Acrylic Painting

The 50’s was when acrylics made their first commercial appearance. This fast-drying paint contains pigment that is suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. While it can be diluted with water, it is water-resistant when dry. Acrylics have become very popular with painters as it has its own characteristics that are not present in other media. Before the 20^th century, artists mixed their own paints so that they can control the colors and the viscosity of the paint that they use. This helps them ensure that their artwork will last longer and that they will achieve the appropriate shade that they need to paint. Depending on the dilution or modification of the paint, acrylic can resemble the finish of oil and watercolor.

Acrylic is very popular because of its ability to bond with other surfaces. Its range is also much wider than those of oil or watercolor. Since acrylic can be manipulated to build thick layers, acrylic paintings often have more depth and character than paintings created from other media. It was easy for painters to modify the appearance, hardness, flexibility, texture, and other characteristics of the paint surface whenever they use acrylic. Further, its binding characteristics can sometimes mimic features that are literally sculptural.