Acrylic Mediums For Texture, Flow And Finish: Which One Do You Need?

Acrylic paint is incredibly versatile and can be used for everything from simple brushwork to detailed paintings, textures and the liquid effect. However, the consistency of the paint straight from the tube may not always be exactly what you need.

This is where acrylic mediums come in handy.

Using an acrylic medium can be used to alter the way acrylic paints behave, without having to add more paint or water. The right medium can give you the texture, flow or finish that you need, but it is important to pick the correct medium for the job and know what to expect.

The easiest question to ask yourself if you are new to acrylic painting is not "what medium is the best?"

The first question to ask yourself may be "what do I want my paint to do differently?"

What Does An Acrylic Medium Do?

Acrylic mediums are products that are mixed into acrylic paints or used alongside acrylic painting.

Depending on the products that you use they can alter the texture, flow, transparency or appearance of the paint, as well as affect the handling and layers that you create.

This means that acrylic painting mediums can be really beneficial to use if you are not achieving the desired effect with the consistency of the paint.

There is one particularly important distinction that we need to make at this point.

A medium will alter, extend or affect the way that you work with acrylic paints. Varnish is generally used as the final protective or finishing layer.

Once you know the difference then it is much easier to work out what you actually need.

Want More Texture? Choose A Texture Or Modelling Medium

If your painting is feeling too flat and you want the surface of the piece to be more interesting than just the paint, a texture medium could be just what you need.

Modelling Paste For Raised Texture

Modelling Paste can be particularly useful if you want to achieve real raised texture in your work, as it can be built up before or alongside painting to create a 3D effect.

This can be useful for things like abstract work, textured landscapes, decorative panels, floral work and mixed media.

Instead of painting the rough tree bark texture with a brush, you can create some of that texture on the surface and then paint it. The amount that you use and how thick it is will also affect how the texture appears, so it's important to allow that to dry completely before you paint any additional layers.

When Should You Use A Texture Medium?

Texture is beneficial when you want the viewer of your artwork to see the surface and interact with it, rather than just the paint.

A smooth portrait would benefit from a smooth and even surface, whereas an abstract piece could look more interesting with the texture catching the light.

There is no point in adding texture just because you can, it should enhance the piece.

Want Better Flow? Choose A Flow Or Pouring Medium

Acrylic paint can sometimes be too thick and sticky for techniques that require a more fluid approach, but you don't necessarily need to add more water just to achieve this.

A flow medium could be something that you want to consider if you're using pouring techniques or fluid acrylics, marbling or other similar effects.

Pouring Medium For Fluid Effects

Pouring Medium is designed to be used for pieces that require the paint to flow and move, such as those that use multiple colours in an abstract design.

Imagine painting something that takes a couple of different colours in abstract patterns and pouring them onto a surface so that they can spread out and mix together.

In this case a suitable pouring medium would be more effective than simply adding loads of water.

As with all acrylic mediums, make sure that you read the instructions for your product, as different ratios can affect flow, paint, surface and technique.

Want To Change The Finish?

Sometimes the artwork is fine, but the finish on the surface just isn't quite what you need.

There are a number of options that you can choose from in the acrylic mediums department which will help to make the surface appear glossier, shinier or create a more distinct appearance.

Gloss Effects

Gloss mediums will affect the appearance of the surface and can enhance the appearance of the colour. They can be really effective to create really deep and intense effects in your work.

These can be useful for really decorative or bright abstract pieces, or if you are looking to create colour-based mixed media. They can also be really useful if you want your piece to appear to have a glossy surface, such as in decorative artwork.

Matte Effects

A matte medium can be used to reduce the shine that you would get with other acrylic products and finish as a really soft appearance. This can be useful if you want your piece to have a more modest appearance.

It's important to remember that a medium and a varnish are not interchangeable just because one can affect the appearance of the painting's surface. The two are entirely different products as the medium is generally used to modify the paint, whereas varnish is used to protect the finished work.

For more information on the final protective finishes, take a look at our blog titled Matte vs Gloss Varnish: Which Finish Is Right For Your Painting?

Which Acrylic Medium Should You Choose?

The easiest way to work this out is to think about the effect that you want.

Knowing what you want can be much more helpful than trying to choose a medium because it's popular, as the right product could depend on technique, surface and desired effect.

Common Mistakes When Using Acrylic Mediums

Acrylic mediums are really good fun to experiment with, but there are a few standard mistakes that can be made.

Too much medium: More is not necessarily better and, when you're learning, you should follow the recommended ratios for the product that you have chosen.

Water is the go-to thinning agent for acrylic paints, but water does not play the same role as a dedicated acrylic medium.

Assuming that all mediums are the same: Modeling Paste, Pouring Medium and gloss mediums are all used for entirely different purposes.

Skipping the product instructions: Ratios, drying time, surface and application can all vary.

Trying a new medium directly on a finished painting: If possible, you should try a small sample first, to see how the paint, medium and surface react together.

One of the most useful habits that you can get into when working with acrylic mediums is experimenting on a small piece before getting into a big piece.

Start With The Effect That You Want

Choosing acrylic mediums becomes much easier if you stop thinking about what the product is called and start thinking about what you want.

Do you want raised texture? Look towards a good Modeling Paste or other texture medium.

Do you want the paint to flow and move? A flow or pouring medium will probably be more beneficial.

Do you want to change the surface appearance during the painting process? A suitable matte, gloss or gel medium will probably be what you need.

There's not an acrylic medium that does everything, so remember to know the purpose behind the product and understand that to get a lot of use and benefit out of it.

Whether you're looking to play around with texture, experiment with fluid effects or change the appearance of your acrylic artwork, we have some excellent mediums and painting supplies at Bluebird Arts to help you explore different techniques and approaches to acrylic painting.

FAQs

What is an acrylic medium used for?

An acrylic medium is used to alter the properties of the acrylic paint. The way in which it does this varies between products.

Which acrylic medium is best for texture?

Modeling Paste is a really useful product for building up raised texture on a painting surface. Other texture mediums can also be explored if a different approach is needed.

What acrylic medium is used for pouring?

Pouring Medium is ideal for pieces with a fluid appearance, but you should always follow the instructions provided with your product.

Can I use water instead of acrylic medium?

Water can be used to dilute acrylic paint, but it is not a substitute for acrylic medium if you want to change a property or add effects.

Is acrylic medium the same as varnish?

No, acrylic varnish is completely different to acrylic medium. Mediums are used to modify the paints or effects during the creation of a piece. Varnish is generally used as a final protective layer.