Modern Contemporary Art Acrylic Painting Resources

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Understanding Acrylic Paint

Learn more about acrylic paint and modern art in the folowing articles:

Introduction	Advantages and Disadvantages of Acrylic Paint	Mixing Acrylic Paints
Acrylic Paint	History of Acrylic Paintings	Acrylic Painting Tips

Understanding Contemporary Art

Contemporary art can be a mystery to many viewers. Use the resources below to learn more about modern art history, the varying approaches to modern art and how to understand this versatile approach to paint, canvas, and the creative process.

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Acrylic paint is relatively new on the art scene, but it has dramatically changed the way that artists work and the possibilities for creative expression. Personally, I started out as a watercolor painter and focused on portraits for my senior work while getting my studio art degree. Years later I took up oil painting and focused on that for about five years. Then, while pregnant with my fifth child, I switched to acrylics for health reasons.

I did not want to expose my unborn child to the toxic ingredients in some oils paints or to the fumes from turpentine and toxic cleaners. In addition, I simply could not handle the smell of oils with the queasy digestion that has earmarked all of my pregnancies. Finally, the slow-drying of the oil paints was an issue in a house full of children. Once a painting was dry, it was "safe" from possible damage as children ran through my studio, bumping into one of my easels as they went.

I have not returned to oils since. Acrylic paint has been particularly useful for my universe art, which is created through many layers of very diluted, fluid paint--something I probably could not have done with oils. The flexibility of acrylics and the possibility of using a variety of gels and mediums to create various effects has kept me hooked!

See articles below to learn more about acrylic paint and painting technique tips.

Acrylic paint is made from pigment mixed together with an acrylic polymer to form a relatively thick paint emulsion. Acrylic art is a plastic paint. It is a new entrant to the art scene when compared to other art paints - it was first used in the 1950s. But despite its late introduction, acrylic has certain distinct qualities that make it the preferred choice for a number of artists.

Some artists prefer acrylic art work because of the 'oil painting' finish that acrylic paint provides. To achieve this glossy feel, the acrylic paint used must be thick and not overly diluted with water.

But thin acrylic artwork also has its benefits - if you are looking to develop a painting that mimics water colors you can thin the paint by adding a third part water to every whole part of paint. Other than water, there are additional additives that can be added to the paint to make it thinner or thicker.

Additives can also be used to increase the paints transparency and reduce the speed of drying. The need to reduce speed is because acrylic paint dries relatively fast once applied. Depending on the thickness and additives used, the paint may take from just a few minutes to a maximum of a day to dry - this is a short time when compared to oil based paints which can take up to a week to completely dry.

The acrylic art used on canvas surface dries in the shortest time making it suitable for artists who prefer to do their work quickly. This quality however can also be a downside because it is difficult to blend different colors on the canvas since the first color will already have started drying by the time the next color is applied.

In addition, the paint binds well to a wide range of surfaces. This versatility makes it possible to have acrylic art work not just on canvas but also on glass surfaces as well as ceramic items such as pots. There is a special type of acrylic supplies that can be used on clothes.

Certain types of acrylic paint can be used to paint the outside of the home. The type of acrylic for exteriors depends on the nature of the wall surface - for instance, the acrylic paint you use on a wooden surface will be different from the one you use on a concrete one.

Acrylic work art can be preserved for a long time due to its ability to resist the elements (especially water) once it dries. This compares well with other paints such as oil paints which can start to wrinkle or turn yellow as the painting ages and is oxidized.

If you are a paint work beginner considering venturing into acrylic art work, start with simple paintings to help you practice the painting techniques required when using acrylic paint. As you master the texture of different types of acrylic paints, you can move on to more elaborate pieces.

Acrylic paints first showed up on the market in the 1950s. This revolutionary new paint helped to bring about a new form of art. Acrylic art which could be produced at a much faster rate that artwork created with other types of paint. The acrylic art soon became a paint of choice for many artists, but there were also those who saw some disadvantages to this new paint. This made them hesitant to use them and to create acrylic artwork.

