Liquitex Mediums, Grounds & Varnishes
In addition to the widest array of Professional and Student colors, Liquitex offers the broadest possible range of acrylic mediums to inspire creativity at every stage of the painting process. We understand that mediums are often a difficult concept to grasp until you actually dive into them, so we’ve tried to simplify usage by classifying products in three distinct categories: Prep, Paint, and Finish.
Gloss Medium and Varnish
Attributes
- All purpose medium, formulated to be mixed into all Liquitex acrylic paints and mediums.
- Mix into any acrylic paint to enhance the depth of color intensity, increase transparency, gloss, ease flow of paint and add flexibility and adhesion of paint film.
- Use as a non-removable varnish to protect painting and establish gloss sheen surface.
- Translucent when wet, transparent (clear) when dry.
- 100% acrylic polymer varnish. Water soluble when wet. Good chemical and water resistance.
- Dry to a non-tacky, hard, flexible surface that is resistant to retention of dirt.
- Resists discoloring (non-yellowing, non-fogging) due to humidity, heat and ultraviolet light.
- Depending upon substrate, allows moisture to pass through (breathable).
- Will not crack as surface expands and contracts during temperature and humidity changes. Applicable for any surface (flexible and inflexible) suitable for acrylic paint and mediums, such as canvas, paper, wood, Plexiglas, etc.
- Not for use over oil paint.
Sizes available - 4oz. 8oz. 16oz. 32oz.
Matte Medium
Attributes
- Creates a matte, non-reflecting finish when added to acrylic colors.
- Mix into any acrylic paint to increase transparency and extend color, increase matte sheen, increase film integrity, ease flow of paint and add flexibility and adhesion of paint film.
- Mix with Gloss Medium & Varnish to produce a semi-gloss or satin medium.
- Opaque when wet, translucent when dry.
Sizes available - 4oz. 8oz. 16oz. 32oz.
Slo-Dri Blending Medium
Attributes
- A unique formulation for superior surface blending with acrylics.
- Extends drying time up to 40% for superior surface blending with acrylics.
- Adds flow to Heavy Body Professional Artist Color and is similar in body to Soft Body Professional Artist Color.
- Mix any amount into color to enhance the depth of color intensity, increase transparency, gloss, ease flow of paint, and add flexibility and adhesion to paint film.
- Dries clear to reveal full, rich color.
- Unlike retarding additives, any quantity may be added to color without jeopardizing the strength of the paint film.
- Translucent when wet, transparent when dry
- Flexible, non-yellowing and water resistant when dry.
Sizes available - 4oz.
Gloss Gel Medium
Attributes
- Viscosity and body similar to Heavy Body Artist Color.
- 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 Color to extend paint, increase the brilliance and transparency of color, without changing the thickness of the paint.
- Mix with Heavy Body Artist Color to obtain paint similar in color depth to oil paint.
Sizes available - 8oz. 16oz. 32oz
Gloss Heavy Gel Medium
Attributes
- 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.
Sizes available - 8oz.
Matte Gel Medium
Attributes
- Same qualities as Gloss Gel Medium, except dries translucent with a satin/matte finish.
- Viscosity and body similar to Heavy Body Artist Color.
- 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 Color to obtain paint similar in color depth to oil paint.
- Color mix will dry to a satin sheen.
Sizes available - 8oz.
Modeling Paste
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 colors will act as a weak tinting white, while increasing thickness and rigidity.
- Excellent substrate for acrylic paint, oil paint, oil pastel, oil bars, watercolor, graphite or dry pastel.
Sizes available - 8oz. 16oz. 32oz
Iridescent Medium
Attributes
- Produces a range of iridescent or metallic colors when mixed into acrylic colors.
- Opaque when wet, transparent - translucent when dry.
Sizes available - 8oz.
Ceramic Stucco
Attributes
- A thick, low luster, fine texture gel, that dries to a light gray 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.
Sizes available - 8oz.
Flow-Aid
Attributes
- For all acrylic paints and mediums.
- Use in conjunction with any acrylic medium or color when increased flow and absorption and decreased film tension and friction are important.
- A flow enhancer that improves the flow, absorption and blending of any water-soluble paint (i.e. acrylic paint), medium, ink or dye.
- Minimizes brush marks by reducing friction of paint application.
- Does not contain binder. Over thinning of acrylic paint with Flow-AidTM and applying to a non-absorbent surface (i.e. gessoed canvas) may result in poor adhesion. Always make a test piece for your particular application and surface.
- On non-absorbent surfaces, will increase the fluidity and open (drying) time of the paint.
- On absorbent surfaces, will act as a stain, dye or watercolor.
Sizes available – 4 oz.
