Liquitex Glass Beads Textured Effects Medium 237mL

Liquitex Glass Beads Textured Effects Medium is a professional-grade, thick acrylic polymer gel containing actual glass microspheres suspended throughout. Unlike plastic bead alternatives, the glass spheres deliver a genuinely reflective, high-gloss, undulating finish that produces a distinctive bubble-like surface effect. The medium is certified non-toxic by the Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI), lightfast, permanent, non-yellowing and water-resistant when dry, ensuring archival quality results suitable for professional and senior art practice.

When applied thickly, the medium builds dramatic three-dimensional sculptural effects with a shimmering, reflective quality. When applied finely, it creates a subtly textured surface ground that catches and reflects light across its undulating contours. For the most striking reflective results, the medium works best when mixed with transparent or semi-opaque acrylic colours, allowing the light-catching properties of the glass spheres to interact with the translucency of the paint above them.

Students can use Liquitex Glass Beads Textured Effects Medium to explore surface texture, materiality and mixed media techniques in their studio practice. The medium extends the expressive possibilities of acrylic painting significantly, enabling the creation of tactile, multi-layered surfaces that engage the viewer both visually and physically. It is particularly effective for experimental, abstract and mixed media works where surface quality and material investigation are central to the artistic intent.

The medium is fully intermixable with all Liquitex products and can be applied with a palette knife or brush. It can be thinned with a small amount of distilled water if required, and once dry provides a stable, flexible ground that will not chip or crack on canvas. It can be overpainted with both acrylic and oil colour once fully dry, making it a highly versatile addition to any serious painting practice.

Suitable for secondary and senior art students, visual arts HSC programs and mixed media studio practice, Liquitex Glass Beads Textured Effects Medium is a professional, lab-tested formula that delivers exceptional textural and reflective effects with archival quality and reliability.

Liquitex Glass Beads Textured Effects Medium can be applied directly from the jar using a palette knife or stiff brush. Apply thickly for sculptural, three-dimensional texture and dramatic reflective effects, or thinly as a textured ground layer to be overpainted once dry. For reflective glazes, mix with Liquitex Gloss Medium and small amounts of Soft Body acrylic colour.

The medium can be mixed with transparent or semi-opaque acrylic colours for the most dramatic reflective results, or used on its own and overpainted with acrylics or oils once fully dry. It can be applied to canvas, paper, wood, board and any surface that accepts traditional acrylic media. If varnishing finished work, spray varnish is recommended as brush varnishing can cause clouding over the textured surface.