Two Quick and Easy GAC-800 Recipes

One of the most popular artist’s mediums on the market is GAC-800, and for good reason; it’s a consistently quality product backed by the powerhouse that is Golden Acrylic Colors. Golden is widely known by acrylic artists to be a certainty when it comes to quality, and GAC-800 is no exception. Check out what one of our artists has to say about their products, here: Product Review: Golden Acrylic Paints and Mediums

Recipes for the Golden Acrylic Product Family 

In this article, we’ll give you an easy recipe for Golden Fluid Acrylics as well as Liquitex Basics. Golden Fluid Acrylics can be paired easily with GAC-800 and play well since they’re both formulated by Golden. Liquitex also works well with GAC-800, but if you’re using a different brand with a similar “very thick pudding” texture like Liquitex, you can still use the Liquitex/GAC-800 recipe. The AP blog has done a lot of the leg work on some of the best pouring mediums so give it a look if you need some guidance: Acrylic Pouring Medium Guide: Everything You Need to Know.

Benefits of GAC-800

As an artist’s medium, GAC-800 has many benefits. One benefit is that GAC-800 can help prevent crazing or cracking in your pieces; it will encourage your paint to dry evenly, as long as you aren’t using an excessive amount of paint.

GAC-800 also provides some flexibility when your painting dries. This means that if you intend to pour on foil and wrap a tumbler or try to make a wallet out of your canvas, it’s less likely that the paint will crack.

Because GAC-800 is a professional product, it’s meant to work efficiently and safely with acrylics, meaning that if you’re trying to create a piece that will last for years to come, GAC-800 won’t usually negatively impact the archival quality of other products you’re using. Of course, it’s always a good idea to check with the manufacturer if you have questions about GAC’s interactions with other materials. 

Getting Started With GAC-800 & Golden Fluid Acrylics

Golden Fluid Acrylics are highly pigmented and not meant to be used in large quantities. They have the full pigment load of heavy body, but are the consistency of a pourable cream. In other words, don’t twist off the cap and dump half of it into your GAC-800! Consistency can be a tricky thing, if you’ve struggled with it in the past check out Perfect Consistency Recipe: How to Thin and Mix Paint for Acrylic Pouring for some tips!

Here’s what you’ll need:

Recipe:

  1. Measure out approximately one ounce of each of your three colors into three of the mixing cups, reserving one cup for layering.
  2. Evenly distribute the 9oz of GAC-800 between the three cups.
  3. Using your stirring utensil, slowly and firmly mix each color until it’s fully incorporated with the GAC-800. Try to keep your utensil in the cup as much as possible to avoid introducing air bubbles. 
  4. Alternating colors, layer your paint in your empty cup.
  5. Pour on!

Golden Fluid Acrylics and GAC-800 can be tricky mostly because the usage rate differs depending on your specific consistency needs. 

Some artists prefer to use the combination at a 1:1 ratio, 1:3 (paint being the lower number) or even 1:10.  You can also mix GAC-800 with Floetrol if you want the anti-crazing effect without the cost of using only GAC-800.

GAC-800 & Liquitex Basics

Liquitex is another brand known for their concentrated pigment and quality, and mix very well with GAC-800. Liquitex has a consistency very similar to a very thick pudding; easy to squeeze out, but not runny and will maintain its shape when dispensed. Even though Liquitex is thicker than Golden Fluid Acrylics, the ratio of paint to medium differs drastically, since Golden Fluid Acrylics are much more concentrated.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Approximately 12 ounces of GAC-800
  • (3) three different Liquitex Basics colors of your choosing
  • (4) four reusable cups for mixing
  • (4) four wooden popsicle sticks or other stirring utensil
  • Up to (4) four ceramic tiles
  • Gloves (optional)

Recipe:

  1. Distribute approximately 1 oz of each Liquitex Basics color into its own mixing cup, leaving the fourth cup empty for layering.
  2. Evenly distribute the GAC-800 between the three cups– this will be about 4oz per cup.
  3. Using your stirring utensil, mix the GAC-800 and Liquitex Basics together until fully incorporated. This will take longer, as Liquitex Basics are thicker. Mix until the paint looks even and solid in color.
  4. Alternating colors, layer paint into the reserved mixing cup.
  5. Pour!

Final Thoughts

GAC-800 is a great product that helps reduce crazing and can extend the life of your painting, as long as you use quality paints along with it. It’s worth the investment for professional artists or hobbyists!

5 thoughts on “Two Quick and Easy GAC-800 Recipes”

  1. Did you mean 90 oz of GAC 800 for the Golden Fluid Acrylics? Otherwise, unless I read it wrong, the formula is the ame for both Golden and Liquitex… Thank you for this information.

  2. Oh thank you. I thought it was just me. I read it over and over again because it was not adding up for me. I went to my default of I am just too dense to be getting this. I am thinking for the Golden Fluid Acrylics and GAC-800 it should be 1 oz of pigment and 9 oz of medium.

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