One of the top reasons why so many artists were drawn to the idea of acrylic art paintings was the paints fast drying time. Previously it could take weeks for a piece to completely dry when they were created with oil paints. That waiting time could become tedious when an artist simply wanted a piece to be complete. Acrylic paints offered a quick drying time and that was very appealing to artists. On the other hand, the quick drying time often results in harsh looking acrylic art. This is because colors can't easily be blended or softened.

Acrylic art also have the ability to be diluted with water. When this is done acrylic art paintings resemble watercolors or oil paintings. They are easily used to replace watercolors and oil paint. In many cases acrylic paints are preferred over watercolors because as the acrylic paint dries the color does not change as it does with watercolors. This allows for a more predictable final coloring of a piece.

Acrylic paints, when dry, are resistant to water damage. This makes it much easier to preserve acrylic art paintings and other acrylic artwork. They also do not yellow as oil paints often do. They resist cracking and changing at all. Some may actually see a problem with the fact that this paint is resistant to water because it makes altering an acrylic artwork very difficult if not impossible.

Many artists prefer acrylic paint because using this type of art requires far less exposure to toxins. Acrylic paint can be thinned with only water and does not require any type of toxic substance in the thinning process. Also brushes can be cleaned in just water without the use of toxic substances. However, the paint itself may contain some toxins and if an artist is trying to slow the drying time then toxic substances must be used.

The advantages and disadvantages of acrylic artwork is something the individual artist has to weigh for themselves. Some artists may find the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. It all really comes down to what look an artist in trying to achieve. Acrylic paints have a specific look and even though they may be able to somewhat mimic watercolors or oil paint, when acrylics are used it is usually a very distinguishable look. Besides that working with acrylic paint is a much different process. So, it really comes down to the artist and their preference of which type of paint to use.

Acrylic paint is favored by artists who have the ability to work fast. The reason for this is because acrylics dry fast. It is therefore important to understand the science of mixing acrylic paint. When you use oil paint it takes hours and even days for the paint to dry. Acrylics can dry almost straight away. When you use acrylics you can use it from the tube. If you want the paint to be thinner then simply add a little water. Water can be used as a medium because acrylics are water based. Mixing acrylic paint correctly can mean the difference in the success of your work.

When beginning mixing acrylic paint, to conserve your acrylics it is advisable to release tiny amounts onto your palette. It is a good idea to use a plastic palette for acrylics. This will enable you to spray water over the palette and acrylics to keep it moist. A simple every day spray bottle will do. Another good alternative is to use a palette called 'stay wet'. The acrylic paint is placed on wax coated paper. This paper is put over damp watercolor paper. Doing it this way may be awkward for the painter because there is no thumb hole.

After mixing acrylic paint you must keep damp cloths on hand to wipe your brushes. You wipe the brushes after you rinse them. Wiping with a damp cloth will stop water channeling down the ferrule on your work. If water does this it will leave splotches. Acrylics mixed with water can be used in exactly the same way as watercolors. It will also make acrylic painting suitable for air brushing. However, if you want a better flow of paint but don't want to compromise color strength then choose some other medium instead of water.

Anything that is going to take extra time is a hazard when acrylic painting. This is because it gives the paint time to dry before you are finished with your task. One such task is the blending of colors. The only way to counteract this is by working as quickly as you can, using dampened paper and your spray bottle. Any painter using acrylics must work confidently and it also saves time if the painter plans beforehand. On the other hand, there are painters who like the idea of using quick drying paint. They say it elevates their creative process and they are left with a painting that could be regarded as spontaneous.

Those painters who plan before they start painting will know exactly where and when they want to produce edges that are sharp. An effective and cheap way of doing this is to use masking tape. One of the benefits of acrylic painting is you can use masking tape and it will not ruin a layer of paint that is already on the board or canvas. If you want to be left with a sharp line that is even then the edges of the masking tape must be firmly pasted. Do not paint acrylic too densely over the edges. If the acrylic is too thick there won't be an even line when the masking tape is lifted.

Many artists use either oil or acrylic painting to produce their work. Acrylics are more economical and it is a way for art enthusiasts to afford a great piece of art work as opposed to oil paintings that are a lot more expensive to paint and to buy. Though acrylic is a cheaper paint option, you can produce extraordinary art once you've mastered the correct method for mixing acrylic paint.

