How to Use Gel Medium in Your Mixed Media Art

How to Use Gel Medium in Your Mixed Media Art



What Makes Gel Medium So Essential?

1. Extends Paint
Gel medium allows you to stretch your paint without losing vibrancy. It’s perfect for achieving translucent effects or creating thick textures for impasto work. Plus, it’s economical—especially handy when you want to add dimension to your work without using up all your paint!

2. Acts as a Super-Strong Glue
Yes, you read that right—gel medium is an excellent adhesive! You can use it to attach almost any type of paper or thin material to your canvas or other surfaces, securing everything in place without bubbling or lifting.

3. Enhances Texture
One of my favorite things about gel medium is the texture it brings to a piece. It’s thick and pliable, so you can add subtle texture or build it up for dramatic three-dimensional effects.

  1. Mixing with Paint

Simply mix gel medium with acrylic paint to extend expensive paint or create translucency. With matte medium, you get a lovely, muted effect, while gloss will add shine. 

  1. Collaging

For collage work, apply a layer of gel medium on your canvas where you want to place your paper. Stick the paper down, then apply another layer on top to secure it. The matte finish keeps the look soft and helps avoid glare. 

  1. Adding Texture

Apply gel medium directly onto the canvas with a palette knife or old credit card. You can paint over it later or let it show through. 

Sealing and Finishing

Gel medium also works as a sealant. I love how the matte finish keeps colors soft and vibrant without reflections! 

Gloss or Matte? Choosing the Right Gel Medium 

Gloss Gel Medium: Adds shine and makes colors vibrant. Perfect for a polished, glossy finish. 

Matte Gel Medium: Dries with a flat finish, which I love for reducing shine and glare. It’s great for layering and gives your work a subtle, sophisticated look. 

 

Why Gel Medium is a Mixed Media Game-Changer 

Whether extending paint, collaging, building texture, or sealing your work, gel medium is a mixed media essential. It gives you endless versatility and opens up possibilities for layering, texture, and depth that other mediums can’t match. 

So if you’re looking to elevate your mixed media art, grab some gel medium in a finish that suits your style, and start experimenting. Once you start using it, I guarantee it’ll become an irreplaceable part of your creative toolkit!