Materials of the artist: acrylic paints. Description and how to choose

Acrylic paint is a synthetic paint based on acrylic acid. It is characterized by high luminosity, water and heat resistance, as well as tight adhesion to the surface.

The composition of acrylic paint includes three main components: pigment, binder, and water. The binder is a synthetic material, called acrylic polymer emulsion.

Features of acrylic paint, for which artists love it:

• dries quickly;
• possesses good covering ability;
• resistant to external influences, after drying, they are not afraid of moisture or temperature differences;
• bright colors that do not fade in the sun (like watercolor) and do not fade from time (similar to oil paints);
• after drying, take the form of an elastic plastically resistant coating;
• can be used on any non-greasy surface;
• environmentally friendly and have a faint odor, not irritating to the respiratory tract, hypoallergenic;
• universal, suitable for many techniques.

The drying of acrylic paints occurs as a result of water evaporation, the paint remaining on the surface, at the same time, forms a chemically stable elastic film consisting of a pigment and a binder. Unlike oil paints, dried acrylic is characterized by greater strength (the paint does not crumble, its layer does not form cracks, the surface does not peel off). Over time, acrylic paint does not wrinkle, it is not susceptible to the effects of normal temperature changes and changes in humidity conditions.

Acrylic paints are found in tubes and cans. The cans are packaged with more liquid paint, which is suitable for working with large surfaces, whereas the paints in tubes resemble oil paints consistency and are more commonly used. Choosing paint for the sketching on the open-air, it is better to give preference to small tubes, because, with a large variety of colors, the weight of the tubes themselves begins to be felt quite strongly. Large tubes for sketching can be used only for those tones that require a lot, or for whites, which are constantly needed for mixing.

Brushes and accessories

Universal brushes are suitable for working with acrylic. Natural or synthetic bristles (except squirrel bristles), round or flat shape is a matter of personal preference, but it is a little easier to wash acrylic from synthetic material, so the choice falls on it more often. For beginners, a set of brushes that will eliminate the problems of choice.

Working with acrylic cannot do without a palette. For these purposes, you can buy special art palettes, or use disposable plastic plates. It is convenient and simple, but not economical and certainly not environmentally friendly.

Fundamentals and priming

Acrylic paints can be painted on almost any surface, the main thing is that it is clean and degreased. Water-absorbing materials (wood, cardboard, plaster, etc.) should be pre-primed with acrylic varnish or special primer.

If your preference in choosing the base fell on the paper, choose a paper with a dense rough surface. The base must be strong, so if a piece of paper is too thin, stick a strong backing to it.

In the shops you can buy special canvases applied to the frame and already primed, this will greatly save time on preparing for the creative process.

Features of work with acrylic

Before applying the acrylic paint, the surface must be cleaned of dirt and dust, degreased, primed if necessary. The workplace can be secured by putting old newspapers or unnecessary paper on the table. Protective apron will be useful so as not to stain clothes. Moving to the open air with acrylic paints, do not forget to take a few cans of water with you to dilute the paints and clean the brushes.

Acrylic paints are great for creating collages, as they can be used as glue for paper or fabric. And, thanks to good adhesion, acrylic paints can be used in exterior painting, these paints are not influenced by weather conditions and fit well on most surfaces, they can also be used to create embossed surfaces. With the help of acrylic paints, you can achieve almost any surface texture. For example, acrylic "like watercolor" reproduces all the characteristic qualities of watercolor paints, while thick acrylic paints from oil are often indistinguishable.

Spatial acrylic painting by Justin Geffrey.

Many manufacturers produce tools that can change the behavior of acrylic paints, for example - glossy and matte thinners. Glossy thinner helps to improve the covering qualities of the paint and, when dry, gives it the character of a shiny surface; Matt has the same consistency, but, after drying, gives a dullness to the coating.

While the acrylic paints are not dry, they can be diluted with water. The drying time of acrylic paint depends on the applied layer: if you prefer to work in thin layers, they dry as quickly as watercolor, but the more dense layers you apply, the longer it takes to dry. The second layer of acrylic paint is recommended to apply 30 minutes after applying the first. Dried acrylic paint cannot be removed with water, only a special solvent, or a method of scraping or stripping with sandpaper.

Since dried acryl is an excellent adhesive and is not diluted with water, after finishing work with paint, the neck of the tube or jar should be cleaned and tightly closed. For the same reason, you need to thoroughly wash the brushes and palette.

Acrylic paints can be combined with other types of paints, for example, you can make underpainting or texture preparation with fast-drying acrylic, and write on it with gouache, pastel or oil (acrylic cannot be applied to these materials).