Acrylic paint

Red acrylic paint

Fluorescent acrylic paints lit by UV light. Paintings by Beo Beyond

Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint containing pigment in an acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but are water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint is diluted (with water) or modified with acrylic gels, media, or pastes, the finished acrylic painting can resemble a watercolor or an oil painting, or have its own unique appearance.

Acrylic paint can give a much brighter, more vivid colour than oil paints. It has been much used in modern art, and is cheaper than oil paint, which is rather an expensive material. When dry, acrylic paint usually cannot be removed from a solid surface.

The Drying time of Acrylic Paints. Galeria Acrylic: Thin color films dry in 10 to 20 minutes, whereas more significant films might take an hour or more to dry. Professional Acrylic: Thin coats dry in 20 to 30 minutes, but more significant layers might take an hour or two.

History

In 1934, a German chemical company created acrylic resin. It was first used in the 1940s. Acrylics were commercially available as paint for artists in the 1950s. Later, many advances were made to acrylic paint as more and more people began using it.

Acrylic Paint Media

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  Example of acrylics applied over another color

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  Experimental pictures with "floating" acrylic paint

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  Detail of acrylic painting showing finishes that resemble both oil and watercolor

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  Example of blending technique with acrylics. Painting on wooden panel.

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  A demonstration of blending with acrylic paint. No retarders were used.