Looking for a way to add a little extra shine to your acrylic paintings? Instead of buying a new set of paints, try wetting your existing materials with an iridescent medium. Mix it with your acrylic base color, and your paint will not only have an iridescent shimmer, but will also become more transparent on the canvas. What’s more, the mixture will slow down the drying of your acrylic so you have more working time, but it won’t affect the stability of your pigments. Each product offers different levels of shine, drying time and ease of mixing. Ahead, find our favorite iridescent media for acrylic paints.
ARTNEWS . recommend
Utrecht medium iridescent color
Utrecht’s iridescent medium is our favorite for all types of acrylic paint applications. The medium texture formula can be used straight from the jar, mixes easily with paint and spreads well without the need for dilution. You can definitely thin it out if you want to increase the flow, and that won’t affect the shine. Pearlescent pigments are fine and uniformly distributed so the effect is less lustrous than pearls – ideal for creating realistic lighting effects or adding subtle depth, luminosity and vibrancy to your paintings. This medium is also easy to create in multiple layers, and it doesn’t change the color of your paints. Finally, we love that it’s available in four sizes, from a 5-ounce tube to a giant 128-ounce bucket.
We love too
Winsor & Newton Galleria Iridescent Acrylic Medium
Winsor & Newton’s iridescent medium is heavier than Utrecht’s, making it especially great for use with heavy paints and for knife painting. However, the putty-like formula loosens up well, mixing into the paint with very little fuss. Provides noticeable yet natural-looking shine. Available in only an 8.4 ounce package, this medium is one of the least expensive on the market. Be aware, however, that the flexible container is hard to open and easy to spill; Proceed carefully, or the beautiful illumination of this medium may end up on the floor.
Another good option
Pebeo Vitrea Iridescent Medium
If you want to put a pearlescent sheen on glass, porcelain, metal, or the like, consider using this medium instead of other similar options. This product, which is part of Pebeo’s line of non-toxic heat-hardening paints and media, has a fluid yet manageable consistency that makes it ideal for application to glass. Adds a metallic look even on already glossy surfaces. If you want to paint china or dishware, this medium is dishwasher safe, non-toxic and will retain the initial appearance of the painted pigment, even when it’s roasted in your pieces.
Students’ choice
Liquitex Essentials Medium Iris
Pricing for students or hobbyists, this medium has a low viscosity, which makes it very flexible, mixable, and ideal for pouring paint. It really does have a shimmering effect, as the pearl particles are more visible than those in other formulas, so it’s a great option if you’re looking for a lot of sparkle. Because of its fluidity, this is also a good medium to use as a top layer. It is designed to preserve the integrity of your paint pigments so that the original opacity is maintained even as the paint itself becomes thinner. Sold in an 8.45 ounce tube, the medium has an odor, so be sure to use it in a well-ventilated area.
The best of the line
Old Holland New Masters Acrylic Pearlescent Gel Medium
If you are using the best quality paints, consider choosing a top-tier medium. Carefully formulated by the paint experts in Old Holland, this option displays the most natural sheen and blends seamlessly with paints to create a perfectly even paste. Like the Utrecht product, it has a medium body, and can be thinned for greater spread without compromising shine. Use this professional medium to give your business infinite dimensions. Although a 17-ounce bathtub is pricey, it goes a long way and will last you for a very long time.
[ad_2]
