Second Thursday Tutorial: Acrylics

 

This month I'm focusing on water based acrylics.

Many of you who paint for a living, or even as a hobby, know a great deal more about acrylics than I.  This will be more for my benefit than yours, I suspect.  Please join me as I learn about acrylics.

 

Acrylic paint is a water-soluble based paint made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion.  Acrylic paint is a quick-drying paint that uses water to combine the emulsion and pigment in acrylic paints.  

Acrylics can be broken down into Craft Acrylics and Artist Acrylics.  Regardless of type or quality, as long as it's a water based acrylic, it will contain a plastic resin binder.  It will also be easy to wash up after a painting session. Regardless of brand or type, all acrylic paint is non-toxic, making it safe for children and adults (as well as pets).

Let's look at craft acrylics first.  How can I tell if they are craft or art acrylics? Regardless of brand, craft acrylics have cute names like Iris Bleu (not to be confused with Bleubeard), Provence Sky, Joyful Pink, Gentle Heather, Poetic Plum, etc.  As a rule, they can be found in plastic bottles.

 

Craft acrylics have lots of medium and water added that make them easier to spread.  They dry quickly, which makes them a great choice for those who like to make quick art.  That also means they don't provide much, if any texture. 

 

The binder in craft acrylics is less likely to hold up over time.  They contain more water and less pigment.  Craft acrylics often contain tints and shades, rather than true colors.  They are already blended to get those cute colors with names you can't resist.  As a result, it's much easier to get mud when you try to mix these acrylics together.  On the plus side, they are much cheaper than even the least expensive student grade artist acrylic.

Let's review:

Craft acrylics are much less expensive.

Craft acrylics spread easily.

Craft acrylics have less binder, less pigment, and more water.

Craft acrylics are more difficult to mix, so it's easier to get mud.

Craft acrylics have cute names that describe them.

 

Now lets look at artist acrylics.  First are the student grade acrylics.  It can quickly feel overwhelming when it is time to purchase art supplies when you are experimenting with acrylics.  Student grade paint is frequently recommended to students because it is more affordable and is ideal for learning.  It is a lower quality acrylic, but still contains more pigment than craft acrylics.  If you are just starting out and you are not sure if this is a medium you would like to work with, student grade might be worth using because it is more cost-efficient.  These acrylics use pigments that in most cases require fewer resources so that they can be milled more quickly and efficiently.  This grade of acrylic paint is often found to be chalkier as a result of the fillers, but it makes it easier to handle when you are just starting.

I have Liquitex Basics which is a heavy body acrylic paint that will keep its shape and strokes as you paint. These paints are perfect for traditional painting, impasto, and mixed media.  Many artists use this paint in conjunction with a brayer on their Gel plate.  That means they are compatible with a wide range of substrates and surfaces.

Note the names of the student grade acrylics are actual names of real pigments, like Cobalt Blue and and Acra (Quinacridone) Magenta.  We will learn more about paint colors next.

To review:

Student grade acrylics contain more pigment than craft acrylics.  

Student grade acrylics are less expensive than artist grade acrylics.

Student grade acrylics may be ideal if you are not sure acrylics are for you.

Student grade acrylics are great for the Gel plate and other surfaces.

Student grade acrylics are often chalky due to the filler used.

Now let's look at Artists Acrylics.  You're going to see words that you might not be familiar with.  First, let's look at pigments.  As I mentioned earlier, pigments are suspended in a polymer medium that goes on white and dries clear.  The polymer medium forms a film, or "skin" after the water evaporates.  They get their color from the various pigments that are mixed with the polymer medium.

 

Pigments come from two sources: mineral pigments and modern pigments.  I have no idea where they came up with the word "modern," but that is how these pigments are classified. 

Mineral pigments come from natural sources, such as minerals, soils, metals, and ores.  They are finely ground up dirt, rocks, ores, metals, and minerals.  In their natural state, they are not transparent, therefore light can't pass through them.   As a result, these paints will be opaque.  These paints cover and color at the same time.

