Watercolour Mediums

By adding Gum Arabic to your watercolour you can increase the transparency and gloss to give greater brilliance of colour. Mixing in a little of this medium will also reduce the staining of pigments and make washes easier to lift.

A few drops of Ox Gall added to your water pot will improve the wetting and flow of your first water colour washes on any hard sized papers. On soft sized papers it may increase the staining power of some pigments.

Aquapasto is a gel medium which is added to tube water colour in proportions of up to 50%, before water is added. It provides water colours with a texture which can be scratched out or thickens washes and keeps them wetter longer by reducing the flow of the colour. It is excellent for blending multiple washes on the paper and reworking them as required. The reduction of flow also prevents two washes bleeding into each other - great for clouds and skies.

Masking Fluid protects areas of your work when colour is applied in broad washes. Standard masking fluid is usually off-white or coloured with a pigment to make it easier to see the areas that you have masked and therefore make it easier to remove. We also stock Colourless Masking Fluid that can be used to protect certain areas of your work from large washes. Permanent Masking Medium is also available; this medium creates a permanently resistant surface that cannot be removed. It can be mixed with pigment to create a non-removable, resistant wash.

Lifting Preparation allows dry colour washes, including staining colours, to be easily lifted from paper with a wet brush, cloth or sponge. It should be applied directly to paper and left to dry before painting. It is recommended to coat the whole surface before commencing painting.

Using Granulation Medium will increase the granulation of colour, giving a mottled appearance to colours which usually give a smooth wash (e.g. Winsor Blue), or enhancing the effect of granulating colours (e.g. French Ultramarine). For maximum effect dilute colour generously with medium alone. It is important that you always work with painting horizontal when using this medium.

Texture Medium contains fine particles that add fine texture to your watercolours and can be used to give the impression of depth and structure to water colour paintings. This medium should be applied directly to paper or mix with water colour paints on your palette. It is important to shake the jar well before use.

Iridescent Medium gives pearlescent or glitter effects to water colours and is particularly effective when mixed with transparent colours especially over dark backgrounds. This medium can be mixed with transparent water colour or apply over a dried wash. Shake the jar well before use.

Blending Medium slows the drying of water colours, allowing more time to create beautifully blended washes. This medium extends working time even in hot climates. For maximum effect dilute with medium only. This medium can also be mixed with water.