Acrylic Gel Medium.... Gloss or Matte ??

[davidwaples]

I've read a great deal about using Acrylic Gel to simulate water. This seems to come in gloss, semi gloss, and matte. Which is best for modeling water?
Thank you
Dave

[ArizonaBB39]

I think it depends on how you want to finish it. They all dry clear as far as I know. I have the high gloss kind. I paint my base the ocean color then spread the gel out over it and attach my ships make waves, etc. After letting the gel dry I take an assortment of white colored paints and lightly drybrush them over the wave crests and things. The gel retains it's gloss and I think it looks OK.

Other people add colors directly to the gel, and still others paint over it and spray a gloss coat over the top when they're finished.

Like I said, it depends on what you feel like doing.

[Devin]

If you're going to paint your base and then use the gel as-is with no painting afterwards, then use the gloss. If you're going to paint it, I've found that the flat gives the paint a little texture to hold onto.

-Devin

[davidwaples]

Greetings. Thank you for the information. I've decided that I'm going to make a sample board and try out all the different techniques that people have shared. The following methods come to mind...
Silicone method as described in this web site and forum.
1) Gel over a painted base
2) Gel painted and top coated with future
3) Paint mixed in with gel (gloss and matte). I'll probably topcoat the painted matte with future.
4. Build up swells with sculpey and finish with gel method.

That's all I'll do with this sample board. I was provided an interesting approach using a clear plastic base that I'll do separately.

If you all think of something I can do to modify a technique let me know and I'll try and incorporate it into the sample board.

Thanks again for your help!

Dave

[Karsten]

I have a large Tube of White Liquitex and a couple jars of Matte and Semi Gloss in Meduim and Heavy bodied Gel. I also have some Mog Poge Matte gel that is thinner for smoothing things out.

While I am also new to making water I have sort of worked a little of everything postedin.

For the water area I lay down a sheet of damp textured Water Color Paper and glue it down with Mog Poge paste.

With a variety of Palette/Pinting knives I lay down a 1st coat to fill in the textured paper and build up a wave or swell here and there using the Heavy Bodied White out of the tube.

Then with the Jars (which dry semi clear) I start building up the waves, bow waves, crests and what not using smaller Pallette Knives or the Mog Poge Paste for smoother surfaces.

The with Hobby Store Acrylic paint I paint over that to get the depth with Charcoal, Dark Blue and lighter shades......I think I have about 15 bottles of Blue. Sea Green all the way to Winter White. Then I do the Future Finish to see how it is panning out.

You can always touch up here and there with both Gel and Paint if needed and redo the Future Floor Wax.

Just for example these are a couple I am still working on.






Ya gotta love Grey Scale for Period photos.



Muddy River Moring



Karsten