Artist Acrylics ?

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Posted by Jon Harl on March 03, 2004

I wonder how artist acrylics would hold up on an exterior sign. I was thinking of using them on illustration work (samples) and wonder if anyone has any experience with them. I know Gary Anderson uses acrylic house paint for all his sign uses including illustration. I was thinking with any artist acrylic one would have to be careful of the colors used because of lightfastness. Thanks for your input.

Roderick

The brand I use for almost everything is NOVA COLOR.There in L.A. and is it great paint inside or out.They also make their own clear mediums flat,matt and gloss that glaze great 310 204 6900.
I have heard of an exterior water base german mural paint called "kiem".I'm told the colors last forever but it's like painting with colored comet cleaner.
Hope that helps.
Roderick

Tony Segale

I've used a few different brands with good success.
For an exterior sign, I've have made the switch to using primarily Benjamin Moore Paints.
The primer, BM Fresh Start, has excellent working and adhesion characteristics and dries very hard after three days. I even primed a piece of di-bond as a test piece and the Fresh Start stuck extremely well to the slick glossy surface.
BM exterior and interior paints are the best quality you can find. Grab a few tubes of universal Tints and you can create any color you wish.
For artists acrylics, I've used Liquitex and dick Blicks for interior murals. For exterior murals, I've used liquitex and Utrecht (Bill Hueg suggested trying Utrecht). I used a combination of exterior acrylic latex paint and Utrecht artist acrylics for two 16'x25' exterior wall murals at the Lodi Grape Festival grounds in March 2001. The wall faces east and gets extreme heat and sunlight throughout the year. The only fading I've noticed is areas where I used a glaze of yellow.
I used the same Utrecht paints on a pictorial that I painted on regal banner cloth and adhered to a sign. This one I applied a clear overcoat and looks as good today as the day it was painted back in Nov 2001. This one faces west, more extreme sun. The clear I used is Clear Exterior Varnish (satin,matte or gloss) by J.W. etc.
The stuff isn't cheap. Sells for $99 gallon (I got a case a $69 a gallon if you need some) but it is probably the best available. Water based, easy cleanup, crack-resistant creating a water resistant barrier.
Also, Cal western paints makes a good artistic acrylic, some you can find in a Benjamin Moore paint store. Goldens are another good brand.
You also need to check the Lightfastness ratings of the colors you use, I rating is good while a III rating is not recommended for direct sunlight.

www.utrecht.com
www.jwetc.com

Rick Sacks

Last year we put up a large carved job with the colors done mixing Liquatex and house paint. White house paint for a base for the light colors. The magentas and pinks we mixed quite a bit brighter than we watned, assuming they'd rapidly fade to where we wanted them. After six seasons, they're still too bright.

Mike Jackson

Rick,
I can echo some of the same info. We did a sign for a rock climbing gym a couple of years before we sold the shop. The painting had a climber in the shadows climbing a rock face with a sunset shot fo the Tetons in pinks, purples, and blues. I can't say I exagerated the hues of those colors, but after 12 or more years, it still looks like the day I painted it. This panel is on a North facing building, so it doesn't get direct sun but in a few months of the year.

Sparky Potter and Jay Cooke were using acrylics for many of their illustrations when we were in Vermont in 1986. I didn't see any failures on the illustrations and Jay confirmed how well they held up for him. When we landed in Jackson Hole, Darla and I started using them. We already knew acrylic latex backgrounds were holding up.

Mike Jackson

Mike Jackson

From all accounts, Liquitex Acrylics hold up well, and also when used as glazes. We've had a few up for a long time. I am sure there are a few colors like purples and pinks that might fade quicker than others, but that is normal in almost all paint lines. Overall, I think you can sleep well with a few pictorials out in the world done with a good brand of Acrylics.

Mike

Robare M. Novou

Yes, Acrylics will hold up, from what I have experienced, versus one shot oils. Especially if you give them a clear coat...of Acrylic Clear or Urethane Clear.

I think we had this debate over acrylic house paint (Or Acrylic Artist paint) versus Latex house paint. And Acrylic was the better of the two. It also costs more.

Has anyone seen Latex Artist Colours? Is that what Liquitex is?

Something I wondered about Urethane Clear was whether you could get it in a matte finish. Cause around here we live by the motto of "See the Sign, not the Shine".

So I stopped down at one of my old stomping grounds, TCR autobody, and nosed around, seems there is an additive you put in with the clear urethane to flatten it. And yes, it will stick to bare wood. The brand name is Lesonal, made by Akzo Nobel...they own Sikkens too, its Mat Clear #071987 Additive for Urethane and comes in a quart. I can't remember if its a powder or a liquid.

I have some Nazdar Universal Flatting Powder, RMP Special Product #SIPI413. I dont know if this would work in urethane, It probably would, its "universal".

My favorite clear is/was the DanaColors Plastic Shield brand, Velvet Flat #D401-5. This is a solvent based clear. And lately I have been hearing of bad results after its been on site for more than 10 years. Checking and cracking.

I have some Chromatic UV Resistant Matte Clear/Waterborne. #4331030. I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet, but I think it would work just fine.

RMN

Mike Jackson - Liqyuitex Top Quality Artist's Acrylics

Liquitex brand (as far as I know) is the industry standard for artist's acrylics. You can buy it in tubes or 4 or 8 oz. bottles. It has an eggshell finish right out of the tube. A little sheen but not especially glossy. Liquitex sells a gloss clear and also a matte clear overcoat material. Personally, I never needed to top coat it at all and would only do so if I wanted to bring the entire piece to the same sheen.

I linked to their site. They might have more technical information on outdoor durability, but i didn't dig into it. When you see their logo, you will easily recognize it if you have ever been in an art supply store.

Mike

LIQUITEX
http://www.theletterheads.com/lhparts/gluechip.html

Mike Jackson - Liquitex Link

Oops,
I put the link in the last post to the Glue-Chip page instead of the correct Liquitex site.

Mike

Liquitex Web Site
http://www.liquitex.com/