This article highlights top extra heavy gel mediums used by artists to thicken, glaze, extend, and alter the sheen of acrylics. Each product below is suitable for creating bold impasto textures, extended translucency, or adhesive effects for collage work. Read on to compare options from GOLDEN and Liquitex, and consult the Buying Guide for practical considerations.
| Product | Brand | Size | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte | GOLDEN | 8 fl oz | Matte |
| Liquitex Professional Gloss Heavy Gel Medium | Liquitex | 237 ml (8 oz) | Gloss |
| GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte | GOLDEN | 16 fl oz | Matte |
| GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte | GOLDEN | 128 fl oz | Matte |
| GOLDEN Heavy Gel Gloss | GOLDEN | 128 fl oz | Gloss |
GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte 8 oz
GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte is a very thick matte acrylic medium that dries to a wax-like finish. It serves multiple purposes: thickening, glazing, extending, altering sheen, and increasing translucency of acrylic paint. The gel’s range of consistency allows it to be used for glazes, extending paints, building texture, and acting as an adhesive for collage work. This 8-ounce jar is suitable for studio use and experimentation with impasto techniques.
GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte 16 oz
This 16-ounce version of GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte maintains the same wax-like finish and thickening capabilities. Ideal for artists seeking larger batches for extended projects, it supports thickened applications, glazing, texture building, and adhesive uses in collage work, with the same semi-transparent to opaque potential depending on layering and dilution.
GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte 128 oz
The 128-ounce container offers extended value for studios with frequent use of thickened gels. It preserves the same wax-like matte finish and versatile functionality—thickening, glazing, extending, sheen adjustment, and translucency management— while supporting large-scale textures and durable collages.
GOLDEN Heavy Gel Gloss 128 oz
GOLDEN Heavy Gel Gloss is a thick, clear drying acrylic medium used to thicken, extend, and alter the sheen of acrylic paint with a translucent to glossy finish. It supports glaze work, texture building, and collage applications, offering a different finish spectrum from the matte gels for versatile results across painting styles.
GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte 32 oz
This 32-ounce jar provides a balance between size and utility for frequent use in thickening, glazing, and extending acrylic paints. The durable matte finish supports textured applications and adhesive possibilities for collages, with the same thick, wax-like consistency that characterizes GOLDEN Extra Heavy Gel Matte products.
Golden Acryl Med 8 Oz X-Heavy Gel Semi-Gloss
Golden Acryl Med 8 Oz X-Heavy Gel Semi-Gloss offers a thicker option than standard GOLDEN Heavy Body Colors, enabling thick impasto with a translucent finish as it dries. It provides an alternative to fully matte gels with a semi-gloss, translucent outcome that can add depth to layered acrylic compositions.
Golden Artist Colors Heavy Gel Gloss 8 oz
Golden Artist Colors Heavy Gel Gloss is a thick, clear drying acrylic medium designed to thicken, extend, alter sheen, and increase translucency. It mirrors the gel family’s versatility for glazing, texture build-up, and collage adhesive use, with a focus on a glossy finish that can intensify light reflection in the painted surface.
Buying Guide
Key purchase considerations for extra heavy gel mediums include finish (matte vs gloss), dryness and translucency, and working time. Matte gels typically yield a wax-like, non-reflective surface ideal for thick impasto and collage adhesion, while gloss gels provide a clear, shiny glaze and deeper translucency. Size and value are practical factors for studios with high-volume needs; large containers offer cost efficiency but require ample storage. Compatibility with acrylic paints, dry time, and archival stability are important for long-term projects. Consider testing on a scrap piece to compare texture, translucency, and sheen before committing to a particular brand or size.
Additionally, assess how the gel interacts with various brushes and tools for texture can be controlled with brush marks, palette knives, or stencils. Some gels double as binders for collage, so their adhesive properties may influence layering sequences. If you aim for multi-finish results in one piece, selecting both matte and gloss gels can help achieve nuanced effects with minimal layering. Finally, verify storage recommendations to preserve gel consistency over time and prevent separation or hardening.