Modern paint technology has facilitated the production of a true Gel Medium. The purpose of the MM4 Gel Medium is to act as a clear transparent colour extender in the production of brilliant coloured glazes and as a transparent impasto for thick 3-dimensional brush and knife applications of Matisse Structure. Its prime requirement is to be thick and buttery whilst remaining fully transparent.
MM4 Gel Medium is perhaps the most versatile medium in the Matisse range because of its multiple effects, particularly when intermixed with other mediums.
It acts as the main intermixing medium in acrylic painting when its rich buttery consistency is required for impasto work, 3-dimensional extrapolations, multi-layer work and heavy, smooth or textural glazes.
When dry, it maintains the structure, brushstrokes and textural effects of undiluted Matisse Structure colours. Its inherent firm and buttery consistency makes it ideal for application by palette knife in order to achieve heavily textured grounds.
Reduced with water and MM8 Spreader Medium, it adapts for thick but smooth flowing glazes.
MM4 Gel Medium, because of its viscous non-spreading consistency, enables the artist to apply thick and heavily defined brushstrokes.
It is well known that acrylic paints "surface" dry very rapidly but heavily imposed brushstrokes of paint take much longer to dry than thinly applied coats. The fact that the surface of the paint film dries rapidly causes moisture entrapment in the film underneath. This effect need not be detrimental to the painting as acrylic mediums are porous and allow for the gradual release of moisture during air drying. Nor does the artist experience any great problem of cracking or wrinkling because Matisse is a highly concentrated paint and once the available moisture has evaporated, the paint remains as a strong, solid, pliable and non-cracking film.