These paints have names such as Cobalts, Umbers, Chromiums, Cadmiums, Oxides, and Siennas.

 

Modern pigments are created in a chemistry lab and, as a rule, generally carry very long difficult to pronounce names, like Phthalos, Alizarins, Anthraquinons, Diarylides, Naphthols, and Quinacridones. They are more like slivers of stained glass, because they are transparent and glossy.  You want modern pigments when you want color without covering.  One nice thing about Golden acrylics is every jar, tube, and bottle has a little swatch that shows how transparent each color is.

Our next concern is how thick the paint will be.  That is called its viscosity.  Heavy body acrylics are considered one of the thickest and most viscous of all the acrylics. 

They can be used to create texture and marks.  They can be applied with a palette knife or a brush.

 

On the other hand, fluid acrylics are far less viscous, but have the same amount of pigment.  You can create watercolor effects with fluid acrylics.  You won't get pronounced brush strokes either.

Permanence is another characteristic that must be addressed.  It refers to how long it will take color to fade and how it will respond to light exposure.   Acrylics typically have a higher permanence performance rating than other mediums.  The performance ratings should be somewhere (I found most of mine on the back of my jars, tubes, and bottles) on the product.  Manufacturers rate their paints based on ASTM International standards.  

 

A rating of ASTM I is considered excellent, while ASTM III is not considered  lightfast. Other manufactures rate their products using A, AA, B, or C, with A being the most lightfast and C offering poor quality.  C rated paints should be used for children’s art projects or in your altered books, as the product is not lightfast.

 

Another characteristic is surface techniques.  You can choose between matte and gloss.  Gloss gives the appearance of cellophane, while matte gives the appearance of wax paper.  Modern pigments dry with a glossy finish, while mineral pigments dry with a matte finish.  Of course, there are polymer finishes like matte or gloss gel medium that you can use to cover the finished project. 

To make acrylic paints translucent, you can add glazes.  These will extend drying times, which might help or hinder your project.  It is definitely something you need to consider when using this acrylic product.

Interference acrylics present a range of reflective properties and interplay with light. When viewed from different angles Interference colors "flip" between a bright opalescent color and its complement. Over white or light colored surfaces the Interference color is less obvious and the flip effect is more obvious while over black or dark surfaces the color is more obvious and the flip is less obvious.  Interference colors are primarily transparent.  They can be thinned with glazing mediums.

Iridescent acrylics add a reflective metallic quality that adds a highly reflective luster when used by itself or in conjunction of other acrylics.  All iridescent acrylic colors will tend to lighten regular paint colors.  In fact, iridescent acrylics can be used as an alternative method of tinting another color.

Let's review:

Artist Acrylics contain pigments, which are suspended in a polymer medium.

Artist Acrylics come from two sources: mineral pigments and modern pigments.

Mineral pigments come from the earth, while modern pigments are created in a lab.

Mineral pigments are opaque, while modern pigments are transparent. 

Modern pigments dry with a glossy finish, while mineral pigments dry with a matte finish.

A translucent glaze can be brushed over the project that will make the project shine.  

Some types of acrylic paint are inherently translucent, like watercolors and glazes.

Interference acrylics are used to create special effects in your art.  They often contain mica powders.

Iridescent acrylics add a reflective quality to your project.

Ruminations:

1.  I believe I have only just scratched the surface of acrylics.

2.  I believe if you plan to sell your art, use the very best acrylics you can buy.

3.  I believe if you are just playing around in your journal or altered book, inexpensive craft paint is acceptable.  No need to waste your expensive artist acrylics, unless they are all you own.

4.  If you are just starting out using acrylic paint, decide what it is you want to accomplish and buy accordingly.

 

Thank you for joining me for this look at acrylics.  Most of the information came from an old book I purchased on acrylics that used Golden products.  Craft and student grade information came from many places on the internet.  When this tutorial goes live, it will be available on my Tutorials page.