Overwhelmed by acrylic mediums?

Acrylic Mediums

which one is best for you?

Which FINISH are you looking for in a GEL?

See recommendations below

Acrylic Gel Mediums: Use Cases

Acrylic Gel Mediums: Use Cases

Gloss
Semi-Gloss
Matte
Fluid

Increases flow and spreadability of acrylic paint; ideal for smooth glazes and washes; maintains color intensity.

Examples: Glazing Medium, Fluid Medium.

Offers increased flow and spreadability with a semi-gloss finish. Suitable for transparent layers where a subtle sheen is desired.

Examples: Satin Glazing Liquid.

Increases flow and spreadability with a matte finish. Ideal for creating transparent layers with no shine.

Examples: Matte Medium.

Soft Gel

Thins paint while maintaining body; suitable for glazes and transparent layers where some viscosity is desired.

Provides a balanced consistency between fluid and regular gel with a semi-gloss finish. Good for general mixing and transparent applications with a slight sheen.

Offers a soft, pliable consistency with a matte finish. Useful for transparent applications where a non-reflective surface is preferred.

Regular Gel

Thickens paint for impasto and texture while maintaining transparency; good for thicker transparent layers or collaging.

Provides a thicker consistency than soft gel with a semi-gloss finish. Versatile for building texture and adhesion with a subtle sheen.

Offers a thick consistency with a matte finish, suitable for building texture or for use in collaging where a non-reflective, opaque appearance is desired.

Heavy Gel

Super thick, sets up for a thick transparent look; ideal for impasto and sculptural effects while retaining transparency.

Examples: Heavy Gel Medium.

Provides a very thick consistency with a semi-gloss finish, suitable for dramatic impasto and textural work where a subtle sheen is desired.

Offers a very thick consistency with a matte finish, excellent for creating pronounced textures and impasto effects with a non-reflective surface.

Acrylic Gel Mediums: Product Options

Acrylic Gel Mediums: Product Options

Gloss
Semi-Gloss
Matte
Fluid
  • Liquitex Professional Pouring Medium
  • Golden Gloss Medium
  • Winsor & Newton Acrylic Flow Improver
  • Matisse MM9 Acrylic Painting Medium
  • Mont Marte Gloss Medium
  • Liquitex Professional Satin Pouring Medium
  • Golden Satin Glazing Liquid
  • Golden High Flow Medium
  • Golden Airbrush Medium
  • Winsor & Newton Galeria Satin Medium
  • Matisse MM6 Polymer Satin Varnish
  • Mont Marte Satin Medium
  • Liquitex Professional Matte Medium
  • Golden Fluid Matte Medium
  • Winsor & Newton Galeria Matte Medium
  • Matisse MM5 Matt Medium
  • Mont Marte Matte Medium
Soft Gel
  • Liquitex Professional Soft Gel (Gloss)
  • Golden Soft Gel (Gloss)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Gloss Gel
  • Matisse MM4 Gel Medium (Gloss)
  • Mont Marte Soft Gel Medium (Gloss)
  • Liquitex Professional Soft Gel (Satin)
  • Golden Soft Gel (Satin)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Satin Gel
  • Matisse (Mix MM4 Gel with MM6 Satin Varnish)
  • Mont Marte Soft Gel Medium (Satin)
  • Liquitex Professional Soft Gel (Matte)
  • Golden Soft Gel (Matte)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Matte Gel
  • Matisse MM30 Matt Gel Medium
  • Mont Marte Soft Gel Medium (Matte)
Regular Gel
  • Liquitex Professional Gel Medium (Gloss)
  • Golden Regular Gel (Gloss)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Gloss Gel
  • Matisse MM4 Gel Medium (Gloss)
  • Mont Marte Gel Medium (Gloss)
  • Liquitex Professional Gel Medium (Satin)
  • Golden Regular Gel (Satin)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Satin Gel
  • Matisse (Mix MM4 Gel with MM6 Satin Varnish)
  • Mont Marte Gel Medium (Satin)
  • Liquitex Professional Gel Medium (Matte)
  • Golden Regular Gel (Matte)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Matte Gel
  • Matisse MM30 Matt Gel Medium
  • Mont Marte Gel Medium (Matte)
Heavy Gel
  • Liquitex Professional Heavy Gel (Gloss)
  • Golden Heavy Gel (Gloss)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Heavy Gel
  • Matisse MM2 Impasto (dries Satin)
  • Mont Marte Heavy Gel Medium (Gloss)
  • Liquitex Professional Heavy Gel (Satin)
  • Golden Heavy Gel (Satin)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Satin Heavy Gel
  • Matisse MM2 Impasto Medium
  • Mont Marte Heavy Gel Medium (Satin)
  • Liquitex Professional Heavy Gel (Matte)
  • Golden Heavy Gel (Matte)
  • Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Matte Heavy Gel
  • Matisse (Mix MM2 Impasto with MM5 Matt Medium)
  • Mont Marte Heavy Gel Medium (Matte)
Acrylic Mediums Guide

