How to use Acrylic gel medium in paintings tutorial

I have been asked how do I paint? What is my process? In this video I cover how I use gel mediums in my paintings. It is a layering technique using translucent layers... a lot of them. I find that Liquitex and Golden products work the same. I go back n forth depending on availability. You can get gel mediums at Blick At Supplies, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby.

[@becauseofkarma2913]

"I don't like to follow rules" the minute I knew I could learn something from you. Great video! Thanks.

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

I just never read the rules lol. My friend, “How’d you learn to paint so fast?” Me- “By painting…🤷‍♂️” A different friend said the same thing about writing and recording songs. My answer was the same. I look for quick tips, but you gotta just do it.

[@crconway7926]

thanks for showing it after it dried...very helpful!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

No problem. It does make it tricky to paint.

[@riccifajardo3910]

I like how you explained it casually instead of Being So "Tutorial"

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

thanks

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

thank you

[@rahman077]

@@Midwest_adventure_crew well

[@rahman077]

@@Midwest_adventure_crew welcome

[@jordanthamar1]

I like the way you think about the painting process, some things just do as they do. This was really great!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

jordanthamar1 thanks

[@divya1387]

YOUR STYLE IS AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGG!!! its just pretty and natural

[@makeyourself9110]

This is exactly what I was looking for. I’ve never painted before but I have a vision and I didn’t know how to execute it. Thank you!

[@violethelen3802]

this is the nicest way explained about using of gel mediums. you are just sooo natural.

[@artbyjes]

So, I love the flow of this. I’m a long time artist, but I’ve been using solely oils for like 20 years. Decided to try acrylic and just wanted to make sure the mediums are what I thought/expected them to be and behave like. This was perfect for that. Thank you 🙏

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Jes Ewers glad it was a useful video

[@jessierobideaux5925]

This was actually more helpful than the people who show the "right way." I wanted to figure out if this would be a good medium to create translucent sunglasses and I think it's gonna be perfect

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Awesome! I hope your approach works.

[@alfandeddie]

jessie robideaux Agree! There is no “right” way in art. I detest art snobs.

[@NoniOfFive]

alfandeddie amen! 🎨 happy painting

[@soniabrickell4268]

Straight to the point , no flapping about . Great and thank you 👍

[@jeffmoodie6144]

Just last night I was working on some colour testing and, after everything was dry, I added some red that I like, about 1/3 red 2/3 medium and added thin coats to some of my swatches to gauge the effect. Very similar to working with watercolour with regards to the transparency but I can go more opaque and have control over the wash. I liked the results and what you demonstrate here is bang on. Very much like a subtle glazing technique.

[@jcofortco]

YES!!!! THIS is EXACTLY why I've been looking at YT vids for the past 5 hours!! (Granted, I Learned lots about mediums, but not how to use THIS one in the manner I wanted to use it... which is Exactly what yours showed me!) I was beginning to think a'ight, I'm seeking an off-label use or something, since not seeing what I was looking for. Nope! Thanks to you I'm off to my local Jerry's to hand over even more of that paycheck ;) to get THIS. Wanting to use it to create the brilliant, translucent colors I'm seeking for my jewelry. Cheers! xx :)

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

awsome!

[@azzuparis]

That's awesome! I just love the fact that, once the gel dries, a translucent layer of color it's the only thing left. Can't wait to try this, thanks!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Azzu Paris 👍

[@solikewowomy]

Thanks for sharing, I love how relaxed you are with your style of pairing !

[@purpleplump6650]

Wow how cool !!! Didn't realise that would happen. 🤗I like the glossy finish too. 😎

[@scottpitner4298]

Great info man. Thanks

[@shirleya4510]

Thanks for the explanation of using gel medium with paint. I picked up clear leveling gel to use as a modge podge, but ended up using it, by fluke, with paint and scraped with cardboard. Liked the transparency and texture! Love your work and after checking your channel, discovered that YOU were the artist behind Rats Rod. Wow, neat!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Swurl szs thank you. Yeah I’m kinda of into rat rods and hot rods. I need to draw more of them.

[@sharonallredart]

@allredart thank you for the video on transparenc...great demonstration!

[@quitabeans]

Very helpful video. Thank you.

[@inky8294]

Beautiful work. Thanks for sharing great video. Am gonna start buying mediums

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Inky Spector awesome

[@neophytosjuliana]

Thank you ever so much. You have cleared all my questions and wandering about this product

[@Senrysa]

A rule breaker in Art ...yaaaaaassss thank you

[@Angie4588]

Soooo talented and wise with the mediums....Cute too!

[@larsrosen6826]

i have to say at first you scared me using straight black but it looks dope!

