You’ve probably noticed your acrylic paintings lack that luminous depth you’re after. Glazing mediums can dramatically transform your work, but you’re stuck choosing between options that promise different results. The right medium depends on what you’re trying to achieve—and we’ll show you which ones actually deliver. Here’s what separates the best from the rest.
Quick Overview
- Liquitex Professional Fluid Medium creates brilliant, jewel-like glazes with excellent brushing and leveling for transparent, luminous depth.
- Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid extends working time while offering gloss or satin finishes with superior translucency and viscosity control.
- Choose mediums based on finish preferences, working time needs, and transparency levels to match your specific artistic technique.
- Fast-drying glazes enable rapid layering and sharp color shifts, while slow-drying options allow gradual blending and extended work time.
- Thin, fluid mediums create smooth translucent glazes for blending, whereas thicker gel-like consistencies retain brushstrokes and build dimensional texture.
| Liquitex Professional Fluid Medium 237ml (8-oz) Glazing Medium |
| Professional Grade | Primary Purpose: Creating brilliant jewel-like glazes with acrylic paint | Size/Volume: 237ml (8 oz) | Brand: Liquitex Professional | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Liquitex Professional Fluid Medium 118ml (4-oz) Glazing Medium |
| Best Value | Primary Purpose: Creating brilliant jewel-like glazes with acrylic paint | Size/Volume: 118ml (4 oz) | Brand: Liquitex Professional | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid Gloss – 8 oz Bottle |
| Best Overall | Primary Purpose: Increases translucency and working time for blending and glazing | Size/Volume: 237ml (8 oz) | Brand: Golden Artist Colors | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Golden Acrylic Medium Glazing Liquid 32 Oz Satin |
| Editor’s Choice | Primary Purpose: Extended working time for blending, glazing, and fine art applications | Size/Volume: 946ml (32 oz) | Brand: Golden Artist Colors | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| GOLDEN Gloss Glazing Liquid Professional Acrylic Medium |
| Premium Pick | Primary Purpose: Increases translucency and working time for blending and glazing | Size/Volume: 473ml (16 oz) | Brand: Golden Artist Colors | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Falling in Art Clear Gel Acrylic Medium (500ML) |
| Best For Texture | Primary Purpose: Texture, layering, extending paint, and impasto effects | Size/Volume: 500ml (16.9 oz) | Brand: Falling in Art | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
| Liquitex Professional Matte Medium 237ml (8-oz) |
| Matte Finish Specialist | Primary Purpose: Creates matte finish and adds depth to acrylic paintings | Size/Volume: 237ml (8 oz) | Brand: Liquitex Professional | VIEW LATEST PRICE | Read Our Analysis |
More Details on Our Top Picks
Liquitex Professional Fluid Medium 237ml (8-oz) Glazing Medium
If you’re seeking brilliant, jewel-like glazes that won’t yellow over time, Liquitex Professional Fluid Medium delivers exceptional results. This lightweight 8-oz bottle works seamlessly with any Liquitex Professional Acrylic Paint Colors, allowing you to create transparent layers that build luminous depth. You’ll appreciate its excellent brushing and leveling qualities, which ascertain smooth application without streaking. The medium dries to a water-resistant, non-yellowing surface that preserves your colors’ vibrancy indefinitely. It’s non-toxic and ASTM D4236 certified, making it safe for educational settings. Whether you’re layering translucent washes or building complex glazing effects, this versatile medium becomes an indispensable tool in your acrylic painting arsenal.
