A glaze is a thin transparent layer of color, used to create the effect of depth when brushed over an opaque undercoating on a painting. Glazes can also be used to simulate color banding in faux wood finishes as well as layer effects in faux stone coatings. Glazes are usually transparent or semi transparent mixtures of watercolor, or acrylic color added as a tint to a clear acrylic varnish. Glazes can also be made from thin semi transparent layers of oil paints.
For faux techniques in miniature, glazes can be used to mimic depth. A small, semi transparent layers of fine mica pigments can be overlayed on a colored ground to mimic crystalline structure in 'miniature' granite or marble for example. They can also be used to simulate deep polished finishes on faux wood (see the faux mahogany example
Thin layers of colored glaze are often used to 'age' or add a patina to classic furniture finishes. You can see examples of glazes dry brushed on a ground for these Classic Furniture Finishes.
