Acrylic Paints

For hundreds of years, artists’ paints were made from natural binders like linseed oil, egg, casein, and gum arabic. The property of each binder presented limitations or restrictions. In essence, characteristics associated with each type of paint were dictated more by the binder than the artist, forcing the artist to work, more or less, in traditional ways. All that changed in the 1950s with the invention of polymer or “plastic,” which was configured to be used as a binder for paint.

The unique characteristics of polymer resin binders have given artists:

Adaptability: When used straight from the tube, acrylics have the feel and response of oil colors. They may be thinned with up to 20 percent water and used to create watercolor-like washes and still retain their basic qualities. They can be applied thickly in layers as an impasto. Impasto is much like spreading frosting on a cake with a spatula. They can be used for underpainting and over-glazing.

Creative versatility: This is what makes acrylics extremely popular. Collage techniques and adhesion of objects, integration of texture and built-up relief add dimension and sculptural aspects to acrylic paintings.

Quick drying time: Relative drying time is dependent on thickness of the paint, and the amount of water or other additives; acrylics may dry to the touch in as little as 20 minutes. While thickness of paint (as well as humidity and temperature) affect drying time, acrylic paintings dry much faster than oil paintings.

Yielding: The flexibility of polymer emulsion allows acrylic to be used on a wide range of supports from wood, canvas, cloth and fabrics, to metals, leather and other plastics. Acrylics adhere to almost any non-greasy, non-oily surface.

Longevity: Acrylics have proven to be reliable. The emulsion does not yellow or become brittle with age. High-quality, light-fast pigments are used for artists’ grade acrylics as for other painting mediums.

Insolubility: After acrylics have dried, they are insoluble in water.

Easy clean up: Acrylics clean up easily with water, as long as the paint is still moist. No solvents are needed.