- Primary Purpose:Creating brilliant jewel-like glazes with acrylic paint
- Size/Volume:237ml (8 oz)
- Brand:Liquitex Professional
- Finish Type:Non-yellowing, water-resistant surface
- Safety/Compliance:Conforms to ASTM D4236; Safe for educational use
- Paint Compatibility:Intermixable with Liquitex Professional Acrylic Colors and Mediums
- Additional Feature:Brilliant jewel-like glazes
- Additional Feature:Excellent brushing and leveling
- Additional Feature:Water-resistant, non-yellowing surface
Liquitex Professional Fluid Medium 118ml (4-oz) Glazing Medium
Liquitex Professional Fluid Medium excels for artists who want to create luminous, jewel-like glazes without compromising durability. You’ll appreciate its excellent brushing and leveling qualities, which guarantee smooth, even application across your acrylic layers. The 118ml bottle offers a convenient size for experimenting or maintaining your studio supplies. Since it’s intermixable with all Liquitex Professional Acrylic Paint Colors and Mediums, you can seamlessly integrate it into your existing workflow. The medium dries to a water-resistant, non-yellowing surface, safeguarding your work’s brilliance over time. It’s also non-toxic and conforms to ASTM D4236, making it safe for educational settings and professional studios alike.
- Primary Purpose:Creating brilliant jewel-like glazes with acrylic paint
- Size/Volume:118ml (4 oz)
- Brand:Liquitex Professional
- Finish Type:Non-yellowing, water-resistant surface
- Safety/Compliance:Conforms to ASTM D4236; Safe for educational use
- Paint Compatibility:Intermixable with Liquitex Professional Acrylic Colors and Mediums
- Additional Feature:Brilliant jewel-like glazes
- Additional Feature:Excellent brushing and leveling
- Additional Feature:Water-resistant, non-yellowing surface
Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid Gloss – 8 oz Bottle
Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid Gloss stands out as an excellent choice for artists who consistently work with blending and layering techniques. You’ll appreciate how it extends your working time while increasing translucency, giving you greater control over transparency and viscosity. This gloss finish medium lets you achieve the exact surface sheen you want without compromising paint quality. Made by the employee-owned Golden Artist Colors company using globally sourced materials, it conforms to ASTM D4236 standards. The 8 oz bottle provides ample supply for your projects, and its versatility works beautifully on canvas or panels, earning it a solid 4.8-star rating from satisfied artists.
- Primary Purpose:Increases translucency and working time for blending and glazing
- Size/Volume:237ml (8 oz)
- Brand:Golden Artist Colors
- Finish Type:Gloss finish
- Safety/Compliance:Conforms to ASTM D4236
- Paint Compatibility:Compatible with acrylic paints
- Additional Feature:Increases translucency and working
- Additional Feature:Controls transparency, viscosity, sheen
- Additional Feature:Made in USA
Golden Acrylic Medium Glazing Liquid 32 Oz Satin
For artists seeking extended blending time and subtle color shifts, this satin-finish glazing liquid delivers precisely what you need. You’ll appreciate the longer working time compared to standard acrylics, enabling you to execute fine blending and subtractive techniques effortlessly. The 32-ounce bottle offers excellent value for serious painters tackling decorative or fine art projects. You can thin acrylic paints, build translucent color layers, or seal canvases with a professional satin finish. Whether you’re creating faux finishes or experimenting with glazing methods, this medium’s premium quality earns its 4.7-star rating. Made in the USA by Golden Artist Colors, you’ll find it’s a reliable choice for artists prioritizing extended working time and refined results.
- Primary Purpose:Extended working time for blending, glazing, and fine art applications
- Size/Volume:946ml (32 oz)
- Brand:Golden Artist Colors
- Finish Type:Satin finish
- Safety/Compliance:No specific certifications listed
- Paint Compatibility:Compatible with acrylic paints
- Additional Feature:Longer working time formula
- Additional Feature:Enables subtle blending techniques
- Additional Feature:Available in gloss/satin
GOLDEN Gloss Glazing Liquid Professional Acrylic Medium
If you’re seeking infinite control over your acrylic glazing work, this transparent medium won’t disappoint. GOLDEN’s Gloss Glazing Liquid extends your paint’s working time, allowing seamless blending and layering. You’ll appreciate how this slow-drying extender increases translucency without compromising color intensity. The 16 fl. oz. bottle provides ample supply for extended projects. As a professional-grade medium, it lets you adjust transparency, viscosity, and surface sheen to match your artistic vision. Backed by over 40 years of expertise from this employee-owned company, you’re investing in quality crafted right here in the USA with globally sourced materials.
