13 basic facts about acrylic painting
1. It is less than a century old. The first type of acrylic paint to become commercially available was polymer-based house paint, which became available in the 1940s.
2. It was only in the 1950s that acrylics became commercially available. After that, they took off in popularity and have remained a top choice for many artists ever since, thanks in part to their sheer versatility.
3. Acrylic paint has many characteristics of its own, yet it can be easily manipulated to look like oil painting or watercolor. Many artists therefore use this type of paint as a substitute for oils or watercolours.
4. Acrylic paint consists of a pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion binder. The pigment is the material that gives the paint its color, and the binder is what holds the pigment together with the emulsion.
5. Painting with acrylics gives your work a sharp, clear and bold effect. It’s a good option if you want a painting that looks really realistic.
6. Acrylic paint tends to dry fairly quickly, although you can add a retarder to the paint to slow down the drying process.
7. You can easily paint layers with acrylics, since the paint colors are permanent. You can paint one layer on top of another and the layer it was painted on won’t be visible at all.
8. Acrylic paint can be applied to a wide variety of surfaces. In addition to canvas, it can be applied to surfaces such as glass, wood, ceramics, plastic, cloth, metals, stones, cars, houses, and even cardboard.
9. There are lots of different mediums and substances like gels, sand, and rice that you can add to acrylics to give them all kinds of different textures. Many artists like to experiment by adding different things to the paint to see what effects they produce.
10. An acrylic paint that has dried completely has a tendency to attract dust; Once you’re done painting, you’ll want to add a coat of varnish to prevent dust buildup and damage.
11. If you have a lot of acrylic paint on your brushes or on your hands, all you need is soap and water to remove it.
12. One of the most famous artists to use and experiment with acrylics is Andy Warhol, known for pioneering the concept and movement of “Pop Art.” Many of his most recognizable and influential works, including Campbell’s soup cans, were completed in acrylics.
13. Acrylic paint is known for producing vibrant, strong, and solid colors. The paintings made in acrylic paint stand out and are usually very striking.
