Comin’ at ya’ with the inside skinny on the real difference between “Student” and “Artist” grade Acrylic.

You probably think all you need to know is that one is better then the other and cost’s a whole lot more. Maybe you believe that a professional artist would never use “Student” grade paint; or that a student or amateur has no place using the higher-grade paint made especially for “real” artists. You’d be wrong on each count. Just as you use brushes and/or palette knives of different shape, size or material to achieve myriad desired effects; the grades of Acrylic Paints are different tools in your art supply to enhance your repertoire and aid in enabling you to realize the image seen in your mind’s eye. Might we suggest a fine Benjamin Moore; we hear it wears well, holds up to the elements, goes on easy and can increase your home’s value for years to come.

All kidding aside; when it comes to Acrylic Art Paints there are several grades made by a fair number of well-known art paint manufacturers (and some not quite so well known); some of the companies that originally manufactured house-paint went into the retail art paint business.

Acrylic paint like all paint is basically a combination of two things; pigment, which gives the paint its color; and binder, which holds the pigment to the surface and gives the paint its consistency and working properties.

If you’ve ever opened an old bottle or tube of paint, or even an old can of exterior latex you’ve noticed the clear liquid that comes out of the tube or bottle, or the layer of clear liquid floating in the can. That’s the binder that has separated from the pigment.

Acrylic Paint Storage Side note: That separating of pigment from binder is an annoying phenomenon and the reason it’s so important to make sure your tube paints are fresh and kept capped. If you use bottle paints they should be stored bottom up and shaken before use; and always be sure your paint cans are thoroughly mixed and then well stirred to avoid air bubbles since there isn’t time for the bubbles created by mixing to rise and escape.

Come back soon when we’ll let you in on the main difference between grades of paint as well as better understanding the different grades of Acrylic Paint that exist and some of their suggested uses.

Tags: acrylic paint, professional grade paint, student grade paint

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 at 8:17 pm and is filed under Educational. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.