GOLDEN Mediums and Additives offer artists infinite control of changing acrylic colors. They range in consistency from pourable to moldable. They may be used to create glazes, extend paints, build texture, change finishes and work as a gluing agent for collages. Because there are so many to choose from, an artist first needs to determine which characteristic(s) they are looking to change.
GOLDEN Fluid Mediums offer artists infinite control of changing acrylic colors. Use Mediums to control transparency, viscosity and surface sheen. GOLDEN Mediums can be thought of as colorless paints, as they are composed of similar polymers as are the acrylic paints. They are the "glue" or binder that dry to form continuous, durable films. They are made of 100% acrylic polymers, which have proven to have excellent flexibility and chemical, water and ultraviolet radiation resistance.
Admittedly, such a large number of mediums can often seem staggering and can confuse artists. However, with at least a general understanding of the various products available, and an inclination to experiment, artists can create new ways in which to express themselves, and probably apply materials in a way that GOLDEN has not thought about.
GOLDEN GAC Special Purpose Polymers (short for Golden Artist Colors) Specialty Acrylic Polymers are based on 100% acrylic polymer emulsions. The GACs are useful as mediums or modifiers of acrylic paints. GACs can be blended with GOLDEN Acrylic Paints to extend the paint, regulate transparency, create glazes, increase gloss, reduce viscosity or improve adhesion and film integrity. The GAC polymers can also be used for binding pigment solids for various effects and surfaces. Unlike the other GOLDEN Mediums and Gels, GAC Acrylic Polymers have only a minimum amount of thickeners, levelers, defoamers and surfactants to ensure good film formation.
The consistency of the GAC polymers is very fluid and thinner than other GOLDEN Mediums. Since they do not have thickeners added, these polymers will reduce the thickness of most GOLDEN Acrylic Paints. GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics are slightly thicker than the GACs, but will be the color line least changed in viscosity with any addition of a GAC polymer.
Each GAC product represents a unique polymer that offers certain specific attributes. Therefore, each GAC will have its own unique benefits and applications. Refer to the individual product description of each GAC below to find the proper medium to use for a particular application.
GOLDEN Gel Mediums offer artists many ways to build texture. They range in consistency from pourable to moldable with varying degrees of sheen and transparency. They can be used to create glazes, extend paints and change finishes. Some gels incorporate pumice, glass or acrylic granules that impart unique reflective, rough or absorbent surface qualities.
Gels can be thought of as colorless paint, as they are composed of 100% acrylic polymers similar to acrylic paint. They can also act as adhesives in collage and mixed media that dry to form continuous films with excellent flexibility with chemical, water and UV resistance.
GOLDEN Pastes are tools that artists can use to achieve a variety of effects and expressions. Pastes used in conjunction with acrylic colors broaden working properties and expand creative possibilities.
Pastes differ from most gels in that they are opaque and may contain Marble Dust, Diatomaceous Earth, fibers, clays or other fillers resulting in a white or clay-tone finish with a variety of textures and properties. Pastes can also be used to create textured foundations for painting.
GOLDEN Gessos and Groundss offer artists a variety of ways to prepare substrates for acrylic paintings or other art media such as oil, alkyds, charcoal, pastels and watercolor.
Gesso can be thought of as the bridge between the support and the paint. GOLDEN Gesso is designed to penetrate a support and provide a surface for the adherence of paint. Proper preparation of the support with GOLDEN Gesso can increase the life span of the artwork. GOLDEN Gesso is formulated to be flexible and is highly pigmented for opaque coverage.
A Ground is a product that provides a desired surface on which to paint. Grounds can provide a surface to apply pastels, watercolor or other products. GOLDEN makes two specialty grounds: Absorbent Ground and Acrylic Ground for Pastels. Absorbent Ground is applied to any gessoed support and mimics the absorbency of watercolor paper. Acrylic Ground for
Pastels contains a gritty solid to allow pastels and other drawing media to adhere to the surface. Many other GOLDEN products can be used as effective grounds.
GOLDEN Varnishes offer several advantages to artists concerned about the longevity of their artwork. First, they are removable. Problems such as smoke damage, handling blemishes and dust or dirt accumulation on the surface of the painting can be removed along with the varnish. Second, GOLDEN Varnishes offer protection from UltraViolet (UV) rays generated from the sun. Third, varnishing consolidates the artwork with an even sheen. Gloss Varnishes can intensify colors while Matte or Satin Varnishes soften the color and minimize glare.
