{"title":"Watercolor Mediums","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"holbein-gum-arabic-medium","title":"Gum Arabic Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt's the actual binder in watercolor, so adding more intensifies paint behavior rather than fighting it. This medium deepens color saturation and creates luminous transparency that makes pigments glow on white paper. The increased gloss gives finished work a subtle sheen that photographs beautifully without looking artificially coated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMix directly into watercolor for glazing techniques where you need transparent layers that maintain brilliance. The extra binder also improves flow and extends working time slightly, useful when blending wet-into-wet or softening edges before paint sets. With gouache or poster colors, gum arabic transforms opacity into translucency, letting you work between watercolor and gouache effects within the same painting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHolbein formulates this medium to artist-grade standards, providing consistent performance without additives that might compromise archival stability. Add a few drops to your mixing palette or dilute washes directly on paper. The medium integrates seamlessly because it's the same material already holding your pigments together, just giving you more control over transparency and surface quality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Holbein","offers":[{"title":"55 ml","offer_id":47973653151973,"sku":"97157","price":13.69,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s97157.jpg?v=1761685426"},{"product_id":"holbein-gum-arabic-paste","title":"Gum Arabic Paste","description":"\u003cp\u003eWatercolor doesn't have to stay flat. Holbein's Gum Arabic Paste transforms fluid pigments into workable texture, enabling dimensional effects typically reserved for oils and acrylics. Mix it directly with watercolor to build genuine impasto, raised brushstrokes that catch light and create physical depth on your paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe paste increases paint viscosity while maintaining watercolor's essential transparency and rewetting properties. You can layer thick passages over traditional washes, add textural accents to specific areas, or work entirely in an impasto approach. Because it's formulated specifically for watercolor rather than adapted from other media, it integrates seamlessly without compromising color intensity or causing separation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtist-grade formulation ensures archival stability. The paste dries clear and won't yellow or crack over time, even in substantial applications. Use it to emphasize focal points with dimensional brushwork, create surface variety across a composition, or explore watercolor's sculptural potential. Works equally well for bold gestural marks or controlled textural details where you want paint to stand off the paper rather than sink into it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Holbein","offers":[{"title":"15 ml \/ tube","offer_id":47973653217509,"sku":"97156","price":9.56,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s97156.jpg?v=1761685427"},{"product_id":"daler-rowney-gum-arabic-solution","title":"Gum Arabic Solution","description":"\u003cp\u003eTransparency and luminosity transform when you add gum arabic to watercolor mixes. This traditional medium intensifies color depth while increasing flow properties, allowing pigments to spread more evenly across paper. Watercolorists have relied on gum arabic for centuries to enhance the natural binding properties already present in watercolor paint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDaler-Rowney's solution works immediately upon mixing, add drops gradually to achieve precise control over transparency levels. The medium increases surface gloss, creating richer darks and more vibrant mid-tones without altering hue. Thin with water to adjust consistency for different techniques, from delicate glazes to bold washes. Particularly effective for botanical illustration and detailed work where luminous color matters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe solution remains water-soluble after drying, maintaining watercolor's rewetting properties. This lets you lift and adjust passages even after they've dried completely. Add to your palette when paintings need that extra depth, or when transparency matters more than opacity. Works across all watercolor brands and paper types.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Daler-Rowney","offers":[{"title":"2.5 oz. jar","offer_id":47973653250277,"sku":"55529","price":10.05,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s55529.jpg?v=1761685428"},{"product_id":"holbein-ox-gall-medium","title":"Ox-Gall Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eWatercolor beading on sized paper disrupts fluid washes and prevents smooth color transitions. Ox-gall medium eliminates this surface tension issue, allowing pigment to spread evenly across resistant papers without pooling or crawling. Just a few drops added to your water breaks down barriers that normally repel paint, transforming stubborn surfaces into receptive grounds for wet-into-wet techniques.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis traditional wetting agent proves essential when working on hot-pressed papers or surfaces treated with heavy sizing. Holbein formulates this medium to enhance flow without compromising pigment intensity or drying properties. The solution integrates seamlessly into your working methods, add it directly to rinse water for consistent results across an entire painting, or apply it locally to specific areas requiring extra flow control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWet-into-wet passages become more predictable and controllable with ox-gall in your water. Colors blend smoothly at their edges rather than creating hard lines or resisting contact. The medium also assists when layering washes over previous applications, helping subsequent layers settle evenly without disturbing dried pigment underneath. Botanical illustrators and landscape painters particularly value this control when rendering atmospheric effects or subtle gradations that demand flawless color merging.