No, water paint (commonly known as watercolour) is not acrylic paint. They are distinct types of paint with different compositions and properties.
Based on expert information, acrylic and watercolour paints are very different, and using each one will give your painting a different visual quality.
Understanding the Difference
While both acrylics and watercolours can be thinned with water, their binders and characteristics are fundamentally different. This leads to significant differences in how they look and behave when applied.
The provided reference highlights the key distinctions:
- Acrylic Paint: Described as thicker, bolder, and more permanent.
- Watercolour Paint: Described as thinner, softer, and more delicate.
These differences dictate their use, handling, and the final appearance of an artwork.
Key Contrasts
Let's look at some of the primary differences between watercolour and acrylic paint:
| Feature | Watercolour Paint (Water Paint) | Acrylic Paint |
|---|---|---|
| Binder | Gum arabic | Acrylic polymer emulsion |
| Solvent | Water (for thinning and cleaning) | Water (for thinning and cleaning) |
| Opacity | Transparent (typically used in layers/washes) | Opaque (can be thinned for washes, but usually opaque) |
| Drying | Dries relatively quickly; reactivates with water | Dries quickly; becomes permanent when dry |
| Permanence | Can be lifted or rewet after drying | Waterproof and permanent once dry |
| Texture | Thinner, softer, delicate, often leaves washes | Thicker, bolder, can be applied impasto or thinned |
| Surface | Best on absorbent surfaces like paper | Versatile; works on paper, canvas, wood, fabric |
Why the Distinction Matters
Understanding that water paint is not acrylic is crucial for artists because:
- Techniques: Watercolour techniques (like washes, wet-on-wet, lifting) rely on its transparency and re-wettability. Acrylic techniques (like impasto, layering without disturbing lower layers) rely on its opacity and permanence.
- Materials: The paper or canvas used, brushes, and other mediums are often specific to the paint type for optimal results.
- Results: The final look – from the luminous, translucent quality of watercolour to the vibrant, solid coverage of acrylics – is a direct result of their inherent properties. As the reference states, they provide a different visual quality.
In summary, while both paints use water, their core composition and resulting artistic effects are distinct. Water paint (watercolour) and acrylic paint are separate categories of art supplies.
