ocean surface photo tutorial paper and oats

[biggles2]

Thanks!

[biggles2]

Hi! When you mention the use of "regular acrylic medium" to brush directly onto the oats and paper, is this the thinner liquidy stuff? As you're using it mainly as an adhesive, does it matter if it's gloss, or matte? Then use gloss gel after all is dry?

[sargentx]

HI,
I never use gloss gel. It holds it's peaks and ruins the effect.
To glue down the paper, I use acrylic gloss medium (not gel). For my fine shiny coat, I use a product call Liquitex HIGH gloss varnish. It's identical to acrylic clear medium, but is shinier and runnier in consistency.
Hope that helps.
C

[biggles2]

Thanks, again!

[biggles2]

Hi Sergentx; I got a box of Quaker Brand at Loblaw's because that was all they had that specifically said "oat bran". Lots of regular oats; instant oats; porridge, etc. Looks really fine, like coarse sand - is this what you use? Don't want to end up with a sea of porridge!

[sargentx]

That's exactly what you want. Oat bran is very fine, like large grain grits. You 'can' use quick oats, but I'd sand them thoroughly after they harden. Oat bran is the way to go though. Do examine the possibility of gluing oat bran down onto a surface, then covering that with paper towel. If you do make an oat sea, I recommend finishing it with paper towel regarless. it makes a really nice undulation. Anyway, it's all in my tutorials. Good luck!

[biggles2]

Ready to dive in!

[davidwaples]

HI,
I never use gloss gel. It holds it's peaks and ruins the effect.
To glue down the paper, I use acrylic gloss medium (not gel). For my fine shiny coat, I use a product call Liquitex HIGH gloss varnish. It's identical to acrylic clear medium, but is shinier and runnier in consistency.
Hope that helps.
C

Hi Chris,
What is the difference between "Clear Medium and Varnish" and "Clear Gloss Varnish"? I have the later. Thanks for sharing with us in detail your developing process. I'm trying it now and will be presenting it to our ship club Saturday.

Dave

[sargentx]

In this case, i don't think there is much difference. The product I use is LIquitex High gloss varnish (I"ll also use Liquitex satin varnish on rougher seas). For all intents and purposes, the 'varnish' seems to just be a runnier version of acrylic gloss medium. I like it because it brushes on without any brush-marks, and is extremely shiny as a finish. In an imperfect world where one might not be able to get Liquitex HG varnish, you could use basic golden or liquitex gloss acrylic medium. Same thing, but a little thicker.