ACRYLICS

Proponents of painting with acrylics would say the medium offers advantages that distinguish it
from both oil and watercolor. On one hand, acrylics are permanent and do not yellow with age
as do oil. But, being water-soluble, they are fast-drying like watercolors and require no harsh
solvents for dilution or cleaning.

Acrylic paints also dry insoluble and remain flexible when they dry, as opposed to oils,
which have a much more brittle surface. Disadvantages when learning how to paint acrylic
works involve the fact that this medium does dry quickly, reducing the amount of time one can
mix and manipulate the wet paint.

But the versatility of painting with acrylics is what keeps people coming back. It can be used
opaquely or diluted with water or medium for more transparency. It can be used as a
traditional painting media, and it also works well with other materials, making it ideal to pair with
mixed media, collage and even airbrushing.

WHAT IS ACRYLIC PAINT?

Water-based acrylic paint is composed of pigment particles dispersed in an acrylic polymer

1. Pigment - pigments are granular solids which give paint its color. They are milled to a
tiny particle size and do not dissolve, but remain suspended in the paint. Pigments can
be organic, inorganic, natural and synthetic. They have little or no affinity for the surface
to which they are applied
2. Binder - a binder is the substance that keeps pigment in place after the paint dries.
Acrylic paint has acrylic polymer as its binder and this forms a film after the water has
evaporated
3. Vehicle - this refers to the part of the paint that carries the pigment and binder. Water is
the vehicle for water-based acrylic and when combined with the binder, it creates a
polymer emulsion. Once the water leaves the system via evaporation or absorption, the
paint dries, creating a stable clear polymer film full of trapped colored pigment particles

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ACRYLICS

First made in the 1940s acrylic paint uses a synthetic resin to bind pigments. As it can be
diluted with water and used thinly or thickly depending on how much water is added to it, it can
resemble a watercolor or an oil painting, or have its own unique characteristics not attainable
with other media. Acrylic paint is waterproof once it has dried.

Acrylic resin was first invented by the German chemist Dr. Otto Rohm. In due course, this
invention was applied to paint by Bocour Artists Colors, Inc. who launched a narrow range
of acrylic paints in a turpentine solution which could be mixed with oils. This led to
experimentation in acrylics by artists like the colourist Kenneth Noland, the Russian-born large-
scale artist Mark Rothko, the Abstract Expressionist Barnett Newman and the Pop Artist Roy
Lichtenstien.

Further developments during the 1950s and 1960s began to attract other famous painters to
acrylics, like the Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko, the Pop-art artist Andy Warhol, the
Abstract Expressionist Robert Motherwell, British Op-Art painter Bridget Riley and the brilliant
English draughtsman and Pop painter David Hockney.

9 ACRYLIC PAINTING TECHNIQUES

1. Dry brush
This is quite self-explanatory – simply apply paint onto your canvas with a dry brush. This
technique is great if you wanted a highly pigmented stroke of colour with rough, scratchy
unrefined edges.

2. Washing
Washing makes your acrylic colours more translucent. This technique emulates watercolour, but
it sets permanently. Just add a little water to your acrylic paints and experiment with some
effects.
3. Stippling
Stippling is based on a technique initially used for printing in the early 1500s by Gulio
Campagnola. Apply the head of your brush to your surface with a repetitive dabbing motion to
create this effect. You can use stippling to separate colour through individual strokes of pigment.
Stippling is similar to pointillism, which tends to be more precise.

4. Pouring
This fantastic technique is simple to execute and allows you to create some stunning works of
abstract art. Choose the colours you’d like to use and individually mix them with a pouring
medium. After this step you have two options:
1. You can pour your colours individually onto the canvas
2. You can pour all the colours into a container, then put the canvas on top, right
side facing down, flip it so that the right side of the canvas is upwards and the
container of paint is on top, facing down. Slowly release the container and move
the paint around the canvas.

5. Splattering
This technique is about colour, expression and embracing the chaotic nature of life. The
technique is achieved by wetting your brush in water, before dipping it into an acrylic pigment of
your choice before flicking/splatter your soaked brush onto the canvas.

6. Dabbing
This can be achieved by using a stiff bristle brush or paper towel. Paint is applied with light and
fast pressure. Dabbing adds movement to your painting and is often used to illustrate bushes or
greenery.

7. Palette Knife
This technique can be used in both acrylic and oil mediums. It is achieved by loading a palette
knife with paint and applying it on to the canvas with the palette knife. This will create great
texture. Bob Ross makes magic through the use of this technique.
8. Detailing
Detailing is accomplished by using a fine brush, moderately wetting it so it maintains a pointy
form. The brush is then used in a similar way as a pen or pencil. You can use this technique to
add intricate detail to your paintings.

9. Underpainting
Underpainting – also referred to as “dead colouring” – is used to create a foundation for the
artist to layer colour on. It is highly useful for building contrast and tonal values. Underpainting
can be utilised to create tonal dominance within the painting through uniting.

FAMOUS ACRYLIC PAINTINGS

Campbell’s Soup Cans – Andy Warhol

Created in 1962, Campbell’s Soup Cans, is largely considered to be one of the most famous
acrylic works in history. These were a series of paintings in which Warhol brought each
particular flavor of soup to life with its own, individual painting—32 in all.
 A Bigger Splash – David Hockney

A Bigger Splash is the third in a series of paintings that feature scenes from swimming pools
that capture the sun-lit suburban landscape of southern California. This painting was derived
originally from a photograph that Hockney came across while thumbing through a booklet on
purchasing swimming pools.

References:
https://www.liquitex.com/row/knowledge/what-is-acrylic-paint/
https://www.artistsnetwork.com/art-mediums/acrylic/acrylic-painting/
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/acrylic-paint
http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/acrylic-painting.htm
https://www.cowlingandwilcox.com/blog/2019/08/22/amazing-acrylic-painting-techniques/
https://www.liquitex.com/row/knowledge/what-is-acrylic-paint/