Acrylic

A paint made with a synthetic acrylic resin, quick-drying and usually water-based. First used in the 1940s, it combines some of the properties of oil and watercolour and can be used to create a variety of effects from thin washes to thick brushwork. Although it behaves like oil paint when wet it doesn't give the same rich translucency.

    The Meeting, Royal Academy of Arts,    by Leonard Rosoman,    1979-1984,    NPG 5740,    © National Portrait Gallery, London The Meeting, Royal Academy of Arts, by Leonard Rosoman, 1979-1984
    Diana, Princess of Wales,    by Bryan Organ,    1981,    NPG 5408,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Diana, Princess of Wales, by Bryan Organ, 1981
    Philip Larkin,    by Humphrey Ocean,    1984,    NPG 5746,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Philip Larkin, by Humphrey Ocean, 1984
    Leigh Bowery ('What is he trying to get at? Where does he want to go?'),    by Stephen Willats,    1984,    NPG 6660,    © Stephen Willats Leigh Bowery ('What is he trying to get at? Where does he want to go?'), by Stephen Willats, 1984
    Queen Elizabeth II,    by Michael Leonard,    1985-1986,    NPG 5861,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Queen Elizabeth II, by Michael Leonard, 1985-1986
    Sir Michael Kemp Tippett,    by Martin Rose,    1989,    NPG 6043,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Sir Michael Kemp Tippett, by Martin Rose, 1989
    James Ivory,    by Don Bachardy,    1996,    NPG 6372,    © National Portrait Gallery, London James Ivory, by Don Bachardy, 1996
    Derek Walcott ('The Sun Poet'),    by Ross Wilson,    1997,    NPG 6400,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Derek Walcott ('The Sun Poet'), by Ross Wilson, 1997
    Neil Kinnock; Glenys Kinnock,    by Andrew Tift,    2001,    NPG 6583,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Neil Kinnock; Glenys Kinnock, by Andrew Tift, 2001
    Alfred Brendel,    by Tony Bevan,    2005,    NPG 6720,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Alfred Brendel, by Tony Bevan, 2005
    Johnson Gideon Beharry,    by Emma Wesley,    2006,    NPG 6803,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Johnson Gideon Beharry, by Emma Wesley, 2006
    Paul Nurse ('Paul'),    by Jason Brooks,    2008,    NPG 6837,    © National Portrait Gallery, London Paul Nurse ('Paul'), by Jason Brooks, 2008