GOLDEN Mediums and Additives offer artists infinite control of changing acrylic colors. They range in consistency from pourable to moldable. They may be used to create glazes, extend paints, build texture, change finishes and work as a gluing agent for collages. Because there are so many to choose from, an artist first needs to determine which characteristic(s) they are looking to change.
GOLDEN Fluid Mediums offer artists infinite control of changing acrylic colors. Use Mediums to control transparency, viscosity and surface sheen. GOLDEN Mediums can be thought of as colorless paints, as they are composed of similar polymers as are the acrylic paints. They are the "glue" or binder that dry to form continuous, durable films. They are made of 100% acrylic polymers, which have proven to have excellent flexibility and chemical, water and ultraviolet radiation resistance.
Admittedly, such a large number of mediums can often seem staggering and can confuse artists. However, with at least a general understanding of the various products available, and an inclination to experiment, artists can create new ways in which to express themselves, and probably apply materials in a way that GOLDEN has not thought about.
GOLDEN GAC Special Purpose Polymers (short for Golden Artist Colors) Specialty Acrylic Polymers are based on 100% acrylic polymer emulsions. The GACs are useful as mediums or modifiers of acrylic paints. GACs can be blended with GOLDEN Acrylic Paints to extend the paint, regulate transparency, create glazes, increase gloss, reduce viscosity or improve adhesion and film integrity. The GAC polymers can also be used for binding pigment solids for various effects and surfaces. Unlike the other GOLDEN Mediums and Gels, GAC Acrylic Polymers have only a minimum amount of thickeners, levelers, defoamers and surfactants to ensure good film formation.
The consistency of the GAC polymers is very fluid and thinner than other GOLDEN Mediums. Since they do not have thickeners added, these polymers will reduce the thickness of most GOLDEN Acrylic Paints. GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics are slightly thicker than the GACs, but will be the color line least changed in viscosity with any addition of a GAC polymer.
Each GAC product represents a unique polymer that offers certain specific attributes. Therefore, each GAC will have its own unique benefits and applications. Refer to the individual product description of each GAC below to find the proper medium to use for a particular application.
GOLDEN Gel Mediums offer artists many ways to build texture. They range in consistency from pourable to moldable with varying degrees of sheen and transparency. They can be used to create glazes, extend paints and change finishes. Some gels incorporate pumice, glass or acrylic granules that impart unique reflective, rough or absorbent surface qualities.
Gels can be thought of as colorless paint, as they are composed of 100% acrylic polymers similar to acrylic paint. They can also act as adhesives in collage and mixed media that dry to form continuous films with excellent flexibility with chemical, water and UV resistance.
GOLDEN Pastes are tools that artists can use to achieve a variety of effects and expressions. Pastes used in conjunction with acrylic colors broaden working properties and expand creative possibilities.
Pastes differ from most gels in that they are opaque and may contain Marble Dust, Diatomaceous Earth, fibers, clays or other fillers resulting in a white or clay-tone finish with a variety of textures and properties. Pastes can also be used to create textured foundations for painting.
GOLDEN Gessos and Groundss offer artists a variety of ways to prepare substrates for acrylic paintings or other art media such as oil, alkyds, charcoal, pastels and watercolor.
Gesso can be thought of as the bridge between the support and the paint. GOLDEN Gesso is designed to penetrate a support and provide a surface for the adherence of paint. Proper preparation of the support with GOLDEN Gesso can increase the life span of the artwork. GOLDEN Gesso is formulated to be flexible and is highly pigmented for opaque coverage.
A Ground is a product that provides a desired surface on which to paint. Grounds can provide a surface to apply pastels, watercolor or other products. GOLDEN makes two specialty grounds: Absorbent Ground and Acrylic Ground for Pastels. Absorbent Ground is applied to any gessoed support and mimics the absorbency of watercolor paper. Acrylic Ground for
Pastels contains a gritty solid to allow pastels and other drawing media to adhere to the surface. Many other GOLDEN products can be used as effective grounds.
GOLDEN Varnishes offer several advantages to artists concerned about the longevity of their artwork. First, they are removable. Problems such as smoke damage, handling blemishes and dust or dirt accumulation on the surface of the painting can be removed along with the varnish. Second, GOLDEN Varnishes offer protection from UltraViolet (UV) rays generated from the sun. Third, varnishing consolidates the artwork with an even sheen. Gloss Varnishes can intensify colors while Matte or Satin Varnishes soften the color and minimize glare.
