Acrylic paint

Acrylic paint is a water-soluble, fast-drying paint based on a synthetic acrylic polymer emulsion, in which pigment is suspended in a poly-methyl-acrylate binder. It was invented in the mid-twentieth century: the first artists' acrylic paints appeared in the United States and Mexico in the 1940s and 1950s, and became commercially available from the 1950s. From the 1960s onward acrylic gained wide popularity among artists thanks to its versatility, durability and ease of use. Depending on the amount of water added, acrylic can be applied either as a dense, impasto layer resembling oil or as transparent glazes similar to watercolour. The paint dries within minutes, after which it becomes water-resistant and flexible, barely changing colour or yellowing over time. Acrylic adheres well to a variety of supports — canvas, paper, wood, metal — and, with additional mediums, an artist can adjust its gloss, texture and drying time. These qualities made acrylic a favoured material for color field painters, Pop artists and many contemporary artists. Masters such as Mark Rothko, David Hockney, Morris Louis and Andy Warhol made extensive use of acrylic paints in their work.