3 Easy Methods: How to Make Your Acrylic Painting Glossy
You can make your acrylic paints glossy and shiny with a few simple methods/mediums: Gloss Medium, Gloss Glaze Medium, Gloss Varnish
- GLOSS MEDIUM – Add some of this medium to your acrylic paint, mix and then apply to the canvas. This will help your paint dry glossy/shiny.
Gloss gel medium is somewhat thick and will give your painting a little more structure. Use a palette knife or plastic spoon to mix it with your paints.
You can use either GLOSS POLYMER MEDIUM or GLOSS GEL MEDIUM
2. GLOSS GLAZING MEDIUM – Glazing medium is wonderful to add a light sheen/gloss to your paints. You can mix your paints with the medium or you can use a coat of gloss glaze over dried paint to help give it a sheen.
This is not as shiny/glossy and gloss medium; it will give a light sheen and gloss. It is very thin and will not cause any thickening of your paint. It will thin your paint somewhat.
Materials Used to Glaze an Acrylic Painting: (These are what I use)
-Flat brush https://amzn.to/2IixoT1 or mottler brush (leaves very smooth finish)
3. GLOSS VARNISH – You can use a gloss varnish on your final (dry) painting. This will give either a somewhat or very glossy finish (regular or high gloss choices are available).
GLOSS VARNISH:
Polymer (paint it on)
Spray (spray it on)
This comes in liquid format to paint on with a brush. You can also choose a gloss varnish spray (excellent for a light application).
Always use spray varnish outside or in a very well-ventilated area.
See my post on how to glaze a painting, give a painting a nice final sheen.
This post contains affiliate links. Thank you!
More resources for painting with acrylic glaze
- https://www.artnews.com/art-news/product-recommendations/best-glazing-mediums-for-acrylic-paint-1202687461/
- TUTORIAL: https://abstract-art-painting.teachable.com/p/glazed-earth
- DEMO: (Watercolor Effects with Acrylics) https://youtu.be/dbTqBGTOkW0
- HOW TO CREATE OIL-LIKE FINISH: https://101artists.com/create-an-oil-like-finish-on-acrylics/
All art by KR MOEHR, https://www.abstractart.live
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2 replies on “3 Easy ways to Make Your Acrylic Painting Glossy”
How do you determine which pieces to finish glossy and which to have a softer finish?
Hi- this is really a personal choice and kind of intuitive. If something is very textured or modern, generally a matte finish.