In this one I’m answering a question that pops up when people are trying to take their painting to the next level: is glaze medium actually worth it, or is it basically a waste of money because “you can do that with water”? I put it to the test on our ever-present Stormcast Eternal, doing the same kind of micro-layer/glaze passes with glaze medium first, then switching to straight water so you can see the difference in how the paint behaves. What you’re really paying for with glaze medium is control and consistency. It keeps the pigment bound together so it doesn’t get as blotchy, it doesn’t tear and pull the same way water can, and it tends to sit where you put it. The tradeoff is speed—especially if the medium has retarder in it—because the dry time can feel like it’s chipping away at your sanity if you’re used to painting fast. My take: it’s a cool tool with specific uses, but it won’t magically make you better overnight. If you’re newer, I’d stick to one method for a while (water or medium) because they feel different, and bouncing between them can slow down building real skill. Where I’m most “pro-medium” is thinning contrast/speed/quick-style paints properly—there, medium is basically essential.