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Holbein","offers":[{"title":"60 ml","offer_id":47973750309093,"sku":"97160","price":13.2,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s97160.jpg?v=1761725175"},{"product_id":"holbein-iridescent-medium","title":"Iridescent Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eIridescent effects demand precise particle suspension, too heavy and pigments sink, too thin and they separate. Holbein formulates this medium to maintain even distribution of light-reflecting particles throughout watercolor applications, creating consistent pearl and metallic sheens that remain stable as paint dries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMix it directly with watercolors to transform standard pigments into shimmering variations, or apply it as a final glaze over dried passages to add dimensional highlights. The medium maintains watercolor's characteristic flow and blending properties while introducing optical effects that shift with viewing angle. Particularly effective for atmospheric elements like water surfaces, celestial subjects, or decorative details where subtle light play enhances depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtist-grade formulation ensures compatibility across watercolor brands without compromising paint behavior or causing separation issues that plague lesser iridescent additives. The medium integrates smoothly whether you're working wet-into-wet or building layered glazes, giving you control over effect intensity through concentration ratios. Botanical illustrators use it for dew effects and insect wings; landscape painters apply it to capture light on water. Results remain lightfast and won't yellow or crack as the painting ages.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Holbein","offers":[{"title":"60 ml","offer_id":47974045024485,"sku":"97159","price":21.56,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s97159.jpg?v=1770299704"},{"product_id":"winsor-and-newton-water-colour-granulation-medium","title":"Water Colour Granulation Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eSmooth, even washes serve most watercolor work perfectly well, until you need texture. Winsor \u0026amp; Newton's Granulation Medium transforms fluid colors into mottled, textured passages where pigment settles into visible patterns across the paper surface. Colors that typically flow smooth suddenly develop character and visual interest, while pigments that already granulate naturally intensify their effect when mixed with this medium.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe medium works by altering how pigment particles disperse and settle during drying. Instead of maintaining even suspension, particles cluster and separate, creating the distinctive granular appearance that suggests aged stone, weathered surfaces, or organic textures. You control the intensity by adjusting the medium-to-paint ratio: subtle amounts produce gentle mottling, while higher proportions create dramatic separation effects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis approach proves particularly effective for landscapes requiring atmospheric depth, where granulated skies or distant mountains benefit from the visual texture. Portrait painters use controlled granulation to suggest skin texture or fabric weave without laborious brushwork. Mix the medium directly into your paint or apply it to pre-wetted paper before laying color. Either method produces granulation, though direct mixing offers more predictable control over the final effect.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winsor \u0026 Newton","offers":[{"title":"75 ml","offer_id":47974354321637,"sku":"50251","price":8.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s50251.jpg?v=1770306552"},{"product_id":"winsor-and-newton-water-colour-iridescent-medium","title":"Water Colour Iridescent Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eWatercolor's luminous transparency meets metallic shimmer in this dual-purpose medium. Mix it directly into wet paint to create lighter, pearlescent tones, the kind of ethereal quality perfect for moonlit water, fish scales, or fairy-tale atmospheres. The iridescent particles disperse through the pigment, creating an integrated shimmer that catches light while softening the original hue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApplied over dry watercolor, it behaves completely differently. This top layer adds pure metallic sheen without altering your carefully mixed colors underneath. Your composition stays intact, you're simply adding light-catching dimension where you want it. This approach works beautifully for selective highlights: the edge of a wave, architectural details, jewelry in a portrait.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe effect reads as glittery sparkle rather than smooth metallic sheen, so it suits magical or decorative subjects better than strictly realistic work. Winsor \u0026amp; Newton formulates this medium to maintain watercolor's essential character while introducing effects traditional watercolor can't achieve. Use it subtly for sophisticated shimmer or build it up for dramatic, light-catching passages that transform under changing viewing angles.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winsor \u0026 Newton","offers":[{"title":"75 ml","offer_id":47974358089957,"sku":"37216","price":8.