- Primary Purpose:Increases translucency and working time for blending and glazing
- Size/Volume:473ml (16 oz)
- Brand:Golden Artist Colors
- Finish Type:Gloss finish
- Safety/Compliance:No specific certifications listed
- Paint Compatibility:Compatible with acrylic colors
- Additional Feature:Increases translucency and working
- Additional Feature:Provides infinite color control
- Additional Feature:40+ years expertise company
Falling in Art Clear Gel Acrylic Medium (500ML)
You’ll find that Falling in Art’s Clear Gel Acrylic Medium is an excellent choice if you’re seeking a versatile glazing solution that doesn’t compromise color integrity. This 500ML gloss medium increases coating thickness while maintaining transparency when dry, allowing you to build depth and richness into your layers without muddying your colors. You can use it to create dramatic impasto effects that retain brush strokes and peaks, or thin it down for smooth glazes. Beyond glazing, you’ll appreciate its adhesive properties for mixed media work and its ability to incorporate textural additives like sand. Being non-toxic and translucent when wet, it offers endless experimental possibilities for your acrylic paintings.
- Primary Purpose:Texture, layering, extending paint, and impasto effects
- Size/Volume:500ml (16.9 oz)
- Brand:Falling in Art
- Finish Type:Gloss finish (transparent when dry)
- Safety/Compliance:Non-toxic
- Paint Compatibility:Compatible with acrylic paint
- Additional Feature:Creates dramatic impasto effects
- Additional Feature:Powerful adhesive bonding property
- Additional Feature:Incorporates textural additives easily
Liquitex Professional Matte Medium 237ml (8-oz)
Artists seeking a versatile matte finish that won’t compromise paint quality will find Liquitex Professional Matte Medium delivers true, non-reflecting results. You’ll appreciate how this lightweight, non-toxic medium creates genuine matte effects—not just reduced shine. When you add it to acrylics, it’s opaque while wet but becomes translucent when dry, giving you control over your final appearance. The medium thickness works perfectly for layering in mixed media projects and transfers. You can revive dried paints, enhance budget acrylics, and adhere papers seamlessly. At 237ml, this professional-grade medium conforms to safety standards and intermixes easily with Liquitex paints and other mediums, making it an essential tool for serious artists.
- Primary Purpose:Creates matte finish and adds depth to acrylic paintings
- Size/Volume:237ml (8 oz)
- Brand:Liquitex Professional
- Finish Type:Matte, non-reflecting finish
- Safety/Compliance:Conforms to ASTM D4236; Safe for educational use
- Paint Compatibility:Intermixable with Liquitex Professional Acrylic Colors and Mediums
- Additional Feature:Matte, non-reflecting finish
- Additional Feature:Adheres papers to surfaces
- Additional Feature:Revives dried acrylic paint
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Glazing Medium for Acrylic Painting
When you’re selecting a glazing medium for your acrylics, you’ll want to evaluate several key factors that directly impact your painting process and final results. Consider your preferred finish type, how much working time you need before the paint dries, and whether you want transparency, translucency, or opacity in your glazes. You’ll also need to assess the viscosity and consistency that suits your technique, along with the drying properties that align with your painting pace.
Finish Type Preferences
The sheen of your glazing medium profoundly affects how viewers perceive your artwork. You’ll find three primary options: matte, satin, and gloss finishes.
Matte finishes create a dull, non-reflective surface that emphasizes your paint colors and brushwork details. They work well when you want viewers to focus on technique rather than shine.
Satin finishes offer a middle ground, providing subtle luster with a soft, velvety appearance that adds sophistication without overwhelming your composition.
Gloss finishes produce a shiny, reflective surface that enhances color vibrancy and depth, particularly benefiting transparent paint layers. This option works best when you want maximum visual impact and luminosity.
Your choice depends on your desired aesthetic and painting style. Consider what mood and emphasis you want to create before selecting your medium.
Working Time Requirements
How quickly your glazing medium dries dramatically influences your painting process and the techniques you can employ. If you’re blending, layering, and manipulating paint extensively, you’ll want a longer working time. Conversely, faster-drying mediums suit techniques requiring quicker completion across multiple thin layers.
