Blog

Safer, Cleaner, Smarter: Zest-It Mediums for...

September 11, 2025

Let's be honest - traditional solvents like turpentine or white spirit have never been anyone's favourite studio companions.  We all know how useful they are for oil painting, but the fumes, the headaches... is it worth it?

That's where Zest-It steps in, a leading innovator in eco-conscious art materials, their range of low odour mediums and additives prioritize safety above almost all else.  Enhancing artistic techniques with a zesty citrus twist, these amazing mediums make brush cleaning, blending and painting not only much safer & easier, but even more fun!

Whether you’re layering glowing oil glazes, blending coloured pencils into buttery smooth gradients, or rescuing brushes from dried masking fluid disasters, Zest-It has a solution that keeps your creativity flowing... all without the toxic cloud.

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Water-Mixable Oil Paint: A Solvent-Free Revolution

September 11, 2025

Water-mixable (or water-soluble) oil paints are a modern evolution of traditional oils.

Unlike conventional oils, which require harmful solvents like turpentine for thinning and cleanup, water-soluble oil paints are both non-toxic and specially engineered to be thinned and cleaned up with nothing but ordinary water.

A game-changer for health, safety, environmental impact and accessibility, whether you’re working a small studio, shared classroom or at home, water-mixable oils offer the same luxurious feel and rich texture of oil paints, all without exposing yourself or your workspace to hazardous chemicals or VOCs.

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The Ultimate Guide to Liquitex Professional...

September 09, 2025

Developed in collaboration with artists, the Liquitex Professional Brush range offers a versatile selection of specialist artist tools focused delivering quality, precision and durability whether you're painting tiny marks on canvas or bold, expressive strokes across a mural.

In this short guide, we’ll be exploring Liquitex Professional Brushes to understand just how these amazing professional tools function and how they can enhance your work.

So, join us as we break these down into several distinct, easily understandable categories; the Core Collection, the Large-Scale Series, and finally, Specialty Tools to discover the right brush for your next acrylic painting project!

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Liquitex Professional Acrylic Mediums: A Guide

September 05, 2025

When it comes to pushing the boundaries of acrylic painting, no one does it quite like Liquitex.  Since introducing the world to artists’ acrylics in 1955, they’ve been innovating on the concept to help creatives... well, create.

Made using the finest materials, Liquitex Professional Acrylic Mediums allow you to take a single paint & create an endless combination of outcomes whilst delivering stable, archival results.  What makes them a real game-changer is their ability to be intermixed with any other Liquitex paint, including the Basics, Heavy Body & even Acrylic Ink ranges!

In this short guide, we’ll go over examples from this impressive range, looking at their uses & exploring how they can elevate your masterpieces.

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Lino Printing: A Beginner’s Guide to Materials

September 04, 2025

Popular with fine art painters, crafters, hobbyists and, well... everyone... Lino printing is an easy-to-learn & difficult-to-master technique that perfectly combines simplicity with creative freedom. 

At their simplest, linocut printing techniques involve carefully carving a design into an appropriate material & using specialised inks to apply the pattern onto paper or fabric by hand or with a press for bold, infinitely repeatable patterns.

In this beginner’s guide, we’ll be visiting our Printmaking Materials to discover different lino printing surfaces, highlight some of the best lino printing tools around & discuss the difference between water-based and oil-based printing inks.

So, join us & begin your lino printing journey with confidence!

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A Hodge Podge of Mod Podge

August 19, 2025

First developed in 1956 by Harry Tabachnick, Mod Podge (short for "decoupage") is a water-based, non-toxic range of versatile 3-in-1 glues, sealers & finishes strong enough to bond wood, fabric, glass & more.  Available in several variations, their thick, creamy consistency applies smoothly, dries perfectly clear & is available in several different finishes.

Adored for it's creamy consistency, perfectly clear finish & versatility, Mod Podge was an immediate hit amongst crafters and decoupage enthusiasts.  As decoupage grew in popularity over time, so too did Mod Podge, with these incredible adhesives now available in over 65 countries.

Not content with creating one iconic craft material, Mod Podge has grown to include a variety of specially formulated varieties including Matte, Gloss, Glitter, Outdoor and more.  However, no matter what, the original all-in-one glue & sealer remains a beloved staple.

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GOLDEN GAC Polymers

August 18, 2025

In honour of our Medium MADNESS sale, we thought we would introduce everyone to the much-loved GAC Acrylic Polymer range of acrylic mediums from GOLDEN.

Standing for “Golden Acrylic Colours”, each GAC represents a unique polymer that offers specific attributes including extending paint, regulating transparency, creating glazes, increasing gloss, altering viscosity and even binding pigments for various effects (amongst others).

Unlike other GOLDEN Mediums, GAC Acrylic Polymers offer a thinner, more fluid application with a minimum amount of thickeners, levellers, defoamers and surfactants, ensuring good film formation.

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Discovering Pastels

August 15, 2025

Pastels are a versatile and vibrant medium cherished by artists for their rich pigmentation and tactile application.

From soft pastels that blend effortlessly to create dreamy, velvety textures, to the bold and precise strokes of oil pastels, each form offers unique qualities that inspire creativity.  Whether you're a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, understanding the distinct characteristics of soft, hard, oil, and pastel pencils opens a world of expressive possibilities.

So join us as we explore the diverse forms of pastels, their unique properties, and how they can elevate your artistic practice.

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Uni POSCA: The Nitty Gritty

August 13, 2025

We’ve spoken about POSCA markers fairly extensively in one way or another here on our blog (and for good reason!), so today, we’re bringing you... a reference guide.

So, come learn about the sizes, nibs, inks, materials, accessories and details involved with these impressive, versatile paint markers from Uni.

If you're looking to explore this range, we recommend bookmarking this one for future reference!

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