Acrylic Arts

What is acrylic paint?

Acrylic paint is a water based paint media.  Which means your paint can be thinned with water and your brushes can be cleaned with the same.  The paints are made from pigments which are mixed with acrylic resins and emulsions. Acrylic paints will dry very fast and can be used as a thin watery glaze if needed.

One feature of acrylic paint that attract users to this medium is its ability to dry quickly and that solvents do not need to be used.  Many artists make the acrylic paints into a liquid version as well as a paste type of consistency.  Artists will usually have their on preferred brand of acrylics depending on the available colors from the manufacturer and the consistencies of the different brands of paint.  Some brand names of the preferred paints are; Liquitex, Golden, and Winsor & Newton.  Each brand of paint will have its own characteristics which will appeal to the individual artist.

Should you buy artist quality paint or the student quality?
Acrylic paint can be purchased in a student version as well as an artist version, the differences being: The student quality version is cheaper for a reason, because more filler is used to manufacture the paint.  Artist quality paints will have a much more vibrant color however, the quality will be reflected in the cost. The student version will give quantity over quality.

What brushes are needed to paint with acrylics?
Brushes needed will depend on the consistency of the paints you are using. Stiff bristled brushes will be used with a paste like consistency of paint and softer bristle brushes for thin watercolor effects.  There is a wide range of brushes available in all shapes and sizes (wide, flat and round).  The brushes are also available with different length handles.  If you are on a limited budget, you should first buy a small and medium size filbert.  If you need to buy a wide brush you can just purchase a household decorating brush to save on costs.

You will be able to find very good quality synthetic brushes as well as natural hair if you prefer.  Just remember, when purchasing brushes you will get what you pay for, so you may want to purchase the best brushes you can afford to buy. When it comes to maintaining you brushes always remember to be very dilligent when cleaning them because it is very hard to remove the paint once it has dried.

What supplies do you need to start painting with acrylics?
Acrylic paints are a very versatile media to use which is why they are so popular. Acrylics can be painted on canvas, canvas boards, wood panels and paper.  You can actually paint on anything the paints will adhere to.  Painting palettes can be purchased and are usually made of wood, plastic and glass however, it can get very tedious when you are constantly cleaning off the dried paint.  Which leads us to the use of disposable palettes, then we only need to remove a layer of paper to continue working.

Painting with acrylics is a very easy media to use.
It is also easy to clean up after you are finished painting. You do not have to deal with odors and the hassles of using solvents since you can clean up and thinning can be done with water.  This may explain why acrylic paint has become so popular with artists to use today as a paint medium.

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