[Woodcarver] Question for Lori Corbett-and thanks for the answer

[WorkingInWood]

Thanks Lori,
That clears it up.  Hopefully I can now locate some gel medium.  I've carved and burnt some feathers from your WoodCarving Illustrated articles and am now ready to start practicing painting them.  Thought I'd start with feather anatomy and painting before trying a bird.  I'm glad I did.  Delving into painting materials, color theory, and color mixing is expanding into a major research project (am presently studying Betty Edwards' book "Color").  Thanks for what you've started .  By the way I visited your website and think the Message Board is a really great idea - guess I should have gone there first.  

Larry Robertson
Colchester, Ontario
http://www.picturetrail.com/workinginwood
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lori Corbett 
  To: [Woodcarver] 
  Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 11:02 AM
  Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Question for Lori Corbett


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  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
  Please visit my web site! Whispering Eagle Studio



  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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