Acrylic
Painting
There are different mediums for painters to work in and
choosing one is usually based on the effect the artist wants to achieve. Acrylic painting however,
is sometimes feared by beginner artists because it is very fast drying and one needs to work quickly. It does have many positive aspects, one
of which is to train the painter to produce work speedily. Also, different results can be achieved according to the application
technique.
This sort of paint can be used straight from the tube or it
can be thinned with water and used like watercolor. It can be thinned with other medium too, to look like an oil painting. Sometimes, it's
hard to tell the difference between an oil and acrylic painting. It can also look like the picture
has been painted with acrylics and show the distinctive properties of that paint. All these decisions are up to the artist, choices only
possible since the 1950s when acrylics were invented. They soon became popular, particularly with Mexican artists who used them for
murals.
The paint is designed to suit any surface and is water
resistant when dry, at which time; it is extremely difficult and usually impossible to remove. The finish can be high gloss or matte and has
never been known to crack or yellow. This endears acrylic painting to gallery owners because it's
hoped that these types of pictures will escape the aging difficulties that beset oil paintings. Of course, only time will tell.
If using directly from the tube, the advice is to squeeze a
little at a time because it dries so fast. If the artist wants a glaze, this is best done by applying thin layers. Paint brushes should be
blotted and speed is of the essence if mixing colors. Masking tape can be used with acrylic
painting for hard edges. Sometimes, collage artists use acrylics as a glue. Some surrealist artists specialized in a technique called
grattage, which involve using acrylics and then scraping the paint off the canvas.
There are several manufacturers of the paint and the tubes are
sold in student range and professional range. Winsor & Newton and Daler-Rowney are the most popular brands in the UK and America's
favorite is Golden Artist Colors. There are instruction books and videos on the techniques of acrylic painting but the best way to proceed is
to practice and learn from one's mistakes! When mastered, the form of acrylic painting is very
satisfying.
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