The right acrylic medium can transform how you approach painting—whether you want a smooth glaze, a supple flow, or dramatic impasto. This article reviews four highly relevant options that help you prep surfaces, thin paints, or build texture without sacrificing color brightness. From gesso to clear gel textures, these mediums address common needs for acrylic work in both studio and plein air settings. Each product is evaluated for core use, application tips, and how it suits different painting styles. Use this guide to select the best medium for your next acrylic project.
| Product | Brand | Type/Use | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grumbacher 52516 16-Ounce Gesso | Grumbacher | Surface Prep Medium | Priming surfaces; base for acrylics/oils; tinted option |
| Mont Marte Premium Acrylic Flow Medium 8.45oz | Mont Marte | Flow/Pouring Medium | Thinning paints; increases translucency; improves flow |
| U.S. Art Supply Impasto Clear Acrylic Gel Medium | U.S. Art Supply | Impasto Gel Medium | Texture and dimensional effects; layering |
| Falling in Art Clear Gel Acrylic Medium | Falling in Art | Clear Gel Medium | Texture, layering, and extending paint; adhesive uses |
Grumbacher Gesso: Surface Prep Medium
Grumbacher 52516 is a 16-ounce gesso designed for priming surfaces before painting with oil or acrylic media. This Hyplar-based medium is manufactured in the USA and ensures a solid ground that improves adhesion and the overall texture of subsequent layers. It can be tinted with acrylic colors to better match your painting underpainting, though it should not be mixed with or applied over turpentine or oils. It can be thinned with water to adjust viscosity for different substrates, making it versatile for canvas, panels, or wood. The result is a uniform surface that supports even paint application and deeper color clarity in later layers.
- Surface prep medium
- For use before oil and acrylic painting
- Made in USA
- May be tinted with acrylic colors but do not mix with or apply over turpentine or oils
- May be thinned with water
Mont Marte Acrylic Flow Medium
Mont Marte Premium Acrylic Flow Medium is a versatile additive designed to thin acrylic paints and other mediums, or to dilute binders, without compromising color integrity. It increases the translucency of paint without dulling hue intensity or vibrancy and improves the flow of acrylics—making it ideal for smooth blends, glazing, and watercolor-like effects. Artists can use this medium to stretch colors further while maintaining brushability. It works well in combination with pigments for glaze layers or when creating seamless transitions across a painting, especially when working on larger surfaces where control and consistency are essential.
- Use this acrylic pouring medium to thin acrylic paints and mediums, or to dilute binders
- Increases the translucency of acrylic paints without effecting their colour intensity and vibrancy
- Enhances the flow of acrylic paints
U.S. Art Supply Impasto Clear Gel Medium
U.S. Art Supply Impasto Clear Acrylic Gel Medium comes in a 500ml tub and is designed to create dramatic impasto effects. It enhances texture and structure in artwork, while remaining clear so that underlying paint colors retain brightness. The medium is versatile, functioning as both an oil paint and acrylic blending medium to create textured surfaces that preserve brush strokes and knife marks. It offers a reliable consistency for impasto techniques, maintaining peaks and ridges when dry, and is well-suited for textured landscapes or mixed-media work where tactile depth is important.
- Premium Impasto Acrylic Gel Medium: clear gel, 500ml tub
- Designed for dramatic impasto effects and texture
- Versatile: works as oil and acrylic blending medium
- Maintains brush strokes and knife marks
- Excellent for textured landscapes and dimensional artwork
Falling In Art Clear Gel Medium
Falling in Art Clear Gel Acrylic Medium is a 500ml gel designed to deliver thick, glossy texture without compromising color. It creates dramatic impasto effects and maintains brush strokes and peaks for added dimension, making it a strong choice for artists seeking pronounced texture. The medium is translucent when wet and becomes transparent when dry, enabling increased coating thickness without color alteration. It also functions as an adhesive, allowing the binder to bond heavier elements or integrated textural materials like sand in mixed-media projects. This flexibility makes it suitable for layered compositions and experimental surfaces.
- Impasto effects with thick, creamy texture
- Translucent when wet; transparent when dry
- Increases coating thickness without altering color
- Adhesive properties for bonding media or textural additives
Buying Guide
Choosing the right acrylic medium depends on your painting goals and surface needs. Consider whether you want to prepare a stable ground, control paint flow, or build tactile surfaces. Understanding the roles of each medium can help you mix and layer more effectively, reduce cracking, and maintain color brightness. The following factors address common buyer questions and help you compare options across the four products reviewed above.
What you want to achieve
Begin by clarifying your primary aim. If you need a ready-to-paint surface, a gesso like Grumbacher provides a solid primer that can be tinted for underpaintings. For glazing, a flow medium such as Mont Marte improves flow and translucency without muddying colors. If texture is your goal—thick, impastoed surfaces—gel mediums from U.S. Art Supply or Falling in Art offer robust sculptural capabilities. Your choice of medium should align with whether you want a smooth base, a glaze-ready surface, or a textured statement in your composition.
Medium types and their roles
Gesso is a primer and barrier between surface and paint, essential for non-primed supports. Flow mediums reduce viscosity and improve leveling, which is ideal for large, soft gradients or watercolor-like effects. Impasto and clear gel mediums add body and structure, preserving brush strokes and creating raised textures. Each category serves a distinct purpose, and many artists use a combination—for example, priming with gesso, then using a flow medium to thin for glazes, and finishing with gel mediums to sculpt texture.
Compatibility and layering
Check compatibility with your painting system. Some gels are clear and inert, preserving subsequent color brightness, while others may slightly tint or affect drying times. If you mix media, ensure you’re not overlapping products that could crack or cause color shifts. For mixed-media work, the adhesive properties of certain gels can help bind added textures like sand. When layering, test on a scrap area to observe how your chosen mediums interact with your pigments and supports.
Texture and application tips
Texture outcomes depend on viscosity, brush pressure, and drying times. For impasto effects, apply gel mediums thickly with a spatula or palette knife to preserve peaks. For glazing or semi-opaque builds, use a flow medium to keep layers smooth and even. When priming with gesso, apply thin, even coats and allow full drying between layers. If you plan to tint your primer, mix only small amounts of color into the gesso to avoid compromising adhesion. Always clean tools promptly to prevent buildup inside the medium.
Color integrity and drying behavior
Acrylic mediums can influence color saturation and drying time. Some flow or glazing mediums brighten colors, while others slightly desaturate or alter gloss. Gel mediums that are clear tend to preserve the pigment’s hue, but their thickness can extend drying times. Consider doing a small test patch on your substrate to confirm how your colors and textures behave once dry. This practice helps you adjust viscosity, brushwork, and layering strategies before committing to a full piece.
Volume, storage, and safety
A bigger tub can be more economical for frequent use, but ensure you have proper storage to prevent skinning or drying at the surface. Keep lids tightly closed and store away from extreme temperatures. Most acrylic mediums are non-toxic and safe for typical studio use, but always follow any label warnings and use in a well-ventilated area. If you share space with children or pets, place containers out of reach and clean up spills promptly to avoid accidental ingestion or staining surfaces.