Painting materials and mediums not only simplify your work, but also introduce a multitude of new possibilities into the creative process.

Painting mediums are substances that are added to the paint. They influence the processing properties, consistency, and the drying time of the paint. The paints are thinned or thickened, their drying time can be shortened or prolonged, the colours can become glossier or more matt. Depending on the desired result you can change the characteristics of your paint with the appropriate painting mediums and adapt them to your needs.

In addition, there are several painting mediums and tools that can be used as a preparatory or final step or that enable special processing techniques. These include primers, fixatives, varnishes, structure pastes, but also palettes, painting knives and the like.

Overview of painting materials and aids

• Primer white / gesso - adhesive primer for unfinished painting surfaces
• Flow medium / thinner - thins the paint
• Thickener - increases paint consistency / pastosity
• Drying retarder - prolongs the drying time
• Drying accelerator - shortens the drying time
• Modelling pastes / texture pastes - for reliefs and three-dimensional work
• Gloss mediums - change/influence the gloss properties of the paint
• Binders - enable the production of paints
• varnishes / fixatives - create a protective layer on the finished painting
• Pallets - enable mixing and controlled application of paint
• Painting knives - tools for working with impasto paint

Gesso / Primer White

Gesso is a preparatory medium used, for example, for top coats or ground coats. Canvases and other painting surfaces are often primed with gesso for the application of paint.

Flow Medium / Thinner

If the paint is to be thinned more than is suitable with water, a flow medium can be used. If you want to work with a strong glazing effect a flow medium should be used.

Thickener

These mediums thicken the paint, making it more pasty so that the painting has more structure. They generally also prolong the drying time of the paint.

Drying retarder

Drying retarders, also called retarders, extend the drying time of the paint. If paints dry too quickly it can be problematic to create specific colour transitions with certain techniques. If the drying time of the paint is to be slowed down, a retarder can be added. Retarders consist of a binder and noticeably extend the time it takes for the paint to dry. Retarders are colour-neutral and do not change the colour properties.

Drying accelerator

If the paints dry too slowly and thus prolong the painting process, a drying accelerator can be added. This ensures that the paint dries more quickly, and that you can paint much faster.

Modelling pastes / texture pastes

To create three-dimensional effects or surface structures it makes sense to use modelling pastes and/or texture pastes. These thicken the paint and enable to create a three-dimensional structure. The pastes are available smooth or with grain, as well as in different colours. They are applied with a brush, painting knife, spatula or directly by hand. They can either be mixed with paint or pigments or applied pure and painted afterwards when dry. With texture paste the painting surface can also be worked out as a relief before the paint is applied. A variety of modelling and texture pastes are available, especially for the application of acrylic paints.

Gloss mediums

Gloss mediums are used to increase the degree of gloss of the paint. They can usually be mixed directly with the paint.

Binders

Binders are used to produce paints themselves. They are mixed with the colour pigments to produce paints. Binders are available for acrylic paints, oil paints, watercolours, as well as for tempera and gouache paints.

Varnish / Fixative

Varnishes and fixatives are usually used at the end of the painting process and create lacquer-like protective layers on the surface of your artwork. Depending on the varnish, the colour brilliance can be enhanced (glossy), maintained (neutral) or reduced (matt). Varnishes are applied to the painting after the paint has dried, sealing it and providing long-lasting protection against environmental influences.

Pallets

Pallets are available in different materials, shapes and sizes. The size ideally depends on the size of the picture and how much paint is needed. If no palette is available, a piece of coated cardboard or a plate or other smooth surface can be used as a palette substitute. It is important that the palette has a smooth surface that cannot absorb the paint and that it is thick enough so that the paint does not soak through it.

Painting knives

Painting knives are used when working with pasty paints, as well as when using modelling and texture pastes. They can be used to apply and shape the paints and pastes.