#115 MASTER CLASS — EXPLORING ACRYLIC MEDIUMS
In this practical Master Class, Assistant Coach Tom Hlas cuts through the overwhelm and shows you what actually matters. Through clear demonstrations, Tom walks through gels, pastes, and mediums, showing how each one behaves, when to use it, and why. You’ll see how to build texture, create transparency, and expand what’s possible with acrylic paint, without overcomplicating your process. Grounded in Tom’s deep experience with materials, this class helps you make smarter choices in the studio and use mediums in ways that genuinely elevate your work.
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*Please note that guest presenters are not necessarily Academy members available for commenting.
Tom, thank you so much for sharing so many helpful tricks of the trade! Who knew there was such a wide range of diverse mediums???!!! I’m 78, been painting for years, and now I have an entirely new art vocabulary to navigate -thank you!
Tracy, thanks for your comments. Keep us posted in the Academy about how your new vocabulary shows up in your work. We’d love to see it!
Nice job Tom – super helpful and your covered a ton of creative options.
Thanks!
Fantastic teaching and learning opportunity. The only thing I would add would be examples of actual paintings using the various mediums…we viewed the “what” and some of the “how” and now for “in action.” Thank you so much for opening my eyes to this world of mediums, Tom.
Faith Evans, I’m so glad you liked the teaching. I see your point about examples of paintings. Maybe food for thought for a future Masterclass. Thanks!
Super helpful. Always have wanted all the information presented at one time. Would love a short tutorial on using gloss mediums for acrylic transfers.
Anissa Siegel, thanks so much. Perhaps a great idea for a future Masterclass. So glad you enjoyed my Masterclass. Keep exploring. Keep making your art!
Wow, Tom! What a great class and you did such a wonderful job of explaining the possibilities. I am excited to explore deeper and bloom bigger during our upcoming CVP!
Thanks so very much.
Joan McGibben, it sounds like you have a great adventure ahead of you, trying out some of the materials. Keep us posted in the Academy Facebook group.
Mind-blown!!! I had no idea the variety of mediums, pastes, gels, grounds, etc., and the amazing effects they create. Thank you for this enlightening tutorial!
Lisa Rouleau, thanks! There are a lot of materials available. Pick one or two and see how you can enhance your art with them.
Thank you for this really informative class Tom. Lots for me to experiment. The absorbent ground intrigues me. Had not heard of it before
Michelle Wilman, thanks! Go ahead and give absorbent ground a try and see how you like it, how it can add to your art adventure.
This was wonderful Tom! So many products out there, was enlightening to see the differences, the number of ways to use each one, thanks for your expertise and experiences & demo!
Nancy Scarzello, I’m thrilled you found the masterclass valuable. Go ahead and explore. Be sure to post about your explorations in the Academy Facebook group!
Nancy, thanks so much! I really appreciate your comments and hope you try some of the products you haven’t tried before. Have fun!
Very interesting and so helpful !!! This presentation was well organized and your demonstrations and examples made it easy to see the differences in all these products. I hope everyone watches this video. They certainly will learn something that they can use. All these different products , and how to use them, can be so confusing. But you definitely addressed both in this video. I really got a lot out of watching