[@aamerdol01]

Thanks for sharing this info! Most helpful video I've found so far!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

kaop2015 I’m glad it was helpful

[@helgaveezke7818]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE

[@bennygee3067]

Good shit man. I've been using translucent layers in my work recently as well, washes and glazes. Really does add depth and luminosity.

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Thank you for the comment!

[@John-fp6cd]

Thanks for the demonstration. New to painting with this gel stuff. The clerk at the store didn't mention it being white at first.

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

John Geis the white before it dries clear has been the challenge for me.

[@lefthandstory1280]

Beautiful friend ,so nice😃🌲✌️.

[@robertcook2680]

There is no "right" way, but whatever way that achieves what you want. My high school art teacher often referred to "happy accidents;" creative art-making includes happy accidents and eventually "accidents" that the artist has learned and purposely pursues to achieve his or her desired end result.

[@lisaesser9086]

Thank you! Great video!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Thank you!

[@Ulocked_Eyes]

Thank you for your demo!

[@tabashrafi9373]

Nice pic of mustang... beautifully done.

[@kathleenwildey2757]

That is so awesome! I never knew it could do that! Thanks a ton!

[@Invisiguy]

The use of the rubber spreaders was news to me. If you use a brush, it can go on patchy and have streaks running through, and also brush texture. Very hard to do a truly smooth application with a bristle brush - though nylon works better than natural bristle.

[@NoniOfFive]

Thanks Nick love the idea for using it as a drop shadow!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

NoniOf 3 👍

[@sonyadeantonio]

Super helpful

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

awesome. Thank you for watching

[@feed_tastes]

Useful video

[@MsJaneel]

Thank you!! That was actually helpful!!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Janeel Adams awesome. I’m glad it was helpful

[@RubyRiotCreatives]

This is so helpful!!! Thank you!!

[@carlottawinters6124]

Very helpful, thanks so much for sharing your technique.

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Carlotta Winters no problem. I need to share more.

[@jenifer2592]

Wow thank you very much for this video!!

[@geography2113]

Very cool! Thank you for interesting lesson 🇺🇦👌

[@DG_Art_Design]

Very helpful, Thank You.

[@kevinmitchell9139]

Nice work Nick

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Thank you very much

[@njfacepainter]

And... now I want to try THIS medium! I've just gotten sand & glass beads to try out. This is a great demo. Also, nice Mustang! I'd know those tail lights anywhere. :)

[@donjuliuswilson5387]

Dope intro song 🔥. 🖖🏽

[@christierella]

Love your vids, hope you make more!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Christie Trout thank you. Ive been slacking on my videos. I do need to produce more.

[@yvonnewsd]

Thank you for sharing!

[@veercoo]

Great Tutorial. Thanks

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

veercoo thanks

[@ShampooWow]

Awesome video! I like it

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Thank you

[@babylass5322]

Great tutorial...thx

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Thank you

[@jacquelinewoodart]

Thank You.

[@yiss7546]

Muchas gracias por los subtitulos en español , ya se como usar el gel.

[@janicejanice6206]

I don't know the rules because I've never painted so when I heard that I figured this was a good place to start.

[@JuliaHacker]

Thank you, very useful!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

I’m glad you found it helpful

[@karennaturallyartby]

that helps a lot!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

I’m glad it is helpful

[@timmidillard3795]

Thanks for this, just what I need for galaxy pours. Translucence.

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Timmi Dillard 👍

[@Danielle-nz9tn]

Hi Nick, can you give more info about the rubber paint applicators you are using? I can’t find them on Dick Blick or Amazon. I am not sure what they are called in order to do a proper search. Do you have a brand name or name of item to look for online? Thanks! Awesome video-nice explanation and I love your art!

[@Danielle-nz9tn]

For anyone else who may be looking for those tools, I finally figured it out! They are called generally called color shapers and/or contours. The brand Princeton Catalyst calls theirs wedges, blades and mini-blades. You can find them at Dick Blick here: www.dickblick.com/products/princeton-catalyst-wedges-and-contours/. Also, look here at Dick Blick for a similar type product (featured in this video): www.dickblick.com/products/wide-colour-shapers/. The ones at the second link are much pricier, for some reason, but I think the ones on the first page seem much more versatile.

[@AndrewInmanartist]

I use matte heavy gel to make my cheaper, thinner acrylic paints to be more heavy body acrylic paint. It turned out okay. Never used heavy body acrylic, so don't know if it made it similar.

[@mecca115able]

Like your video im getting back into art. My dad was the best! In my DNA..LOL

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Paula C 👍

[@hamzaammar5206]

Very helpful

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Thank you

[@martinitang]

Glazing medium vs glass gel., how you choose to use each for different effect? Kindly share. I will try the gloss gel.

