Product Review: Golden Acrylic Paints and Mediums

These colors pop off the canvas! I knew Golden paints were amazing, but when I recently received a sample kit from Golden, I was excited to see two new medium in February, 2019. This review will provide examples and comparisons related to how the products are used; and show a variety of ways to they can be used with other products.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to review Golden’s products for you, which were graciously provided by Golden.com. I was anxiously awaiting my shipment, and luckily it came between two recent snow storms here in the Pacific Northwest.

Pic2. mail

Golden’s Kit

Included in the kit were 6 (1oz/30ml) Golden Fluid Acrylic Paint samples, Golden Color Fluid Medium Gloss, and Golden Color Fluid Medium Matte. Although this was a promotional package, if interested you can purchase a sample kit on Amazon, 10 piece (1oz/30ml) Golden Fluid Acrylic Assorted Paint set; or an 8 piece (1/2oz/15ml) Golden Fluid Acrylics Assorted Paint set.

Pic3. Samples

Supplies I Used:

Instructions for Use

I have used this paint in the past with Floetrol with wonderful results and was curious to see how it would change using Golden’s Gloss and Matte Mediums.

Both the Gloss and Matte Fluid Mediums will say to use a 10:1 ratio, meaning 10 parts medium to one part Golden Fluid Acrylic. I will admit I am a Floetrol girl and this 10:1 made me nervous. So I pulled out some spare medical syringes I keep for measuring smaller quantities. This worked well as I used a 30 ml syringe without a needle, leaving plenty of room above the drawn up paint.

Hint: This is so you don’t pull the plunger out of the syringe completely losing the ability to successfully draw up your fluid… an old nursing secret.

Looking at this picture of my 10:1 ratios, I will admit, I was still nervous. I’m used to my Floetrol mixtures which need much more paint. I was literally holding my breath when I mixed the first cup.

Pic4. medium.paint premix

So I started mixing and both types of mediums and paints mixed up beautifully. The individual mediums and paints pour out of their containers evenly and are very easy to mix together. I have issues with both hands, having to use my non-dominant hand to stir with; and these mixed so easily, that both my hands were smiling.

I was thrilled with the rich colors both the matte and gloss mediums had created. Time to start pouring.

Example 1: Golden Fluid Acrylics/Color Fluid Medium Gloss

This was a simple flip cup utilizing Prussian Blue Hue, Titanium White, Teal, Diarylide Yellow and Green Gold mixed with the Golden Color Fluid Medium Gloss and its 10:1 ratio on a 9×12 canvas. Prior to flipping I added a white basecoat on the canvas, and added 1 drop of silicone to the Prussian Blue Hue.

As you can see there were plenty of cells from the silicone, but of course I only added one drop as I was curious to see what we might end up with using very little silicone. I love the rich colors it has created and the dried gloss has left a medium glossy, light reflective effect. It’s not super shiny but still allows the light to reflect and highlight your painting.

Pic5. Example 1

Example 2: A Comparison of Gloss and Matte Mediums

In this example, I wanted to not only create tree rings, but also do side by side comparisons of both the gloss and matte mediums.

The first tree ring was created with Prussian Blue Hue, Titanium White, Diarylide Yellow, and Green Gold utilizing the Golden Color Fluid Medium Gloss 10:1 ratio, on a 5×7 canvas. No silicone was used.

The second tree ring was made with Titanium White, Diarylide Yellow, Naphthol Red Light, and a 1⁄2 mix of Naphthol Red Light and Diarylide Yellow to create an orange, using the Golden Color Fluid Medium Matte 10:1 ratio on a 5×7 canvas. No silicone was used.

Right after pouring you can see the mediums allow the vibrant colors to come through. I love the fact that the colors may blend creating new variations of color as you pour; but they don’t fade out when crossing over. The rings stay clearly defined.

Pic6. Blue ring

When the two paintings are dried you can see the difference between the gloss and matte finishes. I am directly shining a light on the two at the same time. The gloss reflects the light, leaves a slight shine, and is smooth to the touch. The matte finish creates a soft more natural look and feel with no shine. Both of Golden’s new fluid mediums allow the color and details of the rings to come through with enlightened clarity. More to come on the matte medium next.

Pic7. Dried rings

Example 3

I was intrigued by the matte surface of the smaller tree ring in orange, so I wanted to create a larger one with the matte medium just to see if what I thought I saw, was true.

