Art Files: Art Basics

New - Heavy Body Gel:

  

Transparent, flexible, permanent, extra heavy body acrylic medium with a gloss finish.
Adds heavy body to paints; mixes with pigments, inks and paints; helps create dimensional texture holding very high peaks. Excellent 3D collage adhesive or as a base for thick, custom gels. Apply with a palette knife, texture tool, or fingers. 

Water-based. Archival safe. Non-toxic

Soft Gels – introduction:

Transparent, flexible, permanent after drying, acrylic mediums.
Light, spreadable gel, great as a collage adhesive, for varnishing effects and for transfer techniques.
Great base for custom gels and paints - mix with pigments, inks and acrylic paints.
Water-based. Archival safe. Non-toxic. 

Application: best results when applied with a paintbrush, sponge or stencil brush. It can be dried with a heating tool.

What can Soft Gel do?

- It acts as a liquid glue for paper and lightweight elements, it is perfect for collage techniques. Applied on the top of the project acts like a varnish.

- Soft Gel acts as a resist: you can create interesting, resist and layering effects in combination with water based sprays, inks and paints.

- It is a good sealer for products from Art Ingredients Line: seals in Fine Glitters or Art Sugar to create sparkly or iridescent effects on your project.

- It seals Art Extravagance Crackle Paste to prevent larger pieces from chipping off.

- It can be used for image transfer techniques.

- It is great for mixing with colored mediums: pigments, inks, watercolor paints, acrylic paints. It doesn't change the intensity of the color of the paints – it changes into customized colored soft gel instead – it can be applied with a paintbrush like paints.

- Soft Gel adds transparency to water based paints providing a range of interesting effects for your projects.

Soft Matte Gel

Transparent, flexible, permanent, acrylic medium with matte finish.
Light, spreadable gel, great as a collage adhesive, for varnishing effects and for transfer techniques.
Great base for custom gels and paints - mix with pigments, inks and acrylic paints.
Water-based. Archival safe. Non-toxic.

Soft Gloss Gel

Transparent, flexible, permanent, acrylic medium with gloss finish.
Light, spreadable gel, great as a collage adhesive, for varnishing effects and for transfer techniques.
Great base for custom gels and paints - mix with pigments, inks and acrylic paints.
Water-based. Archival safe. Non-toxic.

Tips for using Soft Gels:

- Try different effects with Art Ingredients Line: you can sprinkle the lighter of them such as Fine Glitters, Mica Flakes or Art Sugar on the top of applied gel and dry or put the Soft Gel and chosen Art Ingredient into small container and mix them to create a special effect Soft Gel. You can add any colored medium too for more interesting effect! If the container will have a lid, you can keep the extra of the customized gel for later usage.

- Soft Gel is great for sealing crackles of Art Extravagance Crackle Pastes: apply a coat of Soft Gel on the dried, crackled surface and let it dry. Repeat if needed. Soft Gel will hold all the pieces in place.

- Soft Gel resists non permanent mediums (sprays, inks etc), so it is perfect for layering techniques: you can create a texture or pattern, seal it with Soft Gel, and then add another layer on top. If you want to add a stamped or painted layer on top of the Soft Gel, use a permanent ink, spray or paint. Make sure to dry between each step.

- You can create interesting projects using image transfer techniques: print image with laser printer, take a photo copy, or choose a magazine print. Spread the Soft Gel on the print with a paintbrush and place image print-side down on the prepared background. Smooth with hand and dry completely. Spray with water and rub paper off with fingers taking care not to affect the image. Dry again and seal with a layer of Soft Gel.

- As Soft Gels are permanent after drying we suggest putting the tools into water or cleaning them with water and soap (or wet wipes) just after using.

3D Gels – introduction:

Great quality semi-transparent, flexible, heavy body acrylic gel mediums.
It's permanent and resistant to water based spays, inks and paints after drying.
Water-based. Archival safe. Non-toxic.

Application: best results when applied with palette knife or texture tool. Possible to speed-up drying using heating tool.

What can 3D Gel do?

- 3D Gel adds texture and dimension on any working surface, holds the stroke: works great with texture tools, palette knives and stencils.

- It is a good clear dimensional adhesive for collage techniques including 3D objects such as embellishments, found objects and ephemera.

- 3D Gel acts as a resist: you can create interesting, effects in combination with water based sprays, inks and paints.

- Thanks to not too heavy consistence it is a perfect base for creating custom-made gels and pastes. Works great with Art Ingredients Line(glitters, flakes, beads) and any other grained substance.

- It is great for mixing with colored mediums: pigments, inks, watercolor paints, acrylic paints. It doesn't change the intensity of the color of the paints – it changes into customized colored gel instead.

- 3D Gel adds body and transparency to water based paints providing a range of interesting effects for your projects.

3D Matte Gel

Great quality semi-transparent transparent, flexible, heavy body acrylic gel medium with a matte finish.
White when wet, dries clear, almost transparent.
It's permanent and resistant to water based spays, inks and paints after drying.
Water-based. Archival safe. Non-toxic.

3D Gloss Gel

Great quality transparent transparent, flexible, heavy body acrylic gel medium with a glossy finish.
White when wet, dries clear, transparent.
It's permanent and resistant to water based spays, inks and paints after drying.
Water-based. Archival safe. Non-toxic.

Tips for using 3D Gels:

- You can try different effects with Art Ingredients Line: you can sprinkle them on the top of applied gel and dry or put the 3D Gel and chosen Art Ingredient into small container and mix them to create a special effect paste. You can add any colored medium too for more interesting effect! If the container will have a lid, you can keep the extra of the customized gel for later usage.

- For gluing dimensional embellishments you may prefer to use your fingers for application instead of palette knives of brushes. It is easier to control the amount of gel you are applying...and clean the “tool” too!