Tyra Smith, Product Review, Gel Medium

Gel Mediums
Author: Tyra L.Smith

Gel mediums are used in many areas of the art world. It is also a "neutral" or no color type additive. You can mix it with paints to tint it, also try using reinkers of various types and colors. Gel medium also comes in various "thicknesses", from very light (thin) to extremely heavy (thick). The medium to thick gel mediums are incredible when used as an adhesive. They adhere very large, heavy or bulky items well. (such as adhering a domino to a cigar box)

Gel mediums can be tinted, painted, brayered or even brushed on your artwork for very unique appearances.

You can use a brayer (sponge or hard rubber, both look different) and brayer the gel medium onto paper and/or cardstock (c/s). If the gel medium is too thick, thin it down with a bit of water (use the theory here that less is more when it comes to thinning it down. Only use as much water as is necessary) Now let it dry, maybe over night. You have a nicely textured background that will take lots of paints and different color mediums for DTP, sponging, painting, etc. Want to get wild? Try this. Mix in paints to the gel medium to tint it. Then brayer it on your surface. I am thinking lumieres would be spectacular mixed into the gel medium. Or how about pearlescent liquid acrylics, Dr. Martin's Iridescent caligraphy color paints. More you say?? OK, toss in some pearl ex/FD or PP. If you have any of the Doc Martin's paints...try mixing them in. You got KOOL AID? Toss it in. It will tint the gel medium and MIGHT smell kind of nice too. Coffee grounds or tea leaves?? Could be a pretty background. Let's see, what other ideas come to mind? Try sponging instead of brayering. Maybe try laying a pressed flower or leaf into the wet gel medium and let it dry. I bet it will stick there nicely. Or, lift the leaf/floral off while it's wet, you might get an imprint if the gel medium is thick enough. Do you have a mouse or rat for a pet? Turn them loose to walk over your wet gel medium, cool mouse tracks for HM projects. I wouldn't recommend making your cat do this, they may not appreciate the humor of it. Try mixing in various spices you have in your kitchen. I'm thinking cinnamon, nutmeg...should look "interesting" and maybe smell pretty (like the holidays). What about bay leaves, ground or whole cloves, pepper seeds, parsley, oregano..etc.. What about mixing glitters into the gel medium? Or sprinkling the glitter on top of wet gel medium?

If you use any tool to spread, brayer, paint or sponge the gel medium on something, don't let the gel medium dry on the tool. Wash it off ASAP. Soap and water clean up, very nice. If you got the medium or heavy gel medium it will hold it's shape nicely. Try "painting" swirls or stars...squares, circles..basic shapes ... with a paint brush on your paper or c/s. Let it dry. Work color by DTP, sponge, background wash, stipple..etc. Oh yeah..you CAN stipple that gel medium. Got a cool background stamp? (snakeskin one maybe??) Try sponging the gel medium (with a sponge brush) on your stamp and stamp on c/s...let dry. (wash off that stamp QUICK though OK) I don't know if this will work or not, but it's worth a try. ohh hey, try mixing in interference colors of paints or powdered pigments...(or those dr. martin's iridescent inkpak re-inkers) into the gel medium then apply the medium to black glossy or matte c/s. Could be kind of cool'ish. The Lumiere paints hold their color nicely on a black background.

The gel medium will act as an adhesive and sealant all in one.

Think about collage.

The possibilities with gel mediums are endless.

Copyright 2002 Tyra Smith Cloud9@netnet.net
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