Working with acrylic paint is a popular choice among artists due to its quick drying time and versatility.

Acrylic paints naturally dry to a flat finish, but by adding a medium, you can alter the paint's properties to suit your needs.

When a medium is added to acrylic paint, artists can enhance various attributes of the paint.

A medium can increase luminosity and surface sheen, create a matte finish, produce a watercolor or transparent wash effect, or even thicken the paint for more prominent brush strokes.

If your painting requires thickened acrylic paint, you have several medium options to choose from. These can add texture, create unique finishes, or even help construct three-dimensional paintings.

Thickening mediums range from pourable to moldable, and thankfully, they are relatively easy to use.

Gel Mediums Can Thicken Your Acrylic Paint

One of the simplest ways to thicken acrylic paint is by using a professional paint medium, such as a gel medium, which is readily available at local art stores or online. Gel mediums come in gloss, matte, and semi-gloss varieties, allowing you to achieve the desired finish.

Gel mediums thicken acrylic paint and create a more luminous finish. They are available in matte or gloss, are white in color, and are excellent for collage work. They enable artists to use impasto techniques or create textured glazes.

Using gel mediums is straightforward: mix the paint and medium together thoroughly, little by little, and apply with a palette knife or brush. Due to their adhesive properties, gel mediums are also useful for collage and mixed-media work.

Matte gel mediums change the glossy finish of acrylic paint to a soft, non-reflective matte appearance.

Gloss gel mediums enhance the existing luminosity of acrylic paint, allowing for thinner strokes that are thicker yet slightly more transparent.

Semi-gloss gel mediums combine matte and gloss gel mediums to create a semi-glossy effect.

Textured gels add even more thickness and can mimic textures like sand, ceramic, or stucco. You can experiment by adding sawdust or sand in small amounts for different textures.

Modeling Paste Is A Great Alternative To Gels

Modeling paste is another option for thickening acrylic paint. Using a small amount of modeling paste can produce a three-dimensional finish on your chosen surface. However, it can be slightly difficult to mix without a putty knife and a good palette.

Modeling paste will tint the color of the paint since it is white. It can be sculpted, sanded, carved, and painted on once dry.

DIY Options To Thicken Acrylic Paints

Another way to thicken paint is by using cornstarch. While household products may not be ideal for everyone, they offer an inexpensive option. However, cornstarch may not allow the painting to age well.

If you want to try it, here's how:

Combine 1.5 cups of water with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch in a saucepan over low heat until a thick consistency forms.
Once the mixture thickens like paste, remove it from the stove and let it cool.
After cooling, slowly add small amounts to your acrylic paint until you reach the desired consistency.
Store any remaining thickening agent in a container with a tight lid for future use.

Other household items can also thicken acrylic paint. Users on this thread on wetcanvas.com discuss their experiences with various household products.

Joint compound, typically used for embedding wallboard tape and finishing joints, is an inexpensive and versatile option. It mixes easily with paint and dries fairly quickly.

Talcum powder provides an even consistency but can be slightly greasy.

As you experiment with different mediums to achieve the desired effect, you'll discover what works best for you. A helpful thread on wetcanvas.com discusses users' favorite thickening mediums. Ultimately, trial and error will help you find the best solution for your needs.