Acrylic Colour - Oxford Definition

An emulsion paint employing a synthetic medium (acrylic resin), first used in the 1940s. It has proved a serious rival to oil paint with many modern artists, most famously with David Hockney. It is soluble in water, quick-drying, and can be used on a variety of surfaces. Acrylic colours do not yellow and can be easily removed with mineral spirits or turpentine. For these reasons they are often used in conservation work.