Acrylic paintings and techniques have the advantage over other media in that they are long-lasting, yet less costly than oil paintings.  Oil and pastels for paintings have drawbacks, pastels being more ephemeral and possibly giving rise to breathing issues due to their chalk residue, and oils for the length of time needed to dry being quite lengthy, perhaps up to months’ worth of drying time, as well as the turpentine fumes being bothersome to many.  Acrylic paintings are synthetic paint made from pigments blended with synthetic materials.  They are water-soluble and can be used on a large range of surfaces; they can be mixed as can oil paints and they clean up easily.  In an indoor studio, their smell is less overwhelming than is an oil-based paint. While many artists choose oils because of their opacity, the translucent quality of arcrylic paintings and techniques lend themselves to underpainting, that is, applying a monotone of sorts as a primer.  Some artists prefer umber with a touch of black, or even umber mixed with ultramarine blue, after which primary mixing all are mixed with white.  Generally, the underpainting is applied in glazes or very thin brushstrokes; when the artist feels comfortable with the underpainting, then the ‘fun part’ begins, the detailing of the final look of the painting.  Why do underpainting?  Because the depth and luminosity of color is increased, bringing an inner glow to the finished product.  Any self-respecting artist will want the optimal outcome for his hard work.

Painting in this layering process can aid the creative energy also, keeping it going strong as an artist has one layer drying in one painting while working on another.  The synergy of creativity feeds on itself.  The artist may also use acrylics as a range of techniques, from transparent washes to opaque layers, due to the water-solubility of the acrylic medium.  This same water-solubility can prove to be a challenge, as acrylics tend to dry faster than the artist can blend to his satisfaction; however, a stay-wet palette solves this problem, enabling the artist to blend his colors and keep them fresh for days at a time.  A number of artists use acrylics solely as underpainting, layering the coats until satisfied with their effect on the canvas, then apply oil paints to this rich layer. 

As you can see, the abstract artist using acrylics has a number of reasons for using this particular medium, but the basics are these:  they last, and they can be worked quickly into a work of art.  An artist working on commission can speedily predict exactly how much time a piece will take to dry, after the initial work is completed.  This is a special bonus for both the artist and the patron as well, as timeframes can be judged accurately and thus allow for the timely distribution of resources.  In the art world, pleasing a patron leads to better business practices all around and referrals for future work from the patron and his friends.  Acrylics are the medium of choice for the artist and he will illustrate their use as the best medium to his patrons.