Watercolor Mediums & Grounds
As a watercolor painter, you can use just the paints alone or you can manipulate the qualities you want to see in your painting by using different products for specific effects.
QoR Mediums & Grounds
SYNTHETIC OX GALL is a wetting agent that improve the flow of the paint. Add 2-5 drops to water makes the paint easier to apply and blend. Wetting paper with that water mix will assist in creating clean uniform washes and improves wetting.
LIFT AID is a fluid medium used to increase transparency and flow. It can be applied before painting or in-between washes.
WATERCOLOR MEDIUM is used to increase transparency and flow of the paint. When used in larger amounts, it increases the gloss and saturation of the colors.
LIGHT DIMENSIONAL GROUND is a white lightweight paste that spreads like frosting. It can be smooth when spread thin or can be built up to create ridges or peaks. Use on a wide variety of surfaces to make them watercolor friendly. The ground can be wet sanded to smooth out.
WATERCOLOR GROUND creates an absorbent surface that allows soft edges to flow in wet in wet techniques. Apply with a brush for a linen texture effect. Roll on for a dappled texture or scrape it smooth with a palette knife. It can be wet sanded for a hot pressed surface.
MASKING FLUID is a latex based and is ideal to create a hard edge line and highlights within a composition. The key to success is to make sure everything is dry before application or removal. Do NOT apply heat and use a dedicated brush for the application.
COLD PRESS GROUND dries to a rough surface and looks like handmade paper. Great for interesting effects. Apply with a palette knife.
Daniel Smith Grounds and Masking Fluid
Daniel Smith’s Grounds can turn almost any surface (wood, metal, glass, plastic, boards, etc) into a surface suitable for watercolor. Grounds are soft, absorbent surfaces with the texture similar to cold pressed watercolor paper. Grounds make it possible to watercolor over most surfaces. Grounds can rescue a flawed painting by covering up an area. It makes it possible to frame a watercolor without glass, as long as varnish is sprayed on last. The grounds are archival and acid free. Grounds are a great addition to multi media pieces, too.
TITANIUM WHITE acts like a “white out” so you can begin again in an area of your composition.
COLORED GROUNDS: Buff Titanium, Mars Blacks Iridescent Gold, & Pearlescent White are the colors of Grounds available. They can all be painted over and will give unique effects.
TRANSPARENT GROUNDS allows the surface to show thru when you paint over it.
Winsor & Newton Watercolor Mediums
AQUAPASTO is a transluscent gel medium that reduces flow and thickens paint to give an impasto effect.
ART MASKING FLUID is a pigmented liquid composed of rubber latex for masking areas of work when color is applied in broad washes. Apply to dry paper and remove as soon as possible after application.
COLORLESS ART MASKING FLUID is a non staining liquid for masking areas of work needing protection when color is applied in broad washes.
TEXTURE MEDIUM contains fine particles to add texture and can be used to add impression of depth. Can apply directly to paper.
OX GALL LIQUID is a wetting agent used to improve flow when mixed with watercolors. It can be used on very hard sized papers to reduce surface tension.
BLENDING MEDIUM slows the drying time, so the painting can be worked longer.
GRANULATION MEDIUM increases granulation of color giving a mottled appearance. It can enhance colors that already granulate.
GUM ARABIC controls the spread of wet color, reduces staining and slows drying time. It also increases the gloss and transparency of a color.
IRIDESCENT MEDIUM gives a pearlescent or glitter effect to watercolor and effective when mixed with transparent colors over dark backgrounds.
LIFTING PREPARATION allows dry watercolour washes to be lifted from paper with wet brush or rag. Apply to paper and allow to dry before painting.