Last updated on October 15th, 2020 at 10:12 pm
I’ll just tell you, my favorite art glue for mixed media is:
Mod Podge!
(Let’s not beat around the bush, here).
When you start doing mixed media art, you quickly realize that the glue you use to stick your “stuff” down to your surface is almost as important as the stuff itself.
Why?
Well, you’ve never been more frustrated than when you use a glue that causes your paper to bubble or scrunch up and look awful, or causes the stuff you’re trying to stick down to fall off after it dries. It’s a waste of time and it can honestly ruin your artwork.
I’ve found that my favorite art glue for sticking any kind of paper to my artwork is good old Mod Podge, the craft glue. I actually have another “glue” for sticking down heavier 3D objects such as buttons, trinkets, metal pieces, etc., which I will discuss down below. Since it’s technically not a “glue,” I can’t say it’s my favorite, but I couldn’t do my mixed media works without it, so I think it’s very important to mention!
First, I’ll tell you why I think Mod Podge is the best glue for my purposes, and then I’ll talk about my other favorite “glue.”
My Favorite Art Glue: Mod Podge
If you’ve never heard of Mod Podge, it is a waterbased sealer, glue and finish. It can be found in the arts and crafts section of stores like Walmart, and in all the hobby stores I’ve been in. There are several types of it available now (matte, gloss, sparkle, etc.) but I prefer the basic matte finish. It is non-toxic and comes in several different sizes of screw top jars.
Why I Love Mod Podge
I discovered that Mod Podge and I would become besties back when I was learning scrapbooking/collage art. I had been using “fluid medium,” which is a clear liquid you can use with acrylic paints. Using medium to glue things down seemed like a good idea until I tried it. I discovered that the paper I was trying to glue would dry imperfectly: it would get bubbles or folds as it dried that were nearly impossible to fix.
So frustrating.
I decided to try Mod Podge one day because I had run out of medium. As Mod Podge dried, it pulled the paper down to the surface, making it smooth, even if there were a few parts that weren’t flat before drying.
It works even better if you go over the paper you’re gluing down with an old credit or gift card or roller. I had done this when I used medium but found it still didn’t remove all those little air gaps. Since Mod Podge sucks the paper to the surface in the drying process, this eliminated the problem of parts of my paper not sticking!
Mod Podge Plays Well With Other Mediums
Another important consideration when doing mixed media art is to be sure the paint or substance you put on top of the layer before it will actually stick to that layer. I’ve found over the years that most anything I put over Mod Podge will not repel from it. Sometimes, I might have to do more than one layer of what I’m using but I’ve never run into a problem with my layers pulling up or acting weird on top of Mod Podge.
If you do have an issue, one trick you can use if you don’t need the layer to be completely “clear” is to put a very thin layer of gesso over the Mod Podge, and this will help whatever you’re using to adhere better.
I wouldn’t recommend regular Elmer’s glue or other school glues simply because I personally don’t think they work as well. Feel free to experiment, however, based on the look you’re trying to achieve!
And now, for my other favorite art glue:
Favorite Art Glue for 3D Items: Liquitex Matte Super Heavy Gel
This is what I use exclusively to stick down any 3D object to my surface. This is a super thick paste that dries completely clear. You don’t get that filmy white look around your objects. After I stick down an object (bead, jewelry, stone, etc.) I like to sprinkle glitter over it. The glitter will stick to the gel but not anything else! So after it’s completely dried, brush the excess glitter away and what is left masks the clear gel.
Of course, you don’t have to do your art the same way. But using the matte super heavy gel has never let me down. I highly recommend it if you are needing to attach 3D objects to a flat surface.
