Gel & Pastes

On the opposite side of the spectrum from Fluid Mediums, Gel Mediums add body to thinner paint for impasto techniques as well as extending colour volume and adding transparency. Gels also add “open time” as they tend to dry slower than thinner paint films. These mediums also modify acrylic paints in a variety of ways and, since they contain acrylic resins, tend to improve adhesion and durability.

ALL GEL MEDIUMS

  • 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

Flexible Modeling Paste

A matte, opaque preparation of marble dust and polymer emulsion. Dries more slowly than other modeling pastes to a hard, yet flexible surface. Use to build heavy textures and three-dimensional forms. Recommended for use on supports with occasional flexing.

Attributes

  • Extra Heavy Body and very opaque.

  • A marble paste made of marble dust and 100% polymer emulsion.

  • Dries more slowly than other modelling pastes to a hard yet flexible surface.

  • Used to build three-dimensional forms and heavy textures on supports that may be subject to flexing or movement.

  • Adheres to any non-oily, absorbent surface.

  • When mixed with acrylic colours will act as a weak tinting white, while increasing thickness and rigidity.

  • Excellent substrate for acrylic paint, oil paint, oil pastel, oil bars, watercolour, graphite or dry pastel.

Application

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

  • Mix with acrylic colours to produce a coloured tinted paste.

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

  • When dry, Acrylic Modelling Paste may be painted with acrylic or oil colours.

Gloss Gel

Excellent for retaining brush marks while slowing the drying time and adding body to the paint. Mix with transparent colours for impasto glazes of great depth and brilliance. Excellent for transferring printed images.

Attributes

  • Dries to a gloss finish.

  • Viscosity and body similar to Heavy Body Artist Colour.

  • Translucent when wet, transparent (clear) to translucent when dry. Thicker applications result in less transparent dry medium films.

  • Ideal medium to mix with Heavy Body Acrylic Colour to extend paint, increase the brilliance and transparency of colour, without changing the thickness of the paint.

  • Mix with Heavy Body Artist Colour to obtain paint similar in colour depth to oil paint.

Application

  • Refer to Techniques: Acrylic Sheets, Collage, Glazing, Transferring Printed Images, Silk-screen, Brushwork.

As An Extender:

  • Mix with Heavy Body Artist Colour to extend volume and increase transparency, while maintaining paint viscosity.

  • Mix with Soft Body Artist Colour to extend volume and increase transparency, while increasing paint viscosity.

As A Ground:

  • Use as transparent ground for acrylic paint instead of gesso. Allows substrate to be seen. To prevent Substrate Induced Discolouration, wash cotton or linen canvas before use.

  • When applying Gloss Gel Medium to raw canvas, use adequate pressure to force the medium into the canvas weave to insure proper bonding between the gel and canvas.

Collage:

  • Makes and excellent glue for collage and decoupage.

Powdered Pigments:

  • Use as the binder for powdered pigments to make an inexpensive "student grade" Heavy Body (thick) gloss paint or achieve unusual paint films. Pigment must be compatible with acrylic emulsion.

Gloss Heavy Gel

A very thick gel medium that extends working time and increases brilliance and transparency. Mix with acrylic paint to increase body and attain oil paint like consistency that holds brush or palette knife marks.

Attributes

  • Extra Heavy Body.

  • Extra heavy body medium of great density which dries to a transparent or translucent gloss finish.

  • Mix with acrylic paint to increase body, density, viscosity and attain oil paint like consistency with brush or palette knife marks.

  • Extends paint while increasing brilliance and transparency

  • Keeps paint workable longer than other gel mediums.

Application

  • Refer to the following Applications & Techniques Sections: Acrylic Sheets, Collage, Glazing, Transferring Printed Images, Silk-screen, Brushwork.

As An Extender:

  • Mix with Soft Body Artist Colour and Heavy Body Artist Colour to extend volume, increase transparency and increase colour viscosity.

Collage:

  • Makes and excellent glue for Collage and decoupage.

As A Ground:

  • Use as transparent ground for acrylic paint instead of gesso. Allows substrate to be seen. To prevent Substrate Induced Discolouration, wash cotton or linen canvas before use.

With Powdered Pigments:

  • Use as the binder for powdered pigments to make an inexpensive "student grade" extra-heavy viscosity (thick) gloss paint. Pigments must be compatible with acrylic emulsion.

Gloss Super Heavy Gel

A super thick gel with high surface drag used to create a stiff 'oil like' feel. Ideal for creating high peaks and sculptural applications that hold shape when dry, with minimal shrinkage. This medium keeps paint workable longer than most other gel mediums. 

Attributes

  • Extremely thick, extra Heavy Body. The thickest "clear" gel.

  • Heavy bodied, very dense, with high surface drag for a stiff "oil-like" feel.

  • Dries clear to translucent depending on thickness of the application.

  • Very little shrinkage during drying time.

