Glossary: Acrylic

The great advantage acrylic paint has over oil is it's drying time. Oil paint takes a long time to dry, often over many years when paint is applied thickly. In the case of acrylic, it drys quickly allowing subsequent coats of paint to be applied rapidly without a break in the artistic evolution of the painting. It can also be thinned with water and used in a similar fashion as watercolour with layers of washes being applied to a surface. As with all paints, the better quality the products produce a finer and more lasting finish. See also our entry on oil paint