Acrylic Glazing Liquid is a specially formulated liquid medium designed to have longer working time than typical acrylic mediums. Very useful for fine art applications where subtle blending, subtractive techniques and similar methods are desired. Also ideal for decorative painting techniques. Available in Gloss and Satin.
Polymer Medium (Gloss) A general purpose liquid medium useful for creating glazes, extending colors, enhancing gloss and translucency and increasing film integrity. Has a unique feel that is much more oil-like or resinous in nature and that promotes flow and leveling.
Fluid Matte Medium A liquid medium useful for extending colors, decreasing gloss and increasing film integrity. Useful for blending with GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics to decrease the gloss, without increasing viscosity.
Matte Medium A general purpose, pourable medium useful for extending colors, decreasing gloss and increasing film integrity. Can be used as a ground, instead of gesso.
Super Loaded Matte Medium Super Loaded Matte Medium is useful for reducing gloss. Because of its high level of matting agents, it will lower sheen of another product with a minimal addition, thereby changing other paint attributes the least, such as color strength and viscosity. Super Loaded Matte Medium should always be blended with other acrylic paints or mediums as this product is not intended to be used by itself.
Airbrush Transparent Extender GOLDEN Airbrush Transparent Extender is a 100% acrylic binder system that is designed to modify GOLDEN Airbrush Colors for increased transparency and film hardness. Engineered to meet the highest standards of professional airbrush illustrators, Airbrush Transparent Extender possesses excellent spraying properties and is formulated to minimize tip build-up, clogging and surface defects.
Airbrush Medium Designed for modifying the GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics for airbrush/spray application. Blends with minimal effort with the Fluid Acrylics to yield a paint mixture with the proper viscosity for airbrushing. Effectively decreases clogging and tip buildup during spraying, eliminating the largest drawback to airbrushing with acrylics. While designed with the Fluid Acrylics in mind, Airbrush Medium will also reduce the Heavy Body, Matte, High Load, Iridescent/Interference and Fluorescent Acrylics for spray applications. GOLDEN Mediums and Gessos can also be blended with Airbrush Medium for spraying.
Silkscreen Medium A water-borne system designed to blend with acrylic paints for silkscreen application. Increases working time and retards paint from drying in the screen. Safe to use with minimal odor. Mix 1 part Silkscreen Medium with 1 part GOLDEN Acrylic colors (Heavy Body, Matte or Fluid) and use this mixture to screen with. The Silkscreen Medium is not designed to impart opacity, hence the opacity of the mixture will be determined by the nature of color being used and the ratio of paint to Medium used.
GAC 100 Acrylic A liquid acrylic polymer emulsion useful for diluting and extending colors as well as increasing flexibility and film integrity. Wets out solids more readily than other polymers and is useful for creating homemade paints.
GAC 200 Acrylic A liquid acrylic polymer emulsion that is the hardest and least flexible of GOLDEN acrylics. Useful for increasing film hardness and reducing tack. Increases adhesion to non-porous surfaces; however some surfaces, such as glass and glazed tile, will not allow for a permanent bond. Used in its pure form, it is limited to applications on non-flexible supports. Generally recommend a maximum level of GAC 200 be 33% of the entire paint mixture.
GAC 400 Acrylic A liquid acrylic polymer emulsion which dries to a hard, stiff film. When applied over a fabric support, such as cotton, linen or silk, the GAC 400 will serve to dramatically stiffen the support. This allows the artist to transform a lightweight fabric into a free-standing form that will hold its shape.
GAC 500 Acrylic A liquid acrylic polymer emulsion with leveling ability, that forms a hard, glossy film. Useful for increasing film hardness and reducing tack, while maintaining flexibility. The hardest polymer that is suitable for flexible supports.
GAC 700 Acrylic A liquid acylic polymer emulsion offering excellent film clarity, gloss, and reduced shrinkage. Useful for glaze applications. Exercise care to reduce foaming during application.
GAC 800 Acrylic A liquid acrylic polymer emulsion that does not craze in pours/puddles. That is to say that it dries with the same uniform surface and dimensional integrity as when wet (other GACs will craze, developing shrinkage crevices running across the surface). Dries with good gloss and flexibility, but only moderate clarity. Useful to increase adhesion to chalky surfaces.
