The creative principle of people is unlimited. Someone plays the piano, others knit or sew, while others are engaged in the artistic painting of spoons. There are those who are engaged in decorating. Each hobby has its own individual set of necessary tools. For some of them, you need to have a jar with the inscription "gel-medium acrylic." The name itself is intriguing. So what is it? Where is it used? Which gel medium is better to choose? The answers to these questions can be found below.
Golden mean
Gel medium is one of the types of modeling pastes based on acrylic. The scope of its application is very wide. Often it is used to give volume or the necessary relief to any surface. By applying texture paste to paper, cardboard or fabric, you can achieve a very unexpected and interesting effect. This, of course, is not all areas where you can apply it, but you should first talk about what kind of miracle paste it is.
So, the mysterious inscription "gel-medium acrylic" on the jar is not so mysterious. The meaning of the word "gel" and so it is clear, it indicates the consistency of the contents of the container. "Medium" is translated as "middle" or "middle", that is, it is something that is or is located between some other elements, and "acrylic" indicates the basic component of the composition. Together, they form the necessary material for creativity. Such jars can be found in the arsenal of masters of decoupage, decoration and scrapbooking. Artists also often use it in their work to give them volume. Generally speaking, a gel medium is perhaps an important and necessary attribute of a real creator.
Fields of application
Knowing the areas where such paste is used, now you need to decide how it can be used.
Gel medium is used to transfer photos using decoupage technique. With its help, drawings from special napkins or paper are transferred to the desired surface (casket, cutting board, plate and so on). It can also be used to create an imaginary "scuff" and "bruising", which is characteristic of works in the vintage style. With it you can achieve the effect of "glass" or transparency. Such pastes are great for creating various effects in other types of creativity.
Using this gel, you can dilute acrylic paints in all types of artwork. This makes them more fluid and easy to apply on canvas or other surfaces. It is also used to create softer and more delicate shades. Artists can use some types of pastes to imitate sand or wood.
On the gel medium you can even stick elements of the composition in the decoration or scrapbooking. It serves as a composition for creating relief through various stencils. It covers the individual elements of the work. It can also be used as a topcoat; it can easily replace a varnish that dries for a long time and smells unpleasant.
In a rather rare, but interesting “sgrafitto” technique, wall and ceiling bas-reliefs can be made using medium gels.
Acrylic variety
In addition to classic mediums, there are pastes with special effects. For example, a cracked surface or sand. You can find options with sparkles or other decorative additives that make the scope of such a product even wider.
How to choose the right gel medium?
In order to make the right choice, you need to decide on the type of creativity for which this paste will be bought. Artists, decoupage artists or decorators will choose different gels by price category, features and composition. Therefore, there is no clear outline in this process, although there are several rules that follow will help to avoid disappointment after the purchase.
Firstly, it is better to purchase such products in specialized stores for creativity. There is a greater likelihood that all the conditions for proper storage are met. If you freeze the product or store it for a long time in the sun, this will ruin the consistency of the paste. It will crack and assemble into lumps, which when diluted with water will make the texture insufficiently dense and unsuitable for work. Secondly, do not save too much on the medium. His qualities will affect the result of your labors. The better the composition and characteristics of the paste, the more beautiful the work will look in the end. Third, always look at the expiration date. Gel-mediums, although they can be stored for years, but after the expiration of this date become unusable. You also need to remember that such a product will not end in 1-3 times of use, therefore it is better that there is at least 6-10 months of supply, otherwise you just do not have time to use it up to the end.
Which medium to choose?
Of course, a good and high-quality gel medium is worth the money. As a rule, many try to save money and use thinner for acrylic paint instead. A positive effect with such a replacement is unlikely to succeed. To save money without sacrificing quality, you should pay attention to the gel-medium of the company "Rafael". This is a domestic brand that has established itself on the good side in the market of products for creativity. This is not the cheapest option, but this brand has been tested by time and the use of many authors and masters in the work.
Where to buy this paste?
Gel-medium "Rafael" can be bought in stores for artists or for creativity. In ordinary office boutiques, it is sold extremely rarely. It can also be found in specialized online stores or try to order directly through the manufacturer’s website.