Acrylic Paint - Arcy Art Original Oil Paintings Art Dictionary
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is a much faster drying paint compared to more traditional paints such as oil paint. Acrylic paint consists of pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion and although the paint can be diluted with water it becomes water-resistent when dry. It can also be modified with acrylic gels, mediums, and pastes to create different effects in the finished painting.
Acrylic paints were first available in the 1950's and were mineral spirit based paints, water based acrylic paints came later. Soon after water based acrylic binders were introduced as house paints, artists began to explore their potential for paintings.
Acrylic paints can be manipulated to be either gloss or matte as pigment amounts and particle size can alter the paint sheen. Matting agents can be used to dull the finish of the acrylic paint and topcoats can be applied to alter the sheen of the paint. Water or other mild solvents cannot remove acrylic paint when it is dry, toluene and acetone must be used to remove acrylic paint.
Acrylic paint appear more stable than oil paints. Whereas oil paints normally turn yellow as they age, acrylic paints, at least in the 50 years since invention, do not yellow, crack, or change.
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