  • Excellent adhesion for Collage and mixed media.

  • Extends paint, increases brilliance and transparency.

  • Keeps paint working longer than other gel mediums.

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

Application

  • Refer to the following Applications & Techniques Sections: Acrylic Sheets, Collage, Glazing, Transferring Printed Images, Silk-screen, Brushwork.

As a Heavy Bodied Extender

  • Mix with Soft Body Artist Colour or Heavy Body Professional Artist Colour to increase colour viscosity, body, extend volume, increase transparency and colour brilliance.

As A Ground

  • Creating a sculptural ground, be sure to use adequate pressure to force the gel into the raw canvas to insure proper bonding. Apply paint over the gel after the gel is dry.

Collage

  • Makes an excellent glue for collage and decoupage.

With Powdered Pigments and other Aggregates

  • Be careful not to include so many foreign materials as to jeopardize the strength of the paint film. Be sure they are compatible with acrylic emulsion.

  • Use as the binder for powdered pigments to make an inexpensive "student grade" extra-heavy viscosity (thick) gloss paint. Pigments must be compatible with acrylic emulsion.

Flexible Modeling Paste

A lightweight and airy preparation of marble dust and polymer emulsion specifically formulated to be used in applications where weight is a factor. Can be used to add body to paint and create pastel tints. Dries to a matte opaque white and can be mixed with acrylic colour or over painted. Recommended for use on rigid supports to avoid cracking.

Attributes

  • Soft Body

  • A lightweight, airy, flexible, thick, sculptural gel specifically formulated to be used in thick applications where weight is a factor.

  • Will not exhibit "mud cracking".

  • Used alone, will dry to a matte opaque white that readily accepts staining if desired.

Application

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

  • Mix acrylic paint into Light Modeling Paste or let 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.

Matte Gel

A thick gel that imparts a translucent matte sheen when dry. Ideal for creating collages with heavier objects. Combine with Gloss Gel to create a customised satin finish.

Attributes

  • Heavy Body

  • Same qualities as Gloss Gel Medium, except dries translucent with a satin/matte finish.

  • Viscosity and body similar to Heavy Body Artist Colour.

  • Matte Gel Medium has greater adhesion than Gloss Gel Medium and Gloss Heavy Gel Medium.

  • Translucent when wet, transparent when dry. Thicker applications result in less transparent dry medium films.

  • Mix with Heavy Body Artist Colour to obtain paint similar in colour depth to oil paint.

  • Colour mix will dry to a satin sheen.

Application

  • Refer to Techniques: Collage, Glazing, Brushwork.

As An Extender

  • Mix with Heavy Body Artist Colour to extend volume and increase translucency, while maintaining paint viscosity.

  • Mix with Soft Body Artist Colour to extend volume and increase translucency, while increasing paint viscosity.

As A Ground

  • Recommended as a translucent ground (size), for acrylic paint with excellent tooth and adhesion, instead of gesso. Will allow some colour and texture of the support to show through. Use as a substitute size for the hide glue size traditionally used for oil paintings.

  • To prevent Substrate Induced Discolouration (SID), wash cotton or linen canvas before use.

  • Exterior Murals: If the support or wall is very rough, a coat of Matte Gel Medium should be brushed or troweled onto the surface prior to gesso application.

  • Refer to Gloss Gel Medium: Techniques - Ground for more detailed information.

For Impasto Effects

  • Mix with Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Colour for impasto effects that dry to a matte sheen.

Collage

  • Makes and excellent glue for collage and decoupage.

With Powdered Pigments

  • Use as the binder for powdered pigments to make an inexpensive "student grade" Heavy Body (thick) matte paint. Pigment must be compatible with acrylic emulsion.

Matte Super Heavy Gel

A super thick gel which retains high-peaks and crisp brush and knife strokes with very little shrinkage. This medium keeps paint workable longer than most other gel mediums and dries to a translucent matte finish.

Attributes

  • Extremely thick, extra Heavy Body.

  • Heavy bodied, very dense, with high surface drag for a stiff "oil-like" feel.

  • Dries to a translucent matte finish depending on thickness of the application.

  • Very little shrinkage during drying time.

  • Excellent adhesion for collage and mixed media.

  • Extends paint

  • Keeps paint working longer than other gel mediums.

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

Application

  • Refer to the following Applications & Techniques Sections: Acrylic Sheets, Collage, Glazing,  Transferring Printed Images, Silk-screen, Brushwork.

As A Ground

  • Creating a sculptural ground, be sure to use adequate pressure to force the gel into the raw canvas to insure proper bonding. Apply paint over the gel after the gel is dry.

Collage

  • Makes an excellent glue for collage and decoupage.

With Aggregates

  • Be careful not to include so many foreign materials as to jeopardize the strength of the paint film. Be sure they are compatible with acrylic emulsion.