[@privatetutor1]

Cool paintings! Hey can we paint over dried, heavy gel gloss? Sculpt out an image, then paint or do you have to mix paint into gel gloss?

[@shortordercurrycooks4050]

What are those plastic knifes/ brushes called? They are cool to create backgrounds. Thank you for sharing this!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Palette knife

[@ceciliacarreras8331]

Great tips! Where do you buy the rubber brush

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

cecilia carreras I get them at Blick art supplies (Dick Blick)

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

I’ve been wondering if I should try the heavy gel to get that oil sheen on certain parts of my paintings. I got a football helmet and some guitar paintings that I really want to pop off the background.

[@nicksinclair6847]

It does leave a gloss. Lights definitely reflect of the art.

[@twilsstanton9506]

If you add a little water to your jell iyou will see your black color and keep the translucent quality.

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

thank you for the tip. I'll give that a try.

[@troyingram716]

I got a bunch of basic liquitex. Does that gel make basic paint profesional? What kind of resin is used in the professional liquitex paint?

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

I guess that depends on your idea of professional. I don’t know anything about resin

[@terrijuanette486]

I hope you (or someone) can help me out here. I have just a question or two since I don't paint pictures or murals, I paint furniture. Instead of dark waxes & spray on powder glazes, I'd like to try this. I think I could make some cool effects on the pieces that will make heads turn trying t wonder how I achieved that look but I'd need to paint a base color, (like a bright yellow or white or whatever) that is durable, so I need to know if the glazes will work over any water based paint & not just acrylic.

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

That's an excellent question. My answer is...I have no idea. Sorry I am of no help. I do hope you find your answer.

[@malakabushusha]

👍👍👍

[@martinitang]

If I used it as a stencil paste, when dried I want to color over it, should I use a gesso layer first?

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Great question. I’m not really sure. I would always gesso the raw canvas. But that’s just how I paint.

[@TMcocoa]

Thank you!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

👍

[@mr_hppd348]

How do I make paint stay looking wet. I don't like the way paint looks when it dries, Is there an additive I need to mix in with the paint. Are there certain paints better at this? Special technique? I want to keep it looking like it does when I squeeze it out of the tube. I am brand new to painting, but it does seem that artist who glop on tons of paint tend to achieve this? Pollock? PLEASE HELP

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Jack Funkinstain I use matte finishes. I guess you could cost it with a gloss finish

[@sonianelidanarbonarios5608]

Lo puedo mezclar con óleo en vez de acrílico?

[@bipashachakraborty995]

Hi can I use matte medium as a sealer to finish off my painting? Thanks a lot

[@librsuriah6984]

Can we mix with some water?

[@randomgirel8258]

New subscriber here. Thank you.

[@randomgirel8258]

Btw- it seems like the right way to me!

[@tonicrouch6886]

did I miss something....I did not hear if the paint was oils or acrylic paint?

[@eliani_g5578]

Why are all of these type of videos so old😬. I used the Michael set

[@sooey1654]

Very helpful thank you ! Sounds stupid but are they safe to breathe in ?

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Hot Chloco good question. I haven’t had any issues with vapors or anything like that. I’ve worked in areas not well ventilated without any problems.

[@sooey1654]

nick sinclair That's good to hear. I'm pretty new to acrylic gel mediums so thanks !

[@michelacattaneo6815]

Sotto titoli in italiano.Grazie

[@TeleporterM11]

Acrylic doesn’t have a lot of technical rules.,that’s why so many people love it more than oils.

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Roger Bonner that’s why I like it. And it dries faster, which I also like.

[@sereneroche1608]

wikked! Thanks Plus you cute! lol

[@sandybeebe9149]

I learned not to use water ...and to use gel medium instead ..

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Sandy Beebe 👍

[@elizabethteixeira1990]

Isn't this technique or approach technically just glazing without using a glazing medium?

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Pretty much

[@Zomfoo]

Why not just use traditional glazing technique?

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Zombie Fool because I’m just messing around. I found something that worked for me.

[@tuberider2077]

Great info but the Rap is crap at the start of the video.

[@radurobert1]

"I don't like to follow rules"🤣so silly

[@sebastianfairfax2058]

Off-putting music. Share your paint knowledge; not your music (SIC) preference.

[@shipped_my_pants_3000]

Honestly? I think it looks muddy and shitty. Like dried Elmer's glue with dye

[@timmidillard3795]

then don't use it

[@sunnyd1928]

Very helpful thank u!

[@Midwest_adventure_crew]

Awesome. Thank you for watching