Emulsion Paint
Emulsion paint is a common UK term for water-based paint used on interior walls and ceilings. Most modern formulas use an acrylic or vinyl binder and dry to a durable finish.
Painter
Bridget Riley
Bridget Riley is a British painter known for abstract compositions that create optical movement through repeated lines, curves, shapes, and structured color relationships.
Related: Lucia Di Luciano · Peter Halley
Bridget Riley quick facts
Review key details about Bridget Riley's life, career, Op Art practice, major periods, and the visual systems of line, rhythm, movement, and color that shaped her work.
| Born | 1931 · England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Paint media | Emulsion paint · Acrylic paint |
| Early supports | Board and Masonite, followed by large-scale canvas and wall-based work |
| Common forms | Lines, waves, stripes, discs, curves, repeated geometric units, and structured color sequences |
| Known for | Op Art and perceptual abstraction that makes a static painted surface appear to pulse, shift, or move |
Sources: Museum of Modern Art, Yale / Bridget Riley catalogue: Current, Kunstmuseum Den Haag: White Discs 2, and British Council: Cataract 3.
Paint types used
See the paint types documented in Riley's work, with links to PaintZeal references explaining each medium's properties, uses, and working characteristics.
Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is a fast-drying, water-based paint made with pigment and an acrylic polymer binder. It is widely used in art and decorative projects because it is versatile and durable.
Surface types used
See the surface types documented in Riley's work, with links to PaintZeal references explaining how each support behaves and is prepared for painting.
Painting Board
Painting board is a rigid artist support made from hardboard, wood, or another stable panel material. It may be sold raw or prepared with a medium-specific ground layer.
Canvas
Canvas is a woven fabric support used for paintings, banners, bags, décor, and other projects. Artist canvas may be raw, sized, acrylic-primed, oil-primed, or factory-coated, and each condition changes how paint absorbs and bonds.
Plaster
Plaster is a porous mineral wall and ceiling finish that may be based on gypsum, lime, or other binders. Fresh plaster contains significant moisture and can be highly absorbent until fully dry and appropriately sealed.