Modeling Paste

A very thick, matte, opaque preparation of marble dust and polymer emulsion used to build heavy textures on rigid surfaces. This product handles like clay and dries to a very hard stone-like surface. Can be mixed with acrylic colour or over-painted when dry. Makes an excellent substrate for acrylic paint, oil paint, oil pastel, oil bars, watercolour, graphite or dry pastel. Great for sculptural applications and may be sanded, carved, or drilled when dry. For use on rigid supports.

Attributes

  • Extra Heavy Body and very opaque.

  • A marble paste made of marble dust and 100% polymer emulsion.

  • Used to build heavy textures on rigid supports and create three-dimensional forms.

  • Dries to the hardness of stone. It can be sanded or carved when thoroughly dry.

  • Can be handled like clay if the top of the container is removed and some of the water is allowed to slowly evaporate until it reaches a clay-like consistency.

  • Adheres to any non-oily, absorbent surface.

  • Drying too quickly causes mud cracking that is usually cosmetic, not structural.

  • When mixed with acrylic colours will act as a weak tinting white, while increasing thickness and rigidity.

  • Excellent substrate for acrylic paint, oil paint, oil pastel, oil bars, watercolour, graphite or dry pastel.

Directions

  • Apply with knife, brush, cake decorating tools, etc.

  • To prevent shrinkage cracks (mud cracking), dry slowly by covering loosely with plastic wrap. Apply less than 1/4" thick.

  • Mix with acrylic colours to produce a coloured tinted paste.

  • When dry, Acrylic Modeling Paste may be painted with acrylic or oil colours.

Application

  • Sculptural: Apply in thin layers allowing each layer to dry before applying next layer. If cracks appear, allow to dry and fill in with additional thin layer of Acrylic Modeling Paste.

  • Rigid support: Use straight from container.

  • Flexible support: Mix Acrylic Modeling Paste 50/50 with Gloss Gel Medium, Matte Gel Medium, Gloss Heavy Gel Medium, or Super Heavy Gel Medium.

  • Ground: Apply a thin layer of Acrylic Modeling Paste to rigid surface (i.e. wood), using a palette knife, trowel or roller. Let dry, then sand smooth. Repeat if necessary.

  • Absorbent ground: Mix 1 part Acrylic Modeling Paste with 3 parts Liquitex® Acrylic Gesso. Apply with trowel or roller. Let dry, then sand smooth. Repeat if necessary.

  • Paper-Maché: Mix Acrylic Modeling Paste 50/50 with Liquitex Gloss Gel Medium, Matte Gel Medium or Gloss Heavy Gel Medium. Soak paper in this mixture.

Slo-Dri Blending Gel

A heavy body gel used to extend the 'open' time of acrylics by more than 40% for easier blending. Add up to 50% without jeopardising the strength of the paint film to achieve excellent impasto techniques.

Attributes

  • A unique formulation for superior surface blending with acrylics.

  • Extends drying time up to 40% for superior surface blending with acrylics.

  • Is similar in body to Heavy Body Professional Artist Colour.

  • Mix any amount into colour to enhance the depth of colour intensity, increase transparency, gloss, and add flexibility and adhesion to paint film.

  • Dries clear to reveal full, rich colour.

  • Unlike retarding additives, any quantity may be added to colour without jeopardizing the strength of the paint film.

  • Translucent when wet, transparent when dry.

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

Application

  • Formula is designed for use in techniques where slower drying characteristics are desired. May also be used in many of the conventional techniques for a Gloss Gel Medium such as: brushwork, thick glazes, collage, and murals.

Application Possibilities as a Medium

  • Brushwork - Blending


As an Extender

  • Mix with Heavy Body Professional Artist Colour to lengthen drying time, extend volume and increase transparency while maintaining paint viscosity

  • Mix with Soft Body Professional Artist Colour to slow drying time, extend volume and increase transparency while making paint thick

Ultra Matte Gel

A gel with high resin solids that dries to a matte finish. Maintains colour opacity and extends paint to double amounts without changing colour position. This product is meant to be used with opaque colours where transparency is not desired. Dries to a dead matte finish with absolutely no level of sheen.

Attributes

  • Heavy Body

  • A translucent white gel of high density and high solids, that economically extends the volume of Heavy Body Artist Colour without changing its heavy body.

  • Add up to 50% by volume, to double amount of paint and retain colour position.

  • If more than 50% is added, it acts as a very weak tinting white.

  • Maintains the opacity of the colour better than using a clear gel medium.

  • Dries to a matte finish, giving colours a matte sheen and gouache look.

Application

Running out of colour during painting

  • Use when running out of a mixed Heavy Body Artist Colour while painting. When you have reached the halfway point of painting the specific area, determine if you have enough paint to finish. If not, add an equal amount of Ultra Matte Gel to the colour enabling you to finish painting without remixing. The colour and opacity will be unchanged, but the colour may lighten (higher value).

Underpainting

  • Mix into Heavy Body Artist Colour during initial underpainting to double amount of colour.