Matisse Mediums Kit Matisse Mediums are designed to work in conjunction with the Matisse Flow and Structure Acrylic paints to create a highly versatile painting system. The mediums in the kit were specifically selected for maximum flexibility and usefulness to acrylic artists who will find endless new creative possibilities for their artwork. Matisse Mediums Kit contains 5 x 75ml tubes (MM2 Impasto Medium, MM3 Surface Tension Breaker, MM4 Gel Medium, MM7 Polymer Gloss Varnish, MM31 Open Medium). Kit Contains: MM2 Impasto Medium is a full-bodied texture paste and modelling compound. It may be thought of as a "heavy-bodied paint", free of colour pigmentation (however, it is not clear). This medium dries to a low subdued sheen which is similar to the sheen on a dried paint film of Matisse Colours and it is equally water-resistant. MM2 Impasto Medium allows for free intermixing with the Matisse Colours in any proportion. There is very little visual colour loss when, up to equal volumes of a Matisse Colour and MM2 Impasto Medium, are intermixed. The presence of MM2 Impasto Medium on the canvas does not increase or lower the gloss rate of the finished painting, nor does it cause any light reflection distortion. Although MM2 Impasto Medium is not fully transparent when dry, it will not alter the richness of Matisse Colours in any substantial way. MM3 Surface Tension Breaker is a dispersant and is used to break down the surface tension of the acrylic paints. It acts as a powerful penetrating agent. It is also known as "watercolour medium" or "flow medium". Used correctly, it will make Matisse paint more "runny" by increasing its flow properties. Its presence within a water and paint mixture will greatly facilitate colour penetration into absorbent paper or fabric grounds, e.g. raw canvas. It is a very valuable additive in stain painting techniques and water wash applications when working on hand-pressed watercolour paper or absorbent, bleached but unprimed canvas. For correct results, MM3 Surface Tension Breaker is always pre-diluted with the quantity of water to be used for thinning the paint. It is wise to prepare a stock jar of water with 5-10% MM3 Surface Tension Breaker and use this water for the overall painting. MM4 GEl Medium The purpose of the MM4 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. MM7 Polymer Gloss Varnish & Medium serves both as a gloss finishing varnish and as a glossy additive to the paint. The use of this varnish will help maintain colour intensity with a gloss finish comparable to that of oil paintings. Mixed with Matisse Colours, it increases gloss and flow characteristics. Used as a finishing varnish, it produces a strong, protective, tack-free, clear film. Pictures treated with MM7 Polymer Gloss Varnish will look like work done with oil paints or shiny enamel. MM7 Polymer Gloss Varnish and MM6 Polymer Matt Varnish are freely intermixable to achieve a semi-gloss or satin finish. MM7 dries completely clear, is non-yellowing and it will remain totally flexible. Polymer water-based varnishes may appear to be slightly hazy whilst in solution. This is an optical effect produced by light refraction of acrylic particles suspended within the water-based medium. The effect disappears when the film is dry. MM31 Open Medium is formulated to be mixed with either Matisse Structure or Matisse Flow acrylic colours to assist in prolonging drying time while maintaining the consistency of the paint. When mixed with Matisse Structure, they will retain their impasto quality, while Matisse Flow Acrylics will keep their smooth flowing feel with added body but not viscosity. Optimal for painting outdoors or in particularly hot weather, MM31 Open Medium allows the paint to be blended on the painting surface for longer. Artists will be delighted with the way this medium makes their paint handle, so smooth and buttery. Be surprised by the glowing satin finish that this medium imparts to the paints.
