It is only in recent years that acrylic artists have attained recognition. The history of oil and water color painting goes back centuries but it was only in 1955 that acrylics could be bought commercially. Considering this short time of their existence, they have had a marked influence on the art world.
With the help of successful and famous artists of the time, artistic use of this new medium gained in popularity. For example, those in the pop art movement used acrylics as the main medium for their bold and graphic paintings. Many others experimented with the different consistencies that could be achieved, the interesting surfaces that could be used and how acrylics could be successfully mixed with other media.
One of the major differences of these paints was their quick drying time. This enabled an artist to work very quickly and express themselves with an immediacy which had not been available before. The oils which had been used up to this point often had an extremely long drying time. The fast drying quality of the paints did discourage blending and wet-on-wet techniques but this made them both versatile and challenging at the same time.
These paints appeared at a time when people were looking for new inspirations. A pop artist like Andy Warhol made use of the opportunity to use acrylics to produce paintings with clarity and boldness. Marc Rothco created paintings with great depth, tone and color using acrylics. Acrylics allowed the use of pastel, charcoal, pen and pencil on top of the dried acrylic painted surface.
The ability to paint on any surface with these paints also stimulated creativity. Experiments on many different surfaces from wood and glass to stone and paper were attempted. This paint would dry to an even luster despite the surface to which it was applied.
The durability of acrylics is a great benefit when considering different mediums. Paintings using acrylics are thought to be more durable than other types. Oil paints have a tendency to turn yellow as they age and oxidize. They can also crack. Water paints are liable to fade over time. Acrylics have shown no signs of yellowing, cracking or fading in the fifty years since they have been invented.
Acrylics can be mixed with water, thinning them down and changing the way they interact with a surface. This gives them the ability to appear like a water color, depending on how much water is added. Acrylics can also be applied without mixing them at all which gives an opaque effect. This flexibility allows for great freedom of expression.
Today the volume of artworks using acrylics as a medium is vast. This medium has lent itself to an extensive range of approaches in technique and method. It has stimulated creativity and fresh ways of thinking. The whole way in which art is viewed has changed and it has become far more accessible to a wider range of people.
The future of acrylic artists continues to unfold. Perhaps their full potential and possibilities are still to be seen. What is clear is that this is a significant medium, demonstrating the continual progression in the field of the visual arts.
With the help of successful and famous artists of the time, artistic use of this new medium gained in popularity. For example, those in the pop art movement used acrylics as the main medium for their bold and graphic paintings. Many others experimented with the different consistencies that could be achieved, the interesting surfaces that could be used and how acrylics could be successfully mixed with other media.
One of the major differences of these paints was their quick drying time. This enabled an artist to work very quickly and express themselves with an immediacy which had not been available before. The oils which had been used up to this point often had an extremely long drying time. The fast drying quality of the paints did discourage blending and wet-on-wet techniques but this made them both versatile and challenging at the same time.
These paints appeared at a time when people were looking for new inspirations. A pop artist like Andy Warhol made use of the opportunity to use acrylics to produce paintings with clarity and boldness. Marc Rothco created paintings with great depth, tone and color using acrylics. Acrylics allowed the use of pastel, charcoal, pen and pencil on top of the dried acrylic painted surface.
The ability to paint on any surface with these paints also stimulated creativity. Experiments on many different surfaces from wood and glass to stone and paper were attempted. This paint would dry to an even luster despite the surface to which it was applied.
The durability of acrylics is a great benefit when considering different mediums. Paintings using acrylics are thought to be more durable than other types. Oil paints have a tendency to turn yellow as they age and oxidize. They can also crack. Water paints are liable to fade over time. Acrylics have shown no signs of yellowing, cracking or fading in the fifty years since they have been invented.
Acrylics can be mixed with water, thinning them down and changing the way they interact with a surface. This gives them the ability to appear like a water color, depending on how much water is added. Acrylics can also be applied without mixing them at all which gives an opaque effect. This flexibility allows for great freedom of expression.
Today the volume of artworks using acrylics as a medium is vast. This medium has lent itself to an extensive range of approaches in technique and method. It has stimulated creativity and fresh ways of thinking. The whole way in which art is viewed has changed and it has become far more accessible to a wider range of people.
The future of acrylic artists continues to unfold. Perhaps their full potential and possibilities are still to be seen. What is clear is that this is a significant medium, demonstrating the continual progression in the field of the visual arts.
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