Tips for using acrylic mediums

acrylic mediums tips

Applying a medium to your artwork can be nothing short of transformative. From slowing drying times to adding texture, mediums complement your colour choices perfectly. Conveniently, all our acrylic mediums are fully compatible with our Professional Acrylic and Galeria Acrylic colours – and they can be used to achieve a variety of effects.

There are endless possibilities with the use of acrylic mediums, but we’ve identified three simple tips that will help you best work with them, enhancing your practice and perhaps even the colour performance of your chosen palette.

professional acrylic gloss
Professional Acrylic Mediums Gloss Gel

1. Try glazing to alter colour effects

Once you’ve finished a piece, applying an overall glaze can unify your final image. You can also try glazing your work throughout the painting process to produce delicate colour effects and depth. Often a thin wash is required, which is best achieved with Professional Acrylic Mediums Gloss Gel and a touch of water. The extra gloss improves depth of colour.

Professional Acrylic Mediums Flow Improver
Professional Acrylic Mediums Flow Improver is great for maintaining colour stability when used as intended.

2. Keep colours bold

Used correctly, some mediums can help maintain the stability and vibrancy of your colours over time. Applying too much water or too much medium to acrylic paint, however, can cause overthinning, which dilutes the acrylic binder and can leave an insufficient remainder of binder for the pigment. To ensure you have the boldest colour finish, use your mediums in the way they were intended: for a specific purpose, to achieve the best possible result.

The effects of Galeria Iridescent Medium

3. Have fun with textured mediums

Whether you’re trying to capture the essence of a rocky shore or simply want to add another layer of interest to your artwork, there’s an array of possibilities available when you use texture-adding mediums. Galeria Glass Beads Texture Gel, for instance, is composed of small spherical glass beads suspended in gel and can create a jewel-like effect. Galeria Iridescent Medium lends work a sparkle-like sheen. Choose your desired effect and have fun as you experiment.