In four separate pour cups, I layered Prussian Blue Hue, Titanium White, Teal, Diarylide Yellow, and Green Gold utilizing the Golden Color Fluid Medium Matte, 10:1 ratio, on a 9×12 canvas. No silicone added. Poured a white base coat, then poured 4 small tree rings, tilted, and let dry.

Pic1 multiple rings

What I thought I saw in the small ring was definitive in the larger pour. Not only are the colors still amazing, the lines are defined and oh, the matte finish—it reminds me of a finely sanded piece of wooden furniture. Have you have ever felt wood after using a ultra fine sandpaper, 400 grit or higher, right before you start to stain it. Remember that ultra smooth, natural, almost velvety feeling, that’s what this new matte medium reminds me of.

Pic8. Multi rings dried

The new matte finish is not the typical glossy finish we think of for pouring, but in the right project, it would be absolutely incredible.

A Comparison of Mixed Products

I was very happy with what I saw using the Golden paints and mediums together, the results were as delightful as anticipated. I wondered though, just to push the envelope a little more, how might other brands work with Golden products? So I began to play.

Example A: I wanted to use different acrylic paint products and the Golden Fluid Medium Gloss to see if it came out the same.

I needed to create a background for another project, so this was a simple two color pour.

I used Happy Medium Coal Black and FolkArt Metallic Pewter with Golden Color Medium Gloss and its 5:1 ratio with the Pewter only, on a 9×12 canvas. Started with black base coat, then added just a few drops of black throughout the pewter, poured and tilted. No silicone added. Once dried, then varnished with Liquitex gloss.

As you can see from the photo, this is right after tilting. The colors of the metallic pewter still are sharp even after drying. Because this was not a highly pigmented paint, I decreased the ratio from Golden’s 10:1 down to 5:1. This still had the same slight light reflective sheen as with gloss tree ring above in Example 2.

Pic9. Example A/background

Example B: I wanted to see how Golden Fluid Acrylics might work if directly mixed with another brand of acrylic paint. I wondered, could they be added to another paint to brighten, darken, lighten or simply to enrich the color? So, I added the Prussian Blue Hue to a mixture of FolkArt Cobalt Blue with Medium Gloss. The Cobalt blue is a nice clean color, but not always as vivid as I’d like.

This was a simple diagonal cup pour with Golden Titanium White and Prussian Blue Hue, FolkArt Cobalt Blue, FolkArt Metallic Bronze, and Happy Medium Coal Black, using the Medium Gloss 10:1 on a 9×12 canvas. Prior to creating the pour cup, I added a white basecoat on the canvas, and added one drop of silicone to the Prussian Blue Hue/Cobalt Blue mix.

The blue color was very vibrant, adding just a couple of drops of Golden Fluid Acrylics increased enriched the blue to a new level. Adding the Golden paint to the inexpensive brand created the vibrant colors seen when using Golden alone.

Pic10. Example B/blue diag

Overall Observations

1. The fluid consistency of both the paints and mediums were thinner and smoother than many out

there, making it easier to mix than Floetrol.

2. No clumps or flakes as can be seen in other brands of paint and mediums. Sometimes those

clumps and flakes can make it more difficult to break down to desired consistency.

3. When mixing, there wasn’t as much resistance against the stir stick, easier on painful hands and

wrists.

4. Because the pigments of the Golden Fluid Acrylics are a greater density, you don’t need as much paint as you might use with inexpensive brands of acrylic paints. Less paint creates inspired results. 5. The Gloss Medium dried semi-glossy, with some light reflection, and a smooth finish.

6. The Matte Medium dried with no light reflection, and a softer more natural finish similar to finley

sanded wood.

7. Golden Fluid Acrylics can be added to other paints to enrich color.

8. Gloss and Matte Mediums can be used with other brands of acrylic paints (5:1-10:1 ratio, test

small portion first as this will depend on quality/density of paint). Adjust as needed.

9. These colors really do pop off the canvas!

2 thoughts on “Product Review: Golden Acrylic Paints and Mediums”

  1. Deborah-ann Minogue

    Thank you Tina. This was really helpful to me. I am going to try the Golden gloss medium. I have only done one pour and swipe and need advice so thanks again.
    Your work is lovely.

  2. Pegatha Joy Rainbow Firewalker

    Thank you Tina. I’ ve been wanting to experiment with some golden products and didn’t know where to start. I appreciate you sharing your test results.
    Love your work. Very creative.

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