Acrylic Canvas Painting

2) Acrylics dry very quickly, a trait that can vex an artist trying to paint outdoors in an arid climate but can be used to an advantage. Painting in layers is much faster, for example. Finished paintings can also be more easily transported shortly after a painting session.

3) Acrylics are cheaper than oil paints, in almost all cases.

4) Art-materials manufacturers have made many mediums that are compatible with acrylic paints, allowing various textures and surfaces. A few are gloss medium, pumice stone gel, matte gel, crackle paste, retarder, varnish, and glazing liquid.

5) One can use acrylics like watercolors by diluting the paint with water or, better yet, a medium. Certain watercolor effects, such as granulation, can’t be achieved, and previous layers of acrylic paint cannot be lifted up (or disturbed, depending on how one looks at it) by subsequent layers or brushwork.

6) One can use acrylics like oils by adding gloss medium, although achieving a true jewel like appearance and depth on par with that of oil paints is difficult. It is also very difficult to work alla prima in acrylic for more than 20 minutes, although wetting the palette and liberally using retarders can help.

7) Acrylic paints work on a wide variety of painting surfaces, which don’t need to be sized with gesso. As long as the surface has a small amount of tooth, the paint will adhere to it without danger of peeling. Acrylic paint is very durable; it can, however, shatter in freezing temperatures.

8) When painting in thin, transparent, water color like washes, acrylic paint can produce soft edges without blending. But once the paint dries, an edge cannot be softened with scrubbing, in contrast to watercolor’s flexibility.

9) Acrylics dry darker than they appear during painting because of the nature of the polymer vehicle, which is slightly opaque and white when wet, but dries clear.