Glazing Medium Basic Info

Hi All!!

One technique/product I constantly get questions about is glazing and/or glazing mediums. I know I've posted short blurbs answering a couple of the questions asked and there is a section about it in my book but many people still want more.

So here goes...I thought I'd start off with some basic info about glazing.I'm talking acrylic glaze...not the oil variety or the type used in ceramics...two totally different animals.

The most asked question is what is glaze? Glaze is thin transparent layer of paint mixed with glaze medium which is applied over a painting, collage, altered art project, ATC, etc.

What is Glaze Medium & where can I buy it?

Glaze medium is a clear liquid (usually much thinner than paint) that is mixed with any color of acrylic paint to create the transparent layer of color. It also has a slower drying time than acrylic paints which allows you to create numerous "faux finish" techniques.

It comes in various coat finishes ~ gloss, eggshell and matte and can be found anywhere from discount department stores (in the acrylic paint area), craft stores and art shops.

What do I mix with the glaze medium to make it work?

Acrylic glaze medium can be combined with any acrylic paints in any colors you choose. I will talk more about amounts when I start sharing individual techniques.

What does a glaze do?

Glaze will add a veil of color over the existing work (be it paint, print images, ephemera, etc).

It will alter the appearance of your work depending on the color used by enhancing specific colors while muting others.

Glaze helps add a consistency to a work where it might not already exist.

It may also add gloss, shine or a matte finish to your finished project.

How do you apply a glaze to your work?

Glaze medium is mixed with a small amount of acrylic paint. It is then painted onto your project one layer at a time using a brush or other tools (we'll get to that when I share some of the "faux" techniques. It can be applied to one area, many areas or all over your project for a total effect. Also, you may add as few or as many layers as you choose. Keep in mind that each layer of glaze you add you will also be adding an additional layer of color.

How is a Glaze different from a Wash?

A wash is usually a blend of water and paint (normally 50/50). The main difference between a wash and a glaze is the glaze will not effect the existing colors and becomes permanent once it has dried where as a wash can effect the existing work by causing it to bleed or remove it all together. A wash is also water soluble which means each time you add another layer it could be removing or changing the previous layers yielding unpredictable results.

Can you apply Glaze to more than just paintings?

YES! You can use glaze over collage, altered arts, altered book pages, and even scrapbook pages! It can also be combined with various other techniques without causing damage to the original layers of work.

What techniques can you do with Glaze?

Oh My!!! Besides just painting over existing works you can do sooooooooo many cool techniques. Just to tempt you and whet your appetite here is a short list... you can dry brush it on, use it to add an aged patina to your work, give your work a marbled effect, create faux wood grain, sponge, color washing, create stippled or splatter patterns, rag it, crackle it, smoosh it...the list just goes on and on! It really is a very fun way to add so much to your projects. And the best part is a little goes a long way!

I'll be sharing various glazing techniques here and there over the next several weeks...spreading them out so nobody gets tired of it and calls it quits. ;)

Anyway, I hope this answers many of the initial questions you might have about glazing and gets you excited to see/hear more :)