Oil paints and watercolours have been used as an art medium for centuries now, while acrylic paint being invented in the 20th century is a fairly new medium. It only became available on a commercial basis in the 1950's after a gentleman named Otto Rohm; a Doctor in fact, invented acrylic resin. This acrylic resin quickly developed into the paint form we know it as today. The paint itself was very soon adapted to become water-soluble allowing for artists to explore various techniques within the medium, as the paint may be thinned using water. Once dry though it is not possible to rehydrate any washes applied. Its water-soluble nature means acrylic brushes can be washed with water before the paint has had any time to dry. This helps in keeping the costs low, as no cleaning fluids, for instance turpentine, need to be used.
Acrylic paint can also be diluted as much or as little as preferred, for a budding artist this is perfect in keeping material costs low as the dilution means you are using less paint. If you dilute the paint a considerable amount it can be used much like watercolour paint, again this is great practise for a beginner exploring the versatility of art mediums. It is also handy to note that acrylic paint dries very rapidly indeed, normally in around 20 minutes or so, given the surrounding environment. So the medium itself is not for everyone especially those who like to take considerable amounts of time over their work. On the other hand the drying time is favourable when building up paint layers and is also great if you enjoy working quickly. Another important factor to bear in mind when actually utilising acrylic paint is that it does darken upon drying so it is important to consider this when mixing colours.
In general most surfaces will suffice when it comes to using acrylic paint. Although it does adhere well to surfaces with a hint of texture and for best results artists usually prefer to stick to this method. Hardboard, canvas and textured paper are considered good options and there are many variations available for amateur and professional painters. Obviously another item to consider is the brush you will use to create your work of art. Brushes are available specific to acrylic paint and it is usually advisable to choose these options when working with that medium. Acrylic brushes are typically firmer in comparison to say watercolour brushes, and they tend to be made up of synthetic fibres rather than horse hair. It is recommended to have a general brush and a fine detail brush when you initially delve into the world of acrylic paint as this will give the best results.
iArtSupplies are established suppliers of high quality acrylic paint and other art materials.
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