Acrylics
are very different to oils and watercolours as they have a faster
drying time allowing work to be completed relatively quickly. Acrylic
paints have excellent adhesion properties allowing them to stick to a
variety of surfaces. They move with the surface, expanding and
contracting while still maintaining their integrity.
Acrylics can be watered down and used for watercolour techniques,
or they can be used in combination with a number of mediums to create
differing effects. There are printing mediums to convert the
acrylics to screen printing and block printing inks, shimmering
iridescent mediums to make pearlescent colours, additives to create
texture, primers to prepare surfaces for painting, and varnishes to
protect the finished work.