GAC 900 Acrylic A liquid acrylic polymer emulsion which when heat-set offers a very soft hand and laundering stability. This product is most useful to artists painting on clothing. GAC 900 can be blended with various acrylic colors to produce fabric paints that can be airbrush, hand brush or screen applied.
Soft Gels Thinner than GOLDEN Heavy Body Acrylic colors, Soft Gels are moderately pourable. Hold only slight peaks. The recommended acrylic to function as a glue for collaging. Soft Gel Gloss is ideal for glazing and other techniques where transparency is desired. Soft Gel Gloss is useful as a non-removable isolation coat, applied over an acrylic painting prior to varnishing (must be thinned with water - 2 parts Soft Gel Gloss to 1 part water; DO NOT USE Soft Gel Semi-Gloss or Matte for this purpose).
Regular Gels Same creamy consistency as GOLDEN Heavy Body Acrylic colors. Ideal for extending paint and regulating translucency without changing the consistency of the Heavy Body and Matte colors. Hold moderate peaks and texture. The Regular Gel Gloss is ideal for glazing and other techniques where transparency is desired.
Heavy Gels Thicker consistency than GOLDEN Heavy Body Acrylic colors. Blend with colors to increase body. Good for holding peaks. Dries translucent.
Extra Heavy Gels Thicker consistency than GOLDEN Heavy Body Acrylic colors. The thickest of GOLDEN gels, along with the High Solid Gels. Blend with colors to increase body. Excellent for holding peaks and impasto techniques. Dries translucent.
High Solid Gel (Gloss) Thicker consistency than GOLDEN Heavy Body Acrylic colors, while being similar to Extra-Heavy Gels. Offers higher gloss, lower shrinkage and dries to the touch quicker than most Gels. High Solid Gels are good for holding peaks. Blends with colors to make them feel more oil-like and increases retention of brushstrokes.
High Solid Gel (Matte) Thicker consistency than GOLDEN Heavy Body Acrylic colors, while being similar to Extra-Heavy Gels. Dries to a matte finish. Offers lower shrinkage and dries to touch quicker than most Gels. Good for holding peaks. Blends with colors to make them feel more oil-like and increases retention of brushstrokes.
Pumice Gels Used to create textured surfaces. Dries to a hard film. To increase its flexibility, mix in other GOLDEN Gels or mediums. Blends with GOLDEN Acrylic colors. For a short video about this product
Self Leveling Clear Gel Designed to produce an even film with excellent clarity. The gel has a unique resinous, stringy consistency resulting from the leveling property. This product dries to a flexible, high gloss film, which can increase the transparency and sheen, while imparting a leveling quality to other GOLDEN Acrylic products. Blends with GOLDEN Acrylic colors to produce glazes.
Clear Tar Gel Designed to yield a pully, tar-like feel, but in a colorless gel. This gel has an extremely resinous and stringy consistency, which makes it feel very different than other acrylics. Useful for generating fine detailed lines by "dripping" it over surfaces, as it continuously flows from palette knives or other tools. Blends with all GOLDEN Acrylic colors (though Fluids work best) to offer a full range of colors with which to work.
Glass Bead Gel A coarse textured medium with a Heavy Body viscosity that holds peaks. Made with genuine glass beads, its unique visual effect – like that of condensation on cold glass – is best seen in thin films that allow the mono-layer of glass beads to be illuminated on a light colored ground. Glass Bead Gel can appear very similar to Coarse Pumice Gel or Clear Granular Gel when mixed with enough paint to hide the appearance of the glass beads.
Clear Granular Gel Used to create textured surfaces. Dries to a hard film. To increase its flexibility, mix in other GOLDEN Gels or mediums. Blends with GOLDEN Acrylic colors.
Silk Screen Fabric Gel Blends with the GOLDEN Acrylic Paint lines to produce a silk-screen ink for heat-settable textile applications.
Extra Heavy/Molding Paste A blend of Extra Heavy Gel Gloss and Molding Paste. Dries to a satin, semi-opaque finish. Excellent for increasing viscosity and building surfaces.
Molding Paste Excellent for building surfaces and creating textures. Dries to a hard, yet flexible, opaque film. Blends with GOLDEN Acrylic colors.
Hard Molding Paste Dries to a extremely hard, opaque film. This product is useful for creating tough, durable finishes for smooth or textured surfaces. The dried film can be carved with hand or power tools. Blends with GOLDEN Acrylic colors.
