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.
Painter
Mickalene Thomas
Mickalene Thomas is an American painter known for acrylic and enamel portraits with rhinestones, collage, and patterned interiors celebrating Black women.
Mickalene Thomas quick facts
Explore Mickalene Thomas's materials, acrylic and enamel layers, portrait methods, rhinestone decoration, and painted wood-panel and canvas supports.
| Born | 1971 · Camden, New Jersey, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Died | — |
| Nationality | American |
| Movements | Contemporary art · Black feminist art |
| Paint types | Acrylic paint · Enamel paint · Oil paint (in some mixed-media works) |
| Painting surfaces | Wood panels · Canvas mounted on wood panel |
| Painting methods | Staging and photographing models, transferring photographic compositions, layering paint and collage, and applying rhinestones by hand |
| Common subjects | Black women, portraits, elaborate domestic interiors, beauty, intimacy, and reinterpretations of art history |
| Other materials | Rhinestones, silkscreen elements, photographic collage, and gold leaf in selected works |
| Notable works | A-E-I-O-U and Sometimes Y · Portrait of Mnonja · Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe: Les Trois Femmes Noires |
Sources: National Museum of Women in the Arts: biography and materials, NMWA: A-E-I-O-U and Sometimes Y, Smithsonian American Art Museum: Portrait of Mnonja, The Broad: painting supports and materials, Seattle Art Museum: acrylic, enamel, oil, and rhinestone works, and PAFA: acrylic and enamel on wood panels.
Paint types used
Explore Thomas's documented acrylic, enamel, and occasional oil paints, while distinguishing rhinestones and collage from conventional paint types.
Enamel Paint
Enamel paint is a broad category of coatings designed to form a hard and durable finish. Modern enamels may use either oil-based or water-based binders.
Oil Paint
Oil paint is a slow-drying paint made with pigment and a drying oil binder. It is widely used for artwork because it blends smoothly and develops rich color.
Surface types used
Explore the wood panels and canvas mounted on rigid panels used for Thomas's layered portraits, decorative finishes, and rhinestone surfaces.
Wood
Wood is a natural, porous material with grain patterns and absorbency that vary by species and cut. Its surface may also contain knots, resin, or an existing finish.
Canvas
Canvas is a woven fabric used as a flexible support for painting. Artist canvas is commonly made from cotton or linen and sold either raw or coated with a ground layer.
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