Using Super Heavy Gel for Mixed Media Art
If you want to try the super heavy gel, make sure you read the label carefully before buying. There are several products that look alike. There is a glossy super heavy gel. You might want to pick it if you are okay with the gel being seen and want it to have some gloss to it. There are also just regular “gloss gel” or “matte gel,” like in the photo above. You can see the super heavy and gloss gel side by side look very similar, but-
Don’t be fooled! The regular gel is not as thick and I’ve found doesn’t work like the super heavy does. The super heavy is incredibly textured and can be molded with a palette knife or brush into the right shape for the look you’re trying to achieve. You can also adhere fairly large items using the super heavy gel. They hold to the surface once the gel dries completely. The regular is less thick, so you don’t get the same effect, in my experience.
I would recommend either of these items if you are planning to do mixed media works that require you to glue down papers or 3D items. Let me know if you have any questions or if you have tried either and love it (or don’t). Also, if you have any other suggestions for great mixed media glues, I would love to hear them! Please comment below!
If you’re just getting started with Mixed Media Art, you might be interested in my articles on the best surfaces to use, and materials to use in mixed media art.
See you in the next article and in the meantime, have fun creating with mixed media!
Glue bottle photo credit: Photo by Scott Sanker on Unsplash
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Jaime, Thank you for taking the time to share your tips about gluing heavier objects for mixed media and about why Mod Podge works better than anything else for papers. I did a recent oil painting and used fancy origami paper to create a stained glass type halo for a saint. That seems to have opened a doorway for me to check out more mixed media! So, again, thanks and stay well!
So glad the information was helpful to you! Good luck with your mixed media, and your origami paper idea for stained glass in your painting is so creative!
I have a fine art oil based painting with thick oil paint on it and I want to glue some wood and metal pieces to it. What is the best glue to use so it will still be archival?
Hello!
One of the glues that is recommended as best for something that needs to be archival quality is called Lineco Neutral pH Adhesive. I have not used this personally (yet) but it is recommended by many artists and crafters for all kinds of projects ranging from gluing paper and canvas to gluing wood and metal. If you are needing something that will remain archival, I think this is a great pick. Reviews say it is non yellowing and dries clear. (It does come white in the bottle, but becomes clear as it dries). It is available on DickBlick.com for around $5, or on Amazon but it was a little more expensive there.
Jamie, thank you great tips. Will the thick gel work on heavy foil, cork and wire?
The wire is thin and weaved together and wondering if the glue would show up?
thank you
Gerrie
Hi Gerrie, I’m glad you found the tips useful. I have been using the thick gel for years on paintings that travel quite frequently with me to shows and art fairs and I have never had an item fall off. I have adhered items like jewelry, beads, metal pieces, etc. so some have been quite heavy. In my experience, it should have no issues attaching wire, foil or cork. Now, I will say that depending on how you apply the gel, it might be seen a little. It does dry clear, and it depends on the background you have how it shows up. You can also paint or apply another media to the gel to “disguise” it, but if you don’t want to do that, I would only apply the gel directly under the item and use something like a palette knife or toothpick to scrape away any excess gel. This will minimize it the most so it wouldn’t be seen. Your best bet, if you can, is to do a little experiment on a non-important surface. Apply some gel and some extra of the item you want to adhere. Let it dry and see what you think about the appearance. You could then try disguising with paint, scraping the excess, or even using the matte gel if you don’t like how shiny it dries to see what you think before you apply it to your actual artwork. Good luck and let me know if you have any further questions!
Hey! You saved me! I haven’t done mixed media art in like 17 years and when I did I just experimented through trial and error! The glue I mostly used was E6000. Not that I’m starting to create in this way again, I decided to google it your article was first! And very inspiring! I’m excited to try both modgepodge and the liquitex!
I’m so glad to hear the information was helpful to you! Let me know how it goes with trying the glues, and good luck with your mixed media projects. Also, if you have any questions about products or techniques, feel free to reach out!
Love Mod Podge! I still remember my mom teaching me to use it for collages when I was a little girl. It holds up.
Thanks for the tip about the gel!
You’re welcome! Yes, Mod Podge is a superstar!