Light Molding Paste - Offers dramatic weight reductions when building thick layers of acrylic. The density of the wet product is over 50% less than GOLDEN Molding Paste. This results in a significantly lighter film. This dramatic weight reduction will be beneficial in creating artworks that are large in size, have thick film build-up, or both. The product dries to an opaque, matte finish. The consistency is designed to hold stiff peaks to create a highly textured surface. Blends with GOLDEN Acrylic colors.
Coarse Molding Paste A thick, warm white colored medium that is translucent up to about 1/8”. Dries to a hard surfaced, stiff but flexible film with a tooth like fine sandpaper. The dry film accepts wet and dry media very well. Mix with GOLDEN Fluid Acrylics or Heavy Body Acrylics to create a dense-feeling paint that holds good peaks and dries with a matte to satin sheen with a finely pebbled surface.
Fiber Paste This medium offers a dry film that has the appearance of rough handmade paper. Skimming the product with a wet palette knife can make a smoother surface. When dry, it has an off-white color and is very absorbent, making it ideal for use with acrylic and watercolor washes or inks. It has a thick, somewhat sticky feel in the wet state.
Crackle Paste is a thick, opaque cracking material designed to develop deep fissure-like cracks as it cures. The size and extent of the crackle pattern is dependent on many factors, including the thickness of application and the environmental conditions (temperature, relative humidity and air flow) during drying
GOLDEN White and Black Gessos are ready-to-use liquid grounds formulated for the use of acrylics on any commonly used painting surface. They are flexible and can be applied in thin layers to conform to a variey to textured surfaces without cracking. For oil painting over acrylic gesso, it is recommended that at least three layers of gesso be applied.
Absorbent Ground is an acrylic liquid surfacing medium that dries to a porous, paper-like surface. Applied over gessoed canvas, it allows for raw canvaslike staining and watercolor effects. Lightfast, permanent and flexible. Health Labeled (HL) Product. Not for use by children.
Acrylic Ground for Pastels is an acrylic ground for the preparation of canvas and other supports for pastels. It provides a tooth similar to papers designed for pastel and chalk. To increase tooth, add GOLDEN Fine or Coarse Pumice Gel. The product can be blended with GOLDEN Acrylic colors for colored grounds
Acrylic Flow Release GOLDEN Acrylic Flow Release is an additive used to reduce surface tension of the water in the acrylic emulsion, therefore increasing the slickness and flow of the paint. It is effective for achieving rich stains on a porous surface. Health Labeled (HL) Product. Not for use by children.
Retarder GOLDEN Retarder is an additive used to increase the open (drying) time of acrylic paints. Useful for "wet in wet" techniques and reducing skinning on the palette.
c (UltraViolet Light Stabilizers) is a Mineral Spirit Acrylic-borne resin system. MSA Varnish forms a tougher, less permeable film than waterborne acrylic emulsion varnishes. It reduces dirt penetration and surface marring, offering an extremely level film with less foam and fewer pinholes. Removable with turpentine after drying. Available in Gloss, Satin and Matte. Recommended for either interior or exterior use. For use on acrylics, oils, temperas, watercolors and various other media. Health Labeled (HL) Product. Not for use by children.
GOLDEN Archival Aerosol MSA (Mineral Spirit Acrylic) Varnish w/UVLS provides a finish layer for fine artworks, is removable for conservation purposes, and offers excellent dirt, dust and moisture resistance in a flexible film. It is produced with clear, 100% acrylic solution polymer and contains UltraViolet Light filters and Stabilizers (UVLS) to provide archival protection, inhibiting light damage. These fast-drying, more convenient varnishes are available in Gloss, Satin and Matte finishes. The unique adjustable fan spray tip allows for precise application with reduced overspray. The products adhere to a wide variety of surfaces and paint mediums, including acrylics, oils, alkyds, watercolors, temperas, and ink-jet prints. The 10 fl. oz. cans contain enough product to achieve approximately 25-30 square feet of coverage.
Polymer Varnish with UVLS (UltraViolet Light Stabilizers) is a waterborne acrylic polymer varnish that dries to a protective, flexible, dust resistant surface over acrylic paint. Removable with ammonia. Available in Gloss, Satin and Matte. Health Labeled (HL) Product. Not for use by children. Recommended for interior use only.