What are acrylic paints?

Acrylics are extremely versatile, fast-drying paints, and can be used straight from the tube like oils or thinned with water or a medium and used like watercolours.  When we say that Acrylics are water-based paints it means they can be mixed with water to thin them down and you clean your brushes with water. They’re made from pigment mixed with acrylic resin and emulsion.

Acrylic paints come in a liquid version as well as in a paste consistency and you will find different brands in jars or tubes.

Acrylics can be used in thin, watery glazes or impasto.

Why choose acrylics?

The advantages are that acrylics dry very quickly and you don’t have to use any solvents, just water.

They can be mixed with water or mediums/gels and dry very fast. You only need water to clean the brushes.

Once the paint has dried, it can be overpainted without disturbing underlying layers. Besides, the paint can be used thickly (impasto), like oils, or in thin washes, like watercolour.

Acrylic paints are water-resistant, so they are good for murals and can be used in many different crafts. (Acrylics also work as a glue, so they are good for collages but that is another craft).

What are the disadvantages?

It dries very fast, though working time can be increased by adding retarding medium to paint or by spraying water on a painting.

It  is completely waterproof once it has dried so it cannot be removed by rewetting the paint. It is also difficult to remove from a brush if it's dried in it. Except when used in thin washes, colours dry a bit darker than when applied.