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s37216.jpg?v=1770306569"},{"product_id":"winsor-and-newton-water-colour-lifting-preparation-medium","title":"Water Colour Lifting Preparation Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eWinsor \u0026amp; Newton's Lifting Preparation transforms watercolor paper into a more forgiving surface before you ever touch brush to pigment. Apply this medium to dry paper and let it cure completely, it creates an invisible barrier that prevents colors from bonding permanently with paper fibers. This changes everything about how staining pigments behave; colors that typically resist lifting suddenly become workable again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe preparation proves especially valuable when working with notoriously stubborn stains like phthalo blue or alizarin crimson. Once dry, it remains completely transparent and doesn't alter paper texture or color flow during painting. Paint behaves normally across treated surfaces, maintaining proper wash characteristics and edge formation. The difference becomes apparent during corrections: a damp brush or sponge lifts pigment cleanly, revealing white paper beneath rather than leaving residual stains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsider treating entire sheets before beginning complex compositions where you'll need flexibility to adjust values and shapes. The medium works equally well applied to specific areas where you anticipate needing corrections, skies where you might want to lift clouds, or backgrounds requiring negative space recovery. This preparation gives you the freedom to paint boldly with staining colors while maintaining the correction possibilities typically reserved for non-staining pigments.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winsor \u0026 Newton","offers":[{"title":"2.5 oz.","offer_id":47974358352101,"sku":"67840","price":8.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s67840.jpg?v=1770306577"},{"product_id":"winsor-and-newton-water-colour-ox-gall-liquid-medium","title":"Water Colour Ox Gall Liquid Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eStubborn paper surfaces that repel watercolor washes respond to ox gall's natural surfactant properties. This traditional medium reduces surface tension between pigment and paper, allowing colors to flow smoothly across heavily sized supports that would otherwise bead and resist. Mix it directly into your paint for improved flow and more even coverage, particularly useful when working with staining pigments or achieving gradual washes across large areas.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe liquid format integrates easily into your working palette. Add a drop or two to stubborn colors that won't spread properly, or dilute it with water to pre-treat resistant paper surfaces before painting. Winsor \u0026amp; Newton formulates this medium from purified ox gall, maintaining the effectiveness of this centuries-old solution without the inconsistency of raw bile. The controlled formulation delivers predictable results, you'll know exactly how much to use once you establish your preferred dilution ratio.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProfessional watercolorists keep this medium on hand for problem-solving: breaking surface tension on hot-pressed papers, encouraging difficult pigments to flow, or creating more controlled wet-in-wet effects. A small bottle lasts through numerous paintings since effective dilution requires only minimal amounts.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winsor \u0026 Newton","offers":[{"title":"75 ml","offer_id":47974358647013,"sku":"55388","price":12.73,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s55388.jpg?v=1770306586"},{"product_id":"winsor-and-newton-water-colour-texture-medium","title":"Water Colour Texture Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eFine particles suspended in this medium transform flat watercolor passages into dimensional surfaces. Mix Texture Medium directly with your paints before application, or brush it onto dry paper as a foundation layer, either approach creates tooth that catches and holds subsequent washes differently than smooth paper. The particles remain visible once dry, adding physical depth that enhances botanical textures, weathered surfaces, or abstract passages where visual interest matters as much as color.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinsor \u0026amp; Newton formulates this medium to maintain watercolor's essential transparency while introducing tactile quality. It doesn't muddy pigments or create chalky passages; instead, it provides structure that light can still penetrate. The medium dries with subtle grain that becomes more pronounced under raking light, adding dimensionality without overwhelming delicate color relationships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApply it selectively where texture serves your image, rough tree bark, fabric weave, architectural stone, rather than coating entire sheets. It works particularly well in combination with granulating pigments, amplifying their natural settling patterns. The medium extends drying time slightly, giving you additional working time for wet-in-wet techniques on textured grounds. Compatible with all watercolor techniques including lifting, glazing, and masking fluid application over dried textured areas.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winsor \u0026 Newton","offers":[{"title":"75 ml","offer_id":47974359367909,"sku":"88810","price":8.25,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s88810.jpg?v=1770306613"},{"product_id":"holbein-watercolor-medium","title":"Watercolor Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eHolbein's watercolor medium transforms paint handling without diluting pigment strength. Where plain water thins both consistency and color intensity, this formulation maintains chromatic power while increasing flow across paper. Brushstrokes glide more smoothly, wet-into-wet passages blend with greater control, and fine detail work becomes notably easier as the medium reduces surface tension.