[Woodcarver] Question for Lori Corbett

[Lori Corbett]

Hi Larry!
    Thank you for the kind words about my book! Acrylic Gel Medium comes 
in a tube, just like regular acrylic paints. It is acrylic "paint" 
without the pigment...nothing but binder and emulsion. It is also known 
as Acrylic Gel Binder, or simply Acrylic Gel. Almost every paint 
manufacturer makes a version. It's OK to mix brands, though. I use 
Liquitex...mostly because that's what my small art store carries.

This is intended for use by "flat art' painters to dilute their paints 
to make "glazes", very thin coats of paint with small amounts of pigment 
to give an overtone of color to an area...similar to our "washes". The 
difference is that painters use this full strength, which we can't do, 
because even though the pigment is diluted, the viscosity isn't...which 
fills up our texturing. By diluting our paints with water thin  enough 
for washes, we are also diluting the binding properties of our paint. 
Adding a small amount of Acrylic Gel will help, but since we must still 
thin it, we still lose some adhesion. BUT, even in small amounts, 
adhesion IS improved. Like I said in the book...it's a delicate balance. 
Another product that you should add to your wash mixture is Flow Medium. 
Flow Medium breaks up the surface tension of water, which helps disperse 
the pigments evenly. Have you ever applied thin coats of color and they 
end up kind of splotchy looking...areas with lots of color and areas 
with not so much? That's what flow medium will help prevent. You can use 
flow medium as the main dilutant, but you still must thin it a little 
with water for very thin washes. Again, most paint manufacturers will 
make their version of flow medium. I like to use the Jo Sonja's brand 
because it's pre-mixed...many brands call for diluting their flow 
mediums with water before using, so you should make a little up ahead of 
time. Don't confuse flow medium or gel medium with the various painting 
mediums/varnishes...matte, satin or gloss. These are additives to change 
the properties of the paint...adding or taking away sheen. BUT, if you 
do desire to add one of these mediums to your mixes, they too, will aid 
with the adhesion. I sometimes add satin or matte to my colors to 
control the sheen on certain features or feathers...sometimes you WANT a 
little sheen.

Hope this clears things up, rather than muddies the water more! <GRIN>
Lori
*New! "Carving Award Winning Songbirds" Message Board 
<http://lcorbett.proboards45.com/>*
*Please visit my web site! Whispering Eagle Studio 
<http://www.whisperingeagle.com>**
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WorkingInWood wrote:

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>
> Hi Lori,
> As a complete newcomer to bird carving I was looking for information 
> on bird anatomy and how-to's on creating them in wood and I found it 
> in your new book.  Very well done!  However I have a question 
> regarding the "gel medium".  I have searched Michaels's art supply 
> section and discussed it with our local acrylic painting instructor to 
> no avail.  The closest thing we found was Jo Sonja's gel retarding 
> medium.  By your description that doesn't seem to fit the bill.  If 
> I understand your instructions the gel medium is to maintain viscosity 
> and binder content in very dilute washes.  Could you supply a little 
> more info on this medium (manufacturer, etc.)?  Thanks.
>  
> Larry Robertson
> Colchester, Ontario
> http://www.picturetrail.com/workinginwood
>
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