The New Acrylics: Complete Guide to the New Generation of Acrylic Paints

by Rheni Tauchid

The acrylics of today have grown into the most adaptable art material of the modern age. Focusing on a popular art medium that has been around for over 50 years, The New Acrylics illustrates how artists can create lush textures, color, and luster with the modern acrylics readily available in any art supply store. These are nontoxic, environmentally sound, and exist in the most dazzling array of chemical formats—from the most fluid to the highly viscous. Not only do artists paint with acrylics these days, they can create rich metallic effects, or even 3-dimensional sculptures.

Traditional technique based books on acrylics cover traditional methods of painting. However, The New Acrylics is geared toward more nonconventional ways in which to manipulate modern-day acrylics, and demonstrates new applications such as glazing, textured effects, soft sculpture effects, or staining, thus reinventing the old way of handling acrylics, and revealing a fabulous new artistic medium.

The underlying theme of this dazzling and sophisticated book is to encourage artists to interpret and handle acrylic paints in a vibrant, fresh, and above all, individualistic style.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Art Design, Reference

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

Reviews

[Yaaresse]

Picked this up to refresh my memory about acrylics, a media I've not worked with since college. I was pleasantly surprised as the wealth of technical information about acrylics and the variety of products covered. Generous photos show product comparisons and emphasize the technical information, although there are also some examples of finished works.

Definitely more of a "why to" instead of a "how to" book, which is exactly what I had hoped. It is a little dated, but still very informative. My actual rating is probably more of a 3.75, but only because I picked up the author's other book at the same time and find that one just a bit "more" in every way.

[Tatjana]

It was just fine, though some of the other books I'm reading are better.
More than anything, it just a bit outdated.

[Jo]

Great technical book on the range of artist acrylics & their uses. A strong argument for acrylics as the new medium of choice because all of the flexibility they offer.

The last section of the book has several demonstrations, most of which are interesting crafty uses but they seem out of context given the technical nature of the majority of the book.

Recommended for any intermediate to professional who uses acrylic paints or mediums.

[jmmarq1956msn.com]

Very well written

I found this book hard to put down and really informative about the use of acrylic paint and mediums. The last chapters surprise you with applications based on the plasticity of acrylic.

[Erin]

Lots of good information about mediums and the different ways acrylics can be used.

[Mary]

A friend of mine who's an artist recommended this book to me and I'm so glad she did!! So much great info in here - particularly about texture making mediums, interference colours, metallics etc.

[Lindsy]

Some good techniques, but a little crafty overall.

[Kim]

Great ideas for stretching acrylics skills and medium.

[Christa]

Problem solving, diff type of mediums used...