Golden Wetting Aid improves the staining and wetting nature of acrylic paints. It is a surfactant – a concentrated surface-active liquid which reduces surface tension, thus improving wetting and increasing the flow of acrylic waterborne paints.
A surfactant is used several ways in acrylic paint making. Surfactants are used to “wet out” pigments to ease their introduction into an acrylic resin, medium or gel. They can also be added to thinner paint mixtures, such as stains, to help reduce surface tension.
Wetting Aid is very useful for staining techniques, as it dramatically reduces the surface tension between the stain (paint/water) and the support. Certain supports, especially raw canvas, are inherently water repelling in nature and require the use of such a surface-active agent to allow the stain to wet and penetrate into the support. Wetting Agent can also be used to “balance” acrylic paints for marbleising techniques.
Adding Wetting Agent to Paint Mixtures
Always pre-dilute Wetting Aid before adding to a paint mixture. This product is a powerful surfactant, and we recommend adding minimum amounts to a mixture and increasing levels gradually. Always try to use the least amount require to achieve the desired effect.
WARNING: EYE IRRITANT. INHALATION OF SPRAY MIST HARMFUL. DO NOT SPRAY APPLY.
About Golden Mediums
Golden offer the widest range of mediums for acrylic painting. Their range includes gels, additives and effect pastes, which allows you to choose whatever qualities you desire for your acrylic painting: luminous glazes, gritty opaque structures, string effects, glassy areas or variable drying times. This expansive range gives rise to inspiring possibilities that allow you to do very unusual things. Whatever your needs, our Golden range has you covered.
(Formerly called Golden Acrylic Flow Release)