Acrylic Mediums

Mediums and additives are the real secret to painting with acrylic. There are so many options available, it's hard to decide which ones you need. These are the only mediums you need for working with fabric. I purchase the Winsor & Newton, Liquitex and Golden mediums from dickblick.com. The others, I purchase at Wal Mart.

Craft paint has a fluid consistency, although it can be runny or thick like a paste. There is no need to purchase a warehouse quantity of paint with different viscosities and finishes. The right medium can alter any paint you have on hand. How you want your paint to look determines which medium you will use to change or retain its properties.

To maintain a thick consistency, use gel mediums. If you want to thicken runny paint, add Liquithick. You can thin paint by using water or fluid mediums. You can change the finish from matte to gloss or vice versa. You can even make your paint an opaque paste or a transparent gel.

 

Liquitex Thickening Gel thickens runny or fluid paint. Use sparingly. $8.81/8 oz

 

Liquitex Matte Gel doubles paint volume without changing its color or opacity. Dries to a matte finish. Use this if you're running out of paint, useful for mixed colors. Also used for creating a matte property. May be thinned with up to 25% water. Using 50% or more may lighten color. Use sparingly. $8.81/8 oz

Golden Self Leveling Clear Gel dries to a crystal clear gloss finish. Use for creating a glossy property. Retains opacity and consistency. $9.99/8 oz

Liquitex Iridescent Medium adds sparkle to any matte or glossy paint. Dilute 1:1 with water before brushing directly on fabric. Use sparingly. Retains opacity and consistency. $8.51/8 oz

Liquitex Pouring Medium thins paint consistency without altering color or opacity. Use in a squeeze bottle for line work. Also imparts a shimmery finish when used as a varnish. Dries slowly as an ink and quickly as a varnish. Retains opacity; changes consistency. $9.11/8 oz

Vegetable Glycerin (liquid retarder) diluted 2:1 with water keeps paint wet longer for blending. It helps to reduce paint skinning on the palette, and is excellent for transparent washes. Use for wet brush techniques. Changes consistency; retains opacity. $4.89/6 oz at Walmart.

Gel Retarder is a thick transparentizing gel for floating colors. It dilutes paint color without changing the consistency and allows the paint to move further for making longer strokes. The paint  "floats" on top of the fabric before it absorbs. Use for creating soft shadows. It also adds body to low-viscosity paint or mediums (a transparent version of Liquithick). May be thinned with glycerin water. Changes opacity; changes or retains consistency. $5.99/12 oz

Aloe Vera Gel is a floating medium similar to gel retarder, but it dulls or mutes the paint. It's like a thick version of water. It works well for controlling the bleed of watercolor pencils and Inktense pencils.

Golden Clear or Matte Digital Ground is an acrylic polymer that creates a texture that adheres ink to fabric. The clear is soft and washes off of non-printed fabric. The matte is semi-opaque white, slightly stiff, and does not wash off. Use it for inkjet printing and fabric transfers. $13.15/8 oz

 

White craft acrylic diluted with water is a substitute for the white ground. Airbrush medium alone substitutes for the clear. White and clear washable glue diluted 1:1 with water are also substitutes.

Golden Non-Porous Ground creates a texture on acetate sheets for ink to adhere. Use it for printing image transfers on acetate sheets. Inkjet transparency sheets have this ground on them. $13.85/8 oz. Clear washable glue diluted 1:1 with water serves the same purpose, but the glue will come off on the fabric.

 

Versatex Fixer is a no heat fixative. Mix it with paint or mediums to make them cure on fabric without heat setting. Allow five days to cure. Mix at a ratio of 1-1/2 teaspoon per 16 oz of paint. 3/4 tsp per 8 oz. 1/2 tsp per 4 oz. 1/4 tsp per 2 oz. 1/8 tsp per 1 oz. 6 drops per 1/2 oz. 3 drops per 1/4 oz. 2 drops per 3/4 tsp (1/8 oz). 1 drop per 1/4 tsp (1/16 oz). $7.19/4 oz at Dharma Trading.

 

Liquitex Fabric Medium is a sealer for dry media on fabric. Do not mix with paint. $6.23/4 oz.

Liquitex Varnish protects finished artwork. It dries to a breathable and washable finish. Use it as a final coat over inkjet prints and transfers. Dilute 3:1 (1-1/2 oz varnish with 3 oz water). $6.05/4 oz