Consider your specific painting’s demands. Thinner, fluid mediums generally offer extended working times compared to thicker, gel-like alternatives. You can further extend working time by controlling your environment—cooler, drier conditions naturally slow drying speeds, giving you more flexibility to refine your work.
Match your medium’s drying speed to your artistic approach. Rushing through layers with an overly quick medium frustrates your workflow, while unnecessarily slow mediums waste time on simpler projects. Your technique dictates your timing needs.
Transparency and Translucency
One of the most critical decisions you’ll make when selecting a glazing medium is determining how transparent or translucent you want your layers to be. Transparent mediums let underlying colors shine through, creating luminous, jewel-like effects that enhance depth. Translucent options soften this quality, diffusing colors while maintaining subtle underpainting visibility.
You can adjust transparency levels by mixing glazing mediums with other acrylic products or varying application thickness. Thinner applications yield greater transparency, while thicker layers increase translucency. Your choice directly impacts your painting’s final appearance and optical effects, so consider your desired outcome before applying glaze. Guaranteeing the medium’s transparency or translucency to your vision ensures you’ll achieve the exact visual effects you’re pursuing.
Viscosity and Consistency
Your glazing medium’s viscosity—essentially how thick or thin it is—fundamentally shapes your painting’s workability and visual outcome. Thin, fluid mediums create translucent glazes that blend smoothly, perfect when you want seamless color shifts and effortless application. Thicker, gel-like consistencies retain your brush strokes and build texture, ideal for developing depth and dimension through layered applications.
Consider your specific goals when selecting viscosity. Lower viscosity mediums offer superior blending capabilities and smoother finishes, making them excellent for detailed work. Higher viscosity options enable impasto effects and pronounced surface texture, giving your painting tactile qualities.
You’ll achieve the best results by matching your medium’s consistency to both your desired aesthetic and your preferred working method. Test different viscosities to investigate which handling properties suit your artistic style.
Drying Properties
Drying speed fundamentally influences your glazing workflow and the visual effects you’ll achieve. Fast-drying glazes enable rapid layering and produce sharp color shifts, ideal when you need quick results. Conversely, slow-drying glazes extend your working time, allowing you to blend colors gradually and create smooth alterations across your canvas.
Several factors determine drying rates: viscosity affects how quickly the medium sets, pigment load influences curing speed, and resin content plays a significant role in the overall drying process. Understanding these variables helps you select the right medium for your project.
Consider your artistic goals carefully. If you’re building complex layers, faster mediums streamline your process. For subtle color shifts and extensive blending, slower-drying formulas give you the control you need. Choose accordingly to maximize your results.
Safety and Certifications
When you’re selecting a glazing medium, safety certifications shouldn’t be an afterthought—they’re fundamental to responsible art-making. You’ll want to verify that your chosen product conforms to ASTM D4236, the standard ensuring non-toxic formulations. This certification matters whether you’re working in a studio alone or teaching in an educational setting where student safety is paramount.
Look for products that carry recognized safety seals and clearly display their certifications on packaging. You should also prioritize environmentally friendly options that minimize your ecological impact. Non-toxic mediums protect both your health and that of anyone around you during application and cleanup.
When you invest in properly certified glazing mediums, you’re not just protecting yourself—you’re ensuring your art practice aligns with professional safety standards and ethical responsibility.
Budget and Quantity
Glazing medium prices and sizes vary considerably, so you’ll want to assess both your financial constraints and project needs before making a purchase. Smaller 4 oz or 8 oz bottles work well for experimenting with techniques or handling minor touch-ups, keeping your upfront costs low. However, if you’re tackling larger paintings or planning multiple glazing layers, investing in 32 oz bottles delivers better value per ounce. Calculate the volume your specific project demands—consider the painting’s surface area and how many glazing applications you’ll apply. This straightforward math prevents overspending on excess product or undershooting and needing emergency restocking. Match your bottle size to your actual usage patterns, ensuring you maximize both your budget and your medium’s shelf life before it degrades.
