DIY Acrylic Paint

Mushrooms by Pete Dolle, 1963

Acrylic paint was a natural evolution from soft distemper, retaining the idea of using a glue binder for painting on porous surfaces.

Polymer emulsion paints have a short history, which began in late 1948 with the development of polyvinyl acetate emulsion (PVA), commonly known as white glue. However, PVA was too sensitive to water and heat, and the paints made from it were not durable for canvas or house painting. The acrylic polymer emulsions now used in artists’ paints are a byproduct of the attempt to develop a new type of house paint during the early 1950s. The first artists’ acrylic polymer paint became readily available in North America around 1963 and in Europe about two years later.

Acrylic paint is the suspension of polymers in a liquid. As the liquid evaporates, the suspended polymer solids come closer together until they touch and combine to form a waterproof film. If a polymer emulsion is applied to a nonoily, absorbent surface, it will remain permanently attached. A paint can be made by pigmenting a polymer emulsion.

Several additives are needed to produce a workable paint. The polymer solids must be coated with emulsifiers to prevent them from binding together before the liquid evaporates. Dispersants are necessary to keep the pigments that are added from clumping together and/or settling out of the liquid. Antifoaming agents are needed to prevent the surfactant from foaming during the application of a paint so that the dried paint film doesn't crack. Wetting agents, such as vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol, are used to regulate the drying time, allowing sufficient time for mixing and applying the paint. Thickeners are used to transform the milky quality into a paintlike consistency. And last but not least important, a preservative is added.

The color range of polymer paints is limited for two reasons. The first concerns pH. Alkaline-sensitive pigments cannot be used in the manufacture of acrylics because acrylic emulsions are alkaline. Acid-sensitive pigments cannot be used in vinyl paints because vinyl emulsions are acidic. The second reason is that in polymer emulsions, subtle differences between similarly colored pigments often cannot be seen and are therefore pointless to manufacture.

  

Liquitex Matte and Gloss Gel are thick acrylic emulsions. Use them to make an opaque matte or gloss heavy body acrylic paint. May be thinned with up to 25% water. Available from Blick Art for $8.81/8 oz

  

Golden Soft Gels are used for making transparent soft body paint. They're available as matte, semi gloss, and gloss. Available from Blick Art for $11.54/8 oz.

  

Liquitex Matte and Gloss Medium are thin acrylic emulsions. Use them to make an opaque matte or gloss fluid or high flow acrylic paint. Available from Blick Art for $8.51/8 oz.

Elmer's Glue All, also known as PVA glue is transparent and permanent when dry.

Additives

Additives play an important role in the formulation of artist's paint. The ratio for additives is generally 5:1. That's 5 smidgens of additive to 1 smidgen of pigment. It is unfortunate, however, that today's paint manufacturers abuse these additives by adding large quantities of them to tiny amounts of cheap pigment and lake dyes and sell it at inflated prices to convince artists that their paint is a higher quality than it really is.

 

Alumina hydrate is an extender that is used with expensive pigments. It is a crystal that reflects light and color. It gives the illusion that the pigment is distributed over a larger area than it really is. It is also an optical brightener that intensifies the saturation of dull pigments. Historic minerals such as lapis would be cost prohibitive without the addition of an extender. $2.91/lb at Axner Pottery Supply.

Talc is an opacifier that is used with pigments or lake dyes that tend to be transparent such as transparent red oxide. TKB sells rapsody talc at 8 oz for $5.00. 

Kaolin is a mattifier that is used to dull the saturation of very intense pigments. Phthalocyanine is such a powerful coloring agent that its use would be almost impossible without the addition of a mattifier. TKB sells kaolin at 8 oz for $3.40.

Cornstarch is a filler used to give paint more coverage. It adds volume without modifying the color.

Refer to my posts: Make Your Own Art Supplies, Makeup, Pigment, Paint and Dye, and Media Molds and Containers for a list of things you will need to complete this tutorial.

Quick Acrylic Paint

Heavy Body Acrylic

1 Smidgen Glycerin

1 Tad or more Pigment 

1-1/2 oz Liquitex Matte or Gloss Gel

Soft Body Acrylic

1 Smidgen Glycerin

1 Tad or more Pigment 

1-1/2 oz Golden Matte, Semi Gloss or Gloss Gel

Transparent Acrylic

1 Smidgen Glycerin

1 Tad or more Lake Dye

1-1/2 oz Golden Soft Semi Gloss Gel

Fluid or High Flow Acrylic

1 Smidgen Glycerin

1 Tad or more Pigment 

1-1/2 oz Liquitex Matte or Gloss Medium

Add ammonia water for high flow

Equipment

Grinder

Palette knife (#62)

Plate Glass

Condiment bowl or flask

Mini blender with immersion attachment

2 oz Flip top bottle or tube

Grind pigments to a powder, if necessary. Place pigment on plate glass and make a hole in the center. Add Glycerin. Work into a paste with a palette knife. Transfer to a bowl and add the emulsion. Use a flask if making a lot of paint. Stir with the blender until thoroughly combined. Transfer to a bottle or tube.

PVA Glue Based Acrylics

Opaque Matte Craft Acrylic

1 Drop or Smidgen Glycerin

1 Tad more Pigment 

1-1/2 oz White Glue

1 Tad Cornstarch

1 Tad Alumina Hydrate (to brighten a dull color)

1 Tad Talc (if using lake dye)

1 Tad Kaolin (if using an intense pigment)

Opaque Gloss Craft Acrylic

1 Drop or Smidgen Glycerin

1 Tad or more Pigment 

1 oz White Glue

1/2 oz Liquitex Gloss Acrylic Gel

1 Tad Cornstarch

1 Tad Alumina Hydrate (to brighten a dull color)

1 Tad Talc (if using lake dye)

1 Tad Kaolin (if using an intense pigment)

Transparent Craft Acrylic

1 Drop or Smidgen Glycerin

1 Tad or more Lake Dye

1-1/2 oz White Glue

Equipment

Grinder

Palette knife (#62)

Plate Glass

Condiment bowl or flask

Mini blender with immersion attachment

2 oz Flip top bottle or tube

Grind pigments to a powder or combine with additives, if using. Place pigment on plate glass and make a hole in the center. Add glycerin. Work into a paste with a palette knife. Transfer to a bowl and add the emulsion. Use a flask if making a lot of paint. Stir with the blender until thoroughly combined. Transfer to a bottle or tube.