In fine art painting, the term ‘Acrylic paint’ denotes a painting medium that is water-based and fast-drying, made from the combination of pigment and acrylic polymer emulsion, which contains acrylic resin and water. Acrylic paint is relatively a new-comer, compared to the long-standing traditions of oil and watercolor painting. It has been widely used by the artists only since the 1940s. Acrylic offers its own set of unique characteristics and attributes. Because of its versatility, immediacy, and durability, it has become a popular painting medium today. Notable early champions of acrylic paint include Pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Op artist Bridget Riley, colour field artists Mark Rothko, Ellsworth Kelly, and Barnett Newman, and British artist David Hockney.

Acrylic painting is characterized by bright colors, sharp brushstrokes, and quality lines. One of the most desirable qualities of the medium is its ability to be used on a variety of surfaces and mixed with other media, allowing for a variety of textures and surfaces. Some are gloss medium, pumice stone gel, matte acrylic painting gel, crackle paste, retarder, varnish and glazing liquid.

Acrylic paint can be used in many different ways. The popular Acrylic painting techniques that can add variation and interest to your paintings are Dry brush, Washing, Stippling, Splattering, Dabbing, Sponging, Palette knife, Detailing and Glazing. These techniques create a structurally rich painting that has both the soft- and hard-textured elements.