Acrylics, because they are water-based, can be thinned with water to create transparent washes. But the pigments don’t tend to adhere very well once this is done, which is where glazing media come in.

Q: I am just back from a long-planned trip to France and spent a week in the breathtaking countryside of Provence. I’m painting my bedroom to look like the ancient walls in the villa we stayed in. Do ...