Acrylic painting is currently one of the most popular painting techniques. Its special attraction lies in the fact that acrylic colours stand out due to their brilliancy, a velvety gloss and the fact that they are lightfast and resistant to ageing. The artist’s creativity knows no bounds as the colours are easy to handle. Pigment can be applied to acrylic papers thinly to resemble watercolour or more thickly to resemble oil paint.
Acrylic paint is a fast drying paint containing pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer resin. It lends itself readily to glazing, painting to completion and texturing. Acrylic paint offers many advantages: it is virtually odourless, non-allergic and water-soluble. It is also quick-drying as the water is extracted and can therefore be easily painted over. The drying process is irreversible, i.e. once the paint is dry it cannot be removed with water. It has a matte to semi matte sheen but glossy surfaces can also be produced by applying a finish.
The consistency of acrylic paint is relatively viscous, it can be used directly from the tube without adding water or it can be thinned with a lot of water and used for watercolour.
A further painting technique is the combination of acrylic and oil paints. First of all a base or background is applied using acrylic paint. Once this has dried the actual picture is painted using oil paints. The major advantage of acrylic paints is that you can prime almost any type of paper to accept oil paints. Experts for example use finely structured watercolour painting bases and prime them 1-2 times with white acrylic paint thereby achieving an attractive oil paint proof base once it has dried.
Brushes (synthetic brushes) and tools should not be left to dry out as acrylic paint cannot be removed once it has dried. Soap and water are sufficient to clean the brushes and tools.
Recommended Paper
Ideally: specially developed Hahnemühle acrylic paint board 360 gsm and 450 gsm. Structured watercolour surfaces as well as the heavy Hahnemühle watercolour boards such as “Cornwall” 450 gsm and “Leonardo” 600 gsm are often used.
