Saturday, February 12, 2011

The Divas And Their Stories......


Well, you get a bunch of show-offs together and you know what is going to happen.....*sigh*
These are four gels I have that, quite frankly, are unique and really cannot be duplicated. I will start on the far right with the Large Gold Mica Flake.
It is exactly what it says; large, gold, flake.
A little goes a long way. In fact, I usually reduce it some with extra soft gloss gel, so there is not as much of the gold. It will spice up any mixed media, but use in small quantities. I can think of nothing that would look like this to add to a regular gel. Put it on your wish list.
Next to Goldie, we have Pearl. Pearl is much easier to deal with and an easy going personality. In fact, Pearl likes to go everywhere before you know it. It is an extremely soft gel, and is densely pigmented with very fine pearl flake. You'll love Pearl, but you'll love her better in small quantities...if you know what I mean! *ahem*
Our next candidate for Diva is the Clear Tar Gel. And honestly, the *tar* part is more accurate than *gel*. It is a bit like molasses in January in texture; it will pour, can be colored with paint (the actual dilution ratios are always on the containers) and makes a killer coloring for the inside of glass things, like tiny glass bottles. Add some blue, stir, coax into the little bottle, swirl around and when it dries, you have what looks like cobalt glass. Or pour in something as simple as a shell, and when dry, you have *water*. Amazing..... *CTG* is a straight shooter, just give her time to dry. A lot of time and low humidity! (I mean, humidity makes us all a little flustered, fuzzy and frizzy, right?)
And now, the Diva of Diva's; Crackle Paste. You cannot---I repeat---CAN NOT make this medium do anything other than what it is made to do and that is crackle, on it's own, with NO HELP in drying, and nominal humidity while in drying process. It is temperamental, demanding, must be sealed to stabilize, can be colored to a certain extent, but not as much as some of the others......so why should you buy this?
Because a beautifully finished crackled piece cannot be beat for pure age and texture. It is the crazed finish on you grandmother's china, it is the worn stucco on old buildings, it is plaster in the process of neglect. It is just plain amazing.
Be brave and submit yourself and your art to this demanding Diva. She is worth it. Bow low and read her instructions and prepare to be dazzled.
In all seriousness, it has taken me time to acquire the four above due to cost. If you want to try one, get the smallest container made, give it a whirl or if you have a friend who lives close and wants to split the cost, go that way. Don't be frivilous  with these; they're just too expensive to use once or twice and then set aside with the possibility of drying from not being used.
One tip; keep that inner foam seal that you have to pull off when they are new. Pop that in the top of the lid and that helps immensely in keeping them fresh.
Petroleum jelly, on the top of the bottle will make the lids easy to remove.
Keep dirty brushes or wet items out of the gels as that can affect the longevity of the product.
But use them.
And visit Golden's website for tons and tons of information on their absolutely amazing product line.
And no, they're not paying me to say that. (I wish they were....it's more like the other way around.....LOL!)
Thanks for following this along. Tomorrow I will post the one finished piece from the test samples, and you can see the possibilities.
Hey.....get gellin'!!!

Pax....

27 comments:

yoborobo said...

Morning, Anne! And thanks, I needed more art supplies to crave. LOL! I love the gel mediums that you made me, I mean, that you suggested I buy. I think the one I always grab is the heavy gel (semi gloss). That sucker is a workhorse. But now I want little Mica, and her friends Pearl, Tar and Crackle. Is it a fine crackle? I experimented the other day with craft glue and paint, and it made a lovely crackle, but it was bigger than I wanted. It reminded me of peeling barn paint. I think I am crackled. And finely. XOX! Pam

Elena said...

OH MY GOD I LOVE THIS!!! You are such a ball!

Karen S said...

I want these guys! Sooooo baaaddd... Yes, Golden should pay you -- or at least give you free product. And me too. And so should the thread and fabric companies -- we are sooooo good for their business...(sigh)...

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Pam,

You know when you come here you are entering the realm of a *bad influence*--right? (muh-hahahaha!!!)
Crackle paste develops in different sizes. If you spread it thinly on a surface (and it needs to be solid for it to really last, not flexible) you'll get a fine crackly. The heavier the application, the thicker the cracks and the larger the areas between....kinda like parched earth?
I knew you'd appreciate my descriptions and yes, I *made* you buy them....
It's my fault!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Ah, Elena....

I work hard at it.
What can I say????
SNARF!!!!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Karen,

Yes, they SHOULD pay me...someone should! LOL!!!
We all should get at least free samples and you should get fabric too! :-D
I'm good for everyone's business but my own.
Hmmmmmmm......

XXOO~~♥
Anne

audrey said...

