What is Acrylic?

What is Acrylic

If the smell of oil paints is harsh and unpleasant for you, and your love for pasty techniques and working with covering materials is invincible, it’s time to get acquainted with acrylic.

Acrylic is a synthetic paint based on polymers, water and pigments. In recent years, it has become widespread as an alternative to oil painting. The paint has a matte or glossy finish, does not crack when dry, while maintaining the shape of the stroke.

Important: when dry, acrylic paints darken slightly.

The paint fits perfectly on most surfaces: paper, canvas, wood, cardboard, plastic, glass. However, we do not recommend using it for painting products that are influenced by weather conditions – prolonged contact with the outside world can lead to damage to the picture. At the same time, the paint is sufficiently resistant to mechanical damage and is suitable for painting walls, furniture or interior decor items.
For sketches and small works, we recommend using special acrylic paper , which has a high density and often imitates the texture of the canvas.

Important: before applying to plastic, glass or metal, you should first degrease the surface.

In acrylic wide palette of colors, which, in combination with a large number of auxiliary tools, allows you to bring the most daring ideas to life. Manufacturers often produce ready-made shades that are very difficult to repeat on their own.

For example, using a textured paste or thickening medium , you can make a thick, dense mass for pasty images. In appearance, it may look like decorative plaster or wet sand, and depending on the medium, you can vary the resulting texture – make smooth or, conversely, porous paint strokes.

The choice of auxiliary fluids for acrylic is huge. You can always find something new for yourself.

Acrylic easy to use and dries very quickly – this should be taken into account when mixing paint on a palette. There are special drying retardants that increase the drying time of the paint up to 4-6 hours.

You can vary the consistency of the paint depending on the amount of added water or medium. It should be borne in mind that when diluted with a large amount of water, the paint becomes less covering. When diluted with a special medium in the correct proportion, this will not happen.

After drying, acrylic forms a plastic, smooth film. In case of incomplete drying of the paint layer, it can be easily washed off with warm water. When completely dry, this is possible only with the help of special solvents.

Despite the fact that acrylic is the “youngest” paint, it has already managed to gain a strong position among artists and illustrators. Juicy colors, versatility in use and ease of use only added to his admirers.

If you have not worked with this universal material before, we recommend that you pay your attention to it – follow the link and choose right now. Perhaps it is he who will take his rightful place among your favorites 🙂