GEL MEDIUMS & MOLDING PASTES Golden Gel Mediums & Molding Pastes offer artists many ways to build texture. They range in consistency from pourable to moldable with varying degrees of sheen and transparency. Use them to create glazes, extend paints, build texture, and change finishes. Many are excellent glues for collage work. Even though acrylic colors are offered in various different consistencies and finishes, the use of gels and molding pastes in conjunction with such colors will broaden the working properties and expand on the possible results.

Gels can be thought of as colorless paints, as they are composed of similar polymers as are the acrylic paints. They may be considered the "glue" or binder that dry to form continuous, durable films. They are made of 100% acrylic polymers, which have proven to have excellent flexibility and chemical, water and ultraviolet radiation resistance.

Pastes contain Marble Dust or Diatomatious Earth, clays or other fillers resulting in a white or clay-tone finish. Different pastes have been formulated to contain specific properties. See each description for further information.

Why are there so many gels and molding pastes? Over the years, artists have continuously requested new gel or pastes that behave and/or handle differently than what currently existed. Golden has always listened carefully to the customers. Through working directly with the professional artists, Golden has been able to formulate the desired products.

Designed to produce an even film with excellent clarity. This gel has similar qualities to the Clear Tar Gel: it has a resinous consistency and offers excellent levelling, yet its viscosity is closer to that of the Soft Gel. This product dries to a flexible, high gloss film, which can increase transparency and sheen while imparting a levelling quality to other Golden Acrylic products. Blends with Golden Acrylic colours to produce glazes without brush-strokes.

Thinner than Golden Heavy Body Acrylic colours, Soft Gels are moderately pourable and hold only slight peaks. Soft Gel Gloss is ideal for glazing and other techniques where transparency is desired. Also, the recommended acrylic to function as a glue for collaging. Useful as a non-removable isolation coat, applied over the painting before the varnish layer (must be thinned with water - 2 parts Soft Gel Gloss to 1 parts water).

Same creamy consistency as Golden Heavy Body Acrylic colours. Ideal for extending paint and regulating translucency without changing the consistency of the Heavy Body and Matte colours. Holds moderate peaks and texture. The Regular Gel Gloss is ideal for glazing and other techniques where transparency is desired.

Thicker consistency than Golden Heavy Body Acrylic colours.
Blend with colours to increase body. Good for holding peaks. Dries translucent.

Thicker consistency than Golden Heavy Body Acrylic colours. Golden’s thickest gels, along with the High Solid Gels.
Blend with colours to increase body. Excellent for holding peaks and impasto techniques. Dries translucent.

Thicker consistency than Golden Heavy Body Acrylic colours, similar to Extra Heavy Gels.
Lower shrinkage and dries to the touch quicker than most Gels. Good for holding peaks.
Blends with colours to make them feel more oil-like and increases retention of brushstrokes.

Used to create finely textured surfaces. Dries to a hard film. To increase flexibility, mix in other Golden Gels or Mediums.
Blends with Golden Acrylic colours. Useful as a ground for pastels.

Used to create granular textured surfaces. Dries to a hard film. To increase flexibility, mix in other Golden Gels or Mediums. Blends with Golden Acrylic colours. Useful as a ground for pastels.

Used to create granular textured surfaces. Dries to a hard film. To increase its flexibility, mix in other Golden Gels or Mediums. Blends with Golden Acrylic colours.

This product is the extreme in levelling. It is designed to produce an even film with excellent clarity.
The gel has a unique resinous, stringy consistency and dries to a flexible, high gloss film.
Clear Tar Gel can be used to increase transparency and sheen while imparting a levelling quality to other Golden Acrylic products. Excellent for dripping, drizzling effects that no other product will yield.

Molding Pastes are opaque products that can be used to create textural surfaces. Manipulation can be done while wet, or after the paste has dried. Molding Paste and Hard Molding Paste can be sanded, carved by hand or with power tools, while Extra Heavy Gel/Molding Paste and Light Molding Paste are useful for creating highly textured, impasto techniques.