Chest of Colors forum

Hi painting-friends!

Right now I'm experimenting a bit with Matte Medium (the one from Vallejo, but I don't think this really matters).

The problem is that it seems to make my paint too thick... anyway that's what it looks like on my palette and my brush. So I add a bit more water to make it a bit thinner. Although the mix remains quite thick, the paint is really transparent when it's put onto the model. So I have to put on a lot more layers than usually.

What am I doing wrong? Too much medium? Too much water?

-Gerrie.

Vallejo Matt medium is not the best one I prefeer Talens or W&N, they are also chepaer.. and yo shouldn't add matt medium to puting layers it is rather for glazes

Corvus, what are you trying to do that you're adding medium?

Lady: I'm adding it to all my mixes to achieve a smooth matte finish.

I've seen some German painters (Holger Schmidt, Stefanie Arndt) do this, and I've asked when they use it and they use it for everything too.

btw I've seen the results of my first experiment in full daylight today, and I must say it looks very smooth.
I like the medium, I think I just need to experiment more with it.

Well, my experience (limited, true) and what I've been told is that adding a medium is usually for diluting the paint for something like a glaze. There are other things, like Liquitex Flow Aid, that thins paints a little for a really smooth finish without diluting the color quite so much. Maybe a different medium would work better. And I honestly believe the different ones can give you very different results.

tbh i think its a waste of time! get a good dullcoat and you dont have to worry about glossy finish...

I find the flow improver Tanya mentioned helping more! but I am also working without those...just some dishwashing soap when i go for freehands, the rest is just pure water

Ding!

Here's a Brusthralls article that might help you out. It is actually refering to Glaze Medium, but they seem to be very similar products.

Milkman, the fact that both are midiums, doesn't mean they're similar.. Glaze medium is made for glazing, matt medium just makes sure your paints dry up matt..

I use a kind of gel, that I thin with water and add to my paints, works like a charm! Another way is to add some matt varnish (like Vallejo's) to your paints, this works quite good as well..

John T