Acrylic paint is a well-loved, popular medium due to its vibrancy and versatility, as well as ease-of-use and different capabilities. Although relatively new to the scene, acrylic has cemented itself as a reliable medium with a variety of uses. Acrylic has several features that distinguish it from other mediums, and make it beginner-friendly as well as suitable for professional applications.
In this series, we provide an overview of acrylic paint. This article explores what acrylic paint is made of and its basic properties, as well as how it differs from other paint mediums.
What is Acrylic Paint Made Of?
Acrylics are water-based synthetic paints made from 100% acrylic polymer emulsion. They are quick-drying and water-fast when dry. They are available in a variety of viscosity formats, are highly adhesive, and are virtually non-toxic.
Acrylic paint is composed of pigment particles suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion in order to effectively distribute the colour. This emulsion consists of a binder (acrylic polymer) carried in water. At Tri-Art, we’ve developed a unique pigment-grinding process that allows us to achieve an extra-fine quality of pigment grind where water completely surrounds pigment molecules, which are otherwise hydrophobic or repellent to water. This extra-fine quality grind creates particular features like high visible shine, greater transparency for some pigments, and deep, richer colours resulting in a higher-quality paint. Because of this unique process, paintings made with Tri-Art’s professional acrylic lines are often mistaken for oil paintings. Learn more about contemporary pigment-grinding and our unique technology.
How Did Acrylic Paint Develop as a Medium?
Acrylic resin was developed in the early twentieth century (patented in 1934 by Rohm and Haas), and was used as acrylic paint in the 1940s, before becoming popularized in the 1950s-1960s, particularly during the Mexican Mural Renaissance by artists such as Diego Rivera.
Tri-Art began producing artists’ acrylic paint in 1994 as an off-shoot to our art supply store and gallery, Art Noise. Production began on a small scale in the back of the store, starting with one line of professional, acrylic colours. From three founding members and a single paint line, in a 100-square foot area, Tri-Art has grown to employ over 60 local staff, produce 20 different paint lines, and make all of our product packaging in a production area of over 100,000-square feet, locally in Kingston, Ontario.
How Does Acrylic Compare to Other Paint Mediums?
In comparison to oil and watercolour, acrylic is a relative newcomer as a medium, but has quickly become well-loved for its unique features and versatility. Unlike oil paint, acrylic comes in different formats that all dry very quickly, and is often used in mixed media work. In contrast to watercolour, acrylic is permanent and water-resistant when dry, as well as opaque, and can be readily used on a variety of surfaces.
Acrylic paint is a great, versatile medium for a wide variety of applications, as well as different experience levels.
Explore our range of acrylic paints and mediums through our website, or at Art Noise online or in-person in Kingston. If you use our acrylic paints or mediums, make sure to tag us on social media posts - we would love to see your work!
For more information, check out our other blog posts on acrylic paint, our FAQ page, or contact us.
