

In the case of acrylics, water is the vehicle that transports the binder and the pigment. The second is to form a protective film once the water has evaporated from the paint. The first is to hold the pigment in place when the paint has dried. The binder used in acrylic paint is known as an acrylic polymer. The pigment can be natural or synthetic, organic or inorganic. It is made up of small granules that are ground down into tiny particles that are suspended in the paint without dissolving. The pigment is what gives the paint its color. Let us break down each component and explore it in more detail. Initially, this radical new paint was sold as house paint, but in the mid-1950s artists began to experiment with it as a possible alternative to oil paints and other artists’ mediums.Īcrylic paint is not a complex paint as it is made of only three ingredients: pigment, an acrylic binder, and what is known as an acrylic vehicle.

The discovery of a paint that had the combined qualities of oils and watercolor paints that could be diluted with water was a groundbreaking discovery. 7.3 Because Acrylics Dry so Quickly, Does That Mean I Can Only Paint Wet on Dry?Īcrylic paint was developed in Germany in 1934 as a formula of water, acrylic resin, and particles of pigment.7.2 Can Acrylic Paints be Used on Other Surfaces Besides Canvas?.7.1 As a Beginner, Should I Only Buy Student-Grade Acrylic Paints?.5.1 Choosing the Colors of Your Acrylic Paints.4 Getting the Most Out of Your Acrylic Paints.2.1 The Pros and Cons of Acrylic Paints.1.2 Understanding the Science Behind Acrylic Paints.
