc. Different tools produce different effects.

  • Mix acrylic paint into Texture Gel or let gel dry and paint on top.

  • Mix with Gloss Medium & Varnish to produce textured glazes.

  • Add Liquitex Gel Medium or Heavy Gel Medium when using additional aggregates (such as sand) to avoid brittleness.

  • Varnish with care to avoid foaming or clouding. Spray apply if possible.

General Information

  • Contains specific aggregates, which produce a variety of unique textural, dimensional and reflective effects, when mixed with acrylic paint.

  • All eight Texture Gels may be intermixed to increase the variety of possible textures.

  • Formulated for maximum flexibility and adhesion. Will not chip or crack on canvas.

  • Can be applied to any material or surface that will accept traditional acrylic media, such as canvas, paper, wood, etc.

  • Texture Gels are lightweight, non-toxic and dry to a water resistant, non-yellowing surface.

Natural Sand

A fine-textured gel that dries to the appearance of glossy beach sand. Mix with other gels to create customised surfaces. An excellent choice to add a bit of 'tooth' to an under-painting. Try combining the natural sand with a ridged trowel for uniform peaks and valleys.

Attributes

  • Soft Body

  • A finely textured gel that dries to a surface similar to glossy "beach sand".

  • Mix with Liquitex acrylic colours to improve blending and impart the "feel" of oil paint.

  • Very effective ground for acrylic and oil paints, oil pastel, pastel and graphite when delicate marks and blending are necessary. Works well with brush application

Application

  • Apply with palette knife, trowel, paint brush, etc. Different tools produce different effects.

  • Mix acrylic paint into Texture Gel or let gel dry and paint on top.

  • Mix with Gloss Medium & Varnish to produce textured glazes.

  • Add Liquitex Gel Medium or Heavy Gel Medium when using additional aggregates (such as sand) to avoid brittleness.

  • Texture Gels can be thinned with small amounts of water if necessary.

  • Varnish with care to avoid foaming or clouding. Spray apply if possible.

General Information

  • Contains specific aggregates, which produce a variety of unique textural, dimensional and reflective effects, when mixed with acrylic paint.

  • All eight Texture Gels may be intermixed to increase the variety of possible textures.

  • Formulated for maximum flexibility and adhesion. Will not chip or crack on canvas.

  • Can be applied to any material or surface that will accept traditional acrylic media, such as canvas, paper, wood, etc.

  • Texture Gels are lightweight, non-toxic and dry to a water resistant, non-yellowing surface.