Acrylic Painting has become extremely popular today with artists and
crafts men and women all over the world. No longer do we have to worry
about odors and allergies to solvents, so common to oil painting. Another
advantage of painting with acrylics is their versatility of use and their
relatively quick drying time (often just a few minutes.) However if a longer
drying time is needed in specific cases, a medium for use with acrylic
paints has been developed. Thus, acrylic painting is often considered
a much more desirable method of painting.
Acrylic paints are not to be used just for art canvas. Special acrylic
paints have been developed for a variety of uses. For instance, one can
now buy paints specifically for use on fabrics, totally washable and durable,
giving one the option to add real flair to an otherwise plain piece of clothing.
If one is involved with Scrapbooking and Card Making, why not add a
personal touch to your project with acrylic paint for paper? If you want
to brighten up your kitchen and dining table, consider new acrylic paints
for glass and china. This paint allows us to turn an ordinary piece of
glass ware into an elegant and expensive-looking personal accomplishment.
An added benefit is that this paint, when allowed to dry properly, will stay
beautiful through many dishwasher cycles when loaded on the top rack.
However, please be aware that this acrylic paint must not be applied in an
area which touches the mouth or food.
Learning acrylic painting is not as daunting as it may seem. Many
acrylic artists and instructors have developed their own methods, tools,
instructions and techniques. Donna Dewberry says that any one who can
draw a stick figure can learn to paint using the One Stroke method which
she developed and which is so popular today. For those hesitant to try
free-hand painting, stencils for all subjects and designs are available in
various sizes, from very small to very large. Want to paint a mural on
your wall? Use stencils and acrylic paint.
When using acrylic paints, there are several points to keep in mind.
These paints consist of pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer binder
to which water has been added. They are available in tubes and jars. The
tube paint, as you probably know, is much thicker and can be used directly
from the tube or diluted with water. Acrylic paint in jars has already
been diluted to a 'flowing' consistency. Both are suitable paints and dry
to a smooth, shiny finish. This is no surprise as acrylic paint is just
that - acrylic, or more commonly, plastic.
Because acrylic paints are water-based, clean up is fairly easy. Soap
and water is used, NOT turpentine or other paint thinners, but this must
be done before the paint dries. Synthetic brushes are generally used as
the alkaline in the paint is hard on brushes made from natural hair. You
can ruin an expensive brush in a hurry if care is not taken. Brushes must
be kept moist or cleaned immediately. Since, as mentioned before, these
paints contain acrylics, despite the fact that they are water-based, once
dry they are extremely hard, if not impossible, to remove.
When we consider acrylic painting, regardless of the surface to be
painted, whether on canvas, wood, plaster, cement, wax candles, fabric,
paper - you name it - indoors or out, there is a specific acrylic paint
suitable for that specific purpose.