Acrylic paint facts for kids
Acrylic paint is a type of fast-drying paint that uses tiny plastic particles (called acrylic polymers) to hold the pigment (color). You can mix acrylic paints with water, but once they dry, they become waterproof!
Acrylic paints are super versatile. You can make them look like watercolor paintings by adding lots of water, or like oil paintings by using less water or mixing in special gels. They can also create their own unique looks.
One cool thing about acrylics is how bright and vivid their colors are, often even brighter than oil paints. They are also cheaper than oil paints, which makes them popular with artists. Once acrylic paint dries on a surface, it's usually very hard to remove.
History of Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint has a pretty interesting history! A scientist named Otto Röhm first created the basic ingredient, acrylic resin.
- In 1934, a German chemical company developed the first useful liquid acrylic resin.
- Artists started using these early acrylics in the 1940s.
- By the 1950s, acrylic paints were sold in stores for artists to buy.
- Since then, many improvements have been made to acrylic paints as more and more artists discovered how great they are!
Images for kids
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Example of acrylics applied over another color
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Experimental pictures with "floating" acrylic paint
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Detail of acrylic painting showing finishes that resemble both oil and watercolor
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Example of blending technique with acrylics. Painting on wooden panel.
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A demonstration of blending with acrylic paint. No retarders were used.
See also
In Spanish: Pintura acrílica para niños
