Stopped by Michael's art and craft store to pick up some Liquitex Matte Medium - was put off by the price - 8 oz. was $9.50 (!)
Some folks mention matte medium as a good product to fix groundwork - but at that price, I'd rather use regular white glue.
Is matte medium that good a product for diorama work to justify the cost?

Peter

I tend to use gloss acrylic medium for sea scapes and water features. For groundwork, your costs would be too great. You could build up most of the ground and then apply a thin layer of medium over that as a finish coat. That would reduce the cost of the final diorama.

Don't use the Matte Medium for building up the ground work. Use it to put down the static grass and other ground cover. It will dry dead flat, so you don't have to fight with covering up the gloss spots you'll find from using white glue.

By the way, I use Elmer's wood glue for my ground work. It adheres to the wood base better and it is almost waterproof when dried.

PH

Matte medium is too expensive. I haven't bought any for a long time, (as it goes pretty far) but check out Woodland senics they have a great great product for ground work. Artistist materials are great to use but as an old art student I can tell you from personal experience that's why we are know as "starving artists", I share your outrage at the price!

Michaels Matte Medium is expensive...unless...

1. You use their 40 or 50% off coupon, which is in almost every Sunday paper. Plus I have neighbors that give me their 50% off coupons, too.
2. Remember, you thin it with water, so it goes twice as far.
3. Use it only where needed and white glue and water elsewhere.
4. Compare Liquitex to Golden for value.

Sealhead ((Kansas Sunflower)

I live between Yin and Yang. Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Lowes and Home Depot all within a mile. Two decent Hobby stores within a few miles. And, best of all, a great and understanding wife. Life is good... and then I glue in a part backwards...