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chemistry matters here: this isn't just glycerin or gum arabic, Holbein engineered this medium specifically to complement their watercolor formulations. Mix it directly into paint on your palette or thin washes on the paper itself. You'll notice improved workability immediately, particularly when building transparent glazes or attempting techniques that demand extended open time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBotanical illustrators appreciate how the medium enables crisp edges and precise detail without fighting against quick-drying paint. Loose, expressive painters find it facilitates the fluid passages and soft transitions that define their style. The 60ml bottle provides substantial volume for regular use, enough to influence your painting practice without constant replacement. Whether you're refining technique or pushing watercolor into less conventional territory, this medium expands what's possible with the paints you already own.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Holbein","offers":[{"title":"60 ml","offer_id":47974367625445,"sku":"97158","price":11.06,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s97158.jpg?v=1770307203"},{"product_id":"schmincke-ready-to-use-binders","title":"Ready-to-use Binders","description":"\u003cp\u003eWatercolor and gouache binders dry wipe-resistant while remaining resoluble for traditional techniques; linoprint binder delivers the body needed for relief printing; acrylic binder forms a permanent, water-resistant film; oil binder maintains flexibility without yellowing over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe formulations work seamlessly with Schmincke pigments, eliminating the guesswork of compatibility. All binders thin with water during mixing, simplifying cleanup and adjustment. You control everything else, pigment load for transparency or opacity, texture from smooth to granular, color intensity from subtle tints to saturated darks. This approach suits artists who want specific color properties unavailable in commercial paints, conservators matching historical formulations, or anyone interested in understanding paint construction from the ground up. Shake thoroughly before use to ensure even consistency throughout the bottle.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Schmincke","offers":[{"title":"oil binder \/ 200 ml","offer_id":47977538584805,"sku":"90114","price":27.16,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"watercolor binder \/ 200 ml","offer_id":47977538617573,"sku":"90160","price":27.16,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"gouache binder \/ 200 ml","offer_id":47977538650341,"sku":"90161","price":27.16,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"acrylic binder \/ 200 ml","offer_id":47977538683109,"sku":"90166","price":27.16,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"linoprint binder \/ 120 ml","offer_id":47977538715877,"sku":"90168","price":21.64,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s90114.jpg?v=1770338673"},{"product_id":"winsor-and-newton-aquapasto-water-colour-medium","title":"Aquapasto Water Colour Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eWatercolor doesn't naturally hold peaks and ridges, Aquapasto changes that. This translucent gel medium transforms fluid washes into paint that can be sculpted, building dimensional texture that stays put as it dries. Mix it directly with watercolor or gouache to reduce flow while maintaining workable consistency, creating everything from subtle surface variation to pronounced impasto effects that catch light like oil paint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gel integrates seamlessly without compromising color intensity or transparency. You control the degree of texture by adjusting the ratio: more medium for pronounced peaks, less for gentle surface interest. It extends drying time slightly, giving you room to work the surface before it sets. Once dry, the medium remains flexible and won't crack or yellow over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWinsor \u0026amp; Newton formulated this specifically for water-based media, addressing the technical challenge of creating stable texture without the binders oil paint naturally provides. Apply it with palette knives for bold sculptural marks, or use stiff brushes to build varied surface texture that adds physical dimension to botanical studies, landscapes, or abstract compositions. The medium works equally well with transparent watercolors and opaque gouache, expanding textural possibilities beyond what water-based paint typically allows.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winsor \u0026 Newton","offers":[{"title":"60 ml","offer_id":48102328172773,"sku":"27248","price":20.78,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0726\/6890\/5701\/files\/s27248.jpg?v=1768586004"},{"product_id":"sennelier-gouache-binding-medium","title":"Gouache Binding Medium","description":"\u003cp\u003eDry pigments become workable gouache when you add this binding medium to your custom color mixes. Sennelier formulates this binder specifically for water-soluble applications, creating that characteristic matte, opaque finish gouache painters expect. The medium maintains proper viscosity and suspension, keeping pigment particles evenly distributed rather than settling or separating during storage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMix your own colors from scratch using Sennelier's dry pigments, controlling saturation and tint strength precisely. This matters when matching specific hues or creating custom palettes that commercial tubes don't offer. The water-soluble formula stays reworkable after drying; activate dried paint with a wet brush to lift, blend, or adjust passages without disturbing underlying layers. Particularly valuable for illustrators and designers who need exact color control or work with rare historical pigments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe medium binds pigment particles securely enough for permanent artwork while preserving gouache's essential working properties. Create paint batches sized to your actual needs rather than purchasing full tubes of colors you'll use sparingly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sennelier","offers":[{"title":"200 ml","offer_id":48405264269541,"sku":"50938","price":37.04,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]}],"url":"https:\/\/www.texasart.com\/collections\/watercolor-mediums.oembed","provider":"Texas Art Supply","version":"1.0","type":"link"}