Acrylic Pastes & Texture Gels

Impasto Molding Paste

Creates a strong, textural surface; dries to a hard, flexible, opaque finish.

Brands: Liquitex Flexible Modeling Paste, Golden Flexible Molding Paste, Winsor & Newton Professional Modeling Paste, Matisse MM2 Impasto Medium, Mont Marte Modeling Paste (*Be careful some brands dry looking cheap & plasticky)

Light Molding Paste

Fluffy, lightweight paste that dries matte white and can be painted over. Very flexible.

Brands: Liquitex Light Modeling Paste, Golden Light Molding Paste, Winsor & Newton Professional Light Modeling Paste, Mont Marte Light Modeling Paste, Matisse MM32 Light Modelling Paste

Heavy Molding Paste

Dense, heavy paste that dries matte white and can be painted over.

Brands: Liquitex Heavy Gel & Molding Paste, Golden Heavy Molding Paste, Winsor & Newton Professional Heavy Modeling Paste, Mont Marte Heavy Molding Paste, Matisse MM2 Impasto Medium

Fiber Paste

Dense paste that dries matte white with visible fibers; can be painted over. Creates a paper-like or fibrous texture.

Brands: Liquitex Fiber Paste, Golden Fiber Paste, Winsor & Newton Professional Fiber Paste (Matisse does not appear to have a direct equivalent)

Crackle Medium

Creates controlled cracks in the paint layer as it dries, revealing underlying colors or surfaces.

Brands: Golden Crackle Paste, Liquitex Crackle Paste, Matisse Cracking Medium

Sand Texture Gel

Contains fine sand particles, creating a gritty, sandy texture.

Brands: Golden Natural Sand (Fine) Regular Gel, Liquitex Resinsand Fine Texture Gel, Winsor & Newton Professional Sand Texture Gel, Mont Marte Sand Medium (Matisse offers other dry textures, but not a pre-mixed sand gel)

Glass Beads Texture Gel

Contains tiny clear glass beads, creating a whimsical, bubbly, light-reflective surface.

Brands: Golden Glass Bead Gel, Liquitex Glass Beads, Winsor & Newton Professional Glass Beads Medium, Matisse Glass Beads (Dry medium to mix with gel)

Black Lava Texture Gel

Contains uniform black specks, creating a satin sheen. Best when mixed with transparent or translucent acrylics for dark, speckled effects.

Brands: Golden Black Lava, Liquitex Black Lava (Matisse does not appear to have a direct equivalent)

Ceramic Stucco Texture Gel

Fine-textured, cement-like, toothy surface. Accepts charcoal, pastels, and acrylics.

Brands: Golden Ceramic Stucco, Liquitex Ceramic Stucco (Matisse does not appear to have a direct equivalent)

White Opaque Flakes Texture Gel

Rough, irregular surface with small opaque white flakes. Often best mixed with paint on the palette, creates a scaly or flakey appearance.

Brands: Golden White Opaque Flakes, Liquitex White Opaque Flakes (Matisse offers a Mica Flake dry medium as an alternative)

Iridescent Medium

Adds shimmer and pearlescence to paint. Can be a fluid or gel consistency depending on the specific product.

Brands: Liquitex Iridescent Medium, Golden Iridescent Mediums, Winsor & Newton Iridescent Medium, Mont Marte Iridescent Medium, Matisse MM24 Iridescent Medium

© Michele Luminato 2025 | design by Michele Luminato |

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