A lot of artists are afraid of using acrylics especially after they have worked a lot in oils or watercolors. But acrylic paint can be an essential part of an artist's portfolio and here I will give you 11 tips to help you make the most of it.

Firstly, although acrylic paint is water soluble when wet, once it is dry it is like plastic. Therefore you must make sure you wash your brushes or painting implements immediately after use and before the paint dries or else you may ruin your art tools, particularly brushes.
If you are used to using oil paint and find that acrylic paint dries too quickly, then there are products out there that will stop the acrylics from drying so fast. Buy some good acrylic paint retarder and that will really help you if you want to use acrylics for wet into wet for example.
You can get some really interesting effects by watering down the acrylic paint when you use it. For example choose some sympathetic colors and use those together, all watered down. Mixing them gently on the flat canvas to get a kind of 'marbled' effect, great for abstract paintings.
Make use of the properties of acrylic paints by using layers of paint on top of each other once each layer has dried. The paint will not mix into each other and make a muddy mess as can sometimes happen with oils.
Also make use of the fact that acrylic paint dries quickly by adding a heavy varnish to the painting. A good gloss varnish will really brighten up the colors and, unlike oils where you have to wait months for the paint to dry, you can varnish the painting almost immediately therefore protecting it from dirt and damage.
Use acrylic paint as a base for your oil paintings - this means you can work on the much more quickly than having to wait for a layer of oil paint to dry. But note that you can't put acrylics on top of oils.
Acrylics come in some really great colors including fluorescent green, orange, pink and yellow so experiment and have fun with them!
You can also use acrylic paint to decorate clothes if you wish and the paint will not come out in the wash. Therefore do not spill acrylic paint on your clothes by mistake if you can help it. Always wear an apron or old clothes when painting. Any spillages should also be cleaned up before the paint has a chance to dry.
If you can't get the top off a bottle of acrylic paint then wear rubber gloves and that should solve the problem.
Keep any leftover paint and store it all in a plastic bottle so that you can use it in future for under-painting or creating some extra texture under a painting.
There are any number of implements that you can use to apply acrylic. Go to your local hardware or DIY store and pick up some scrapers with different shapes and teeth to add texture. You can also use tools to scrape out parts of the paint once you have applied it.

So, acrylics are very flexible but it does take a while to get used to their properties. Keep trying different things out and practicing different techniques and you will soon be enjoying painting with acrylics.

The author is a professional artist, selling to hotels and interior designers, as well as more than 400 paintings sold to individual clients. She has also created a website with a section dedicated to painting hints and tips. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marian_Lishman

Acrylic paintings are relatively new as acrylic paint for painting was first introduced around 1950. Acrylic paint has now become an essential element of the arts and craft market. Many artists consider acrylic paint as a viable option for oil paints. Acrylic paints differ from the conventional oil paints in terms of their physical and chemical properties and thus necessitates special care of acrylic paintings.

Typically, acrylic paints are of two types, namely water-based and solvent-based. However, water-based acrylics are more popular among painters. Acrylic paints dry quickly as compared to oil paints and may hardly require half an hour for the entire painting to dry. Acrylic films are not very hard and may easily gather dust and grime.

Various types of additives, such as stabilizers, defoamers, coalescing solvents, thickeners, and preservatives, are added to the acrylic paint to produce the desired results.

The chances of acrylic paintings cracking are relatively low as the paint is flexible and can withstand pressure. However, acrylic paintings may become very brittle and crack in freezing temperatures. Sometimes acrylic paintings may develop a gray veil on the surface or form a yellow discoloration over a long period of time.

Since acrylic films are soft at room temperature, dust particles can settle on the surface and become mixed with the paint, resulting in stained paintings. Protective framing can combat this problem up to a certain extent. Varnishes can protect the paintings considerably from scratches and dust. Many artists do not like to varnish their paintings. Another major problem faced by acrylic painters is that of mold growth and as of now, no perfect solution has been devised for this problem.

There is a wide range of acrylic paints available in the market. It is imperative for acrylic painters to purchased superior quality products as poor quality paints fade easily when exposed to ultra violet light.

Regardless of high standards of care and maintenance, many artists continue to use acrylic paints because of their fast-drying quality and versatility.