Anne, what a wealth of info!! I thank you. Golden thanks you. I recently purchased a set of Golden product in the small containers. Have neglected to use them yet - wasn't exactly sure of them. How positively divine to have these detailed descriptions. ♥
You are the best!!!
♥ audrey

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Glad they helped Audrey. I think sometimes it is overwhelming getting the gels and then the state of *omg---what do I DO with them* hits.
It took me a good while to learn the uses of them, and I still have a long way to go.
I seldom use them in the traditional sense with paints; usually it is strictly for something in collage.
There is SO MUCH to learn and so many possibilities with the products.
Which is nice!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

GlorV1 said...

Oh thanks, I love the products. Helpful hints too. Have a great Valentine's Day! (and weekend)

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I am hoping for studio time this weekend Gloria, without a migraine.....oy.
I am sure anyone who has worked with Golden's would have their own take on the products and how they use them; this is just a jumping off point!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Georgina said...

Ok, lady, you have my attention!! Going to go to that site and check out these lovelies of yours. I'll be getting a few bucks from my mother and her only condition is that we, her children, spend it on ourselves...husbands, children, grandchildren, the homeless, churches, etc., are to see none of it...I think I can handle that!! LOL So I shall invest in the above mentioned gels.

As for for humidity, we don't have to worry about that in these parts right now, we have none!! I agree with you on keeping those little foam seals...I use this glossy/glassy finish on my work and I learned the hard way about not keeping it clean and maintaining that little foam seal. It too is a bit pricey and I realized last summer, the one where I went to hell and back, I lost a brand new jar due to my throwing away that little padded lid...our excessive heat, and that's in my house, dried it up something awful. I thought I should give it a funeral since the damn thing cost me some coin!! LOL

Well, I'm enjoying reading your other posts now that I'm kinda-sorta back from lunch!! Have a great week.

Loves ya,
G

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I so hear you on keeping foam seals. I cannot remember what it was that I pitched it and WHAMMO--it was dry before I knew it. It was not a gel, something else. Since then, I have kept the foil seals half way on gesso (just pull it open enough to get it out and then fold it back down) and the foam seals in any container.
And yes, some items are so pricey, they DO deserve a funeral! LOL!!!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Bella Sinclair said...

Hey, that's my line. "I'm shiny!"

xox

Anna Rosa Designs said...

Hi Anne,
Gosh honey, Oh sooo many hearts~what great posts and tutorials you've been giving here!
How wonderful of you to share all your knowledge and expertise on these products and how you produce HEARTS.
Hearty hugs,
Anna

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Bella,

And spangly too!!! :-D

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Anna,

I have only shared a bit of what the products will do~~there is so much more with each one.
I hope people will read about them before making a blind purchase---see what really meets the immediate need and buy accordingly. Get to know it, then buy another.
They are fun!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Silke Powers said...

OMG, can you believe that I have NONE of those! NONE!!! That must be a mistake... I do have black mica flake and love it - sparingly. Good to know that there are more supplies to want to covet! Just like with yarn... Oh, how lucky we are!!! Love, Silke

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I would like to have considered these posts educational, but really, I think I am a bad influence! hahaha!
Art supplies and yarn; the downfall of us all!
You would enjoy these, I think....

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Unknown said...

Oh love your post. I see so many things in the stores or online and wonder what they are used for and what they are like. Just love to find out ahead of buying them. Thanks a bunch for the extra tips too - good ones!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Glad it is of help--there are still a lot I have not tried; I have the digital grounds and have not had time to runt hem through the mill (or printer to be exact!) but I see potential there.
I wonder if I could run gutter flashing through the printer??? Hmmmmmm......

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Anonymous said...

Great stuff all, but oooh so many $$$$. I cringe every time I have to buy
soft gel or some liquid acrylics, but Golden is the best, you are so right! Gold mica - oooooooh. xox corrine

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I used to Corrine. But when I look at the quality of product and how dependable they are, I have quit my whining. (well, about THAT...hahaha!)
I cannot imagine doing the work I do without their products.
You *NEED* some of the large flake gold mica!!!!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

Ces Adorio said...

I want to be Shiny! However, at my age, I am crackle. Oh dear lord, this tutorial is turning you into an art supply fanatic!!! You are going to beat Manon and me in art supply hoarding!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Ces, I'm more on the crackled side too....but enough of the gold mica, and all those cracks will be filled in! LOL!!!
I don't hoard them, I actively USE them! It's just it seems each piece requires a little different application or gel.....

XXOO~~♥
Anne

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

I didn't even know these existed! Wow, they look like they'd be fun to play with.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Oh, believe me, they ARE fun to play with! Except the crackle, and it has to be put on and left alone; no poking prodding or trying to get it to hurry. (dang.....)
I like them all for totally different reasons!

XXOO~~♥
Anne

*Ulrike* said...

Glad you posted this as I do have one of those jars.....somewhere...sigh, it's been a lazy winter!

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