Gel medium is a clear liquid artists use to extend or add texture to acrylic paint, but it has lots of other uses and is indispensable for Art Journaling. Matte Gel medium dries with a soft texture that is easy to write on, so you can use it over any kind of a background or collage to make journaling on multi-media surfaces easier. You can also use it on any blank page to allow your pigments and paints to adhere better, while still allowing the page to show through.
As if that weren't enough, gel medium is a fabulous light glue for collage. I use Modge Podge too, for stubborn or thicker papers and I use sticky glue for photos or bumpy materials like ribbon or string or cardstock--but matte gel medium works on almost everything else.
After preparing a page with gelatos or crayons or shiny acrylic or metallic pastes, just swipe a generous amount of gel medium over the top with a sponge, large brush or-- if you are like me -- with your fingers! I'm always pulling pieces of dried gel off my fingers like a zombie bride, because I can't resist dipping into the pot and smearing it on. It feels like kindergarten in the best possible way!
Gel medium dries fast, but if you are in a hurry run your hair dryer or craft heat gun over it to hurry it along. You can get it in bottles or jars and they are equally useful, but do remember to use MATTE medium so you can write on it, after all that is the whole point!
There are just a few more Gesso Ground family members to meet -- next we will tackle molding paste and texture pastes. Then at the next Gesso family barbecue, you'll know everyone!