Acrylic-Based Pigments, Continued
Acrylic paint
permanence
and opacity
Acrylic paint
grounds
Substrates
Painting in
acrylic paints
Artist grade acrylic paint is permanent. You can thin acrylic paint with water
but, overthinning causes the pigment to separate lessening its permanence.
Once it is’ dry, you can clean the surface of an acrylic painting with mild soap
and water. Wiping the surface of an acrylic painting with cleaners containing
petroleum or coal tar derivatives may soften or dissolve the paint.
You do not require ground or surface preparation when painting in acrylic .
paint because of the outstanding adhesive quality of the binder. There is an
acrylic gesso available for painters who prefer to paint over a ground. This
gesso is very smooth and may be used under oil paintings to provide a
foundation with some elasticity. You will not be able to paint with acrylic
paint over an oil-based or oily foundation.
Substrates or the surface on which you apply acrylic paints may be canvas,
canvas board, masonite, wood panels, and metal. You may also apply
acrylic paints to paper products and fiber cloth. No sizing or ground is
required. When using an impasto, paint on a rigid backed, nonabsorbent
substrate.
Acrylic paints have the consistency of oil paint and the application
characteristics of watercolor. Acrylics dry fast so you can build up
successive washes quickly. You may apply transparent or semitransparent
glazes over solid values. Use a wet or dry brush blending technique to blend
acrylics.
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