Acrylic paint has long been prized for its versatility, vibrant color, and quick drying time. For many artists though, acrylic’s quick dry time can feel like a limitation. Fast drying means cutting short the opportunity to blend, soften, and rework passages on the canvas. Enter Golden OPEN Acrylics – a slow drying paint in 80 colors that is fully unique to Golden Artist Colors, yet completely compatible with other acrylics. OPEN’s dried film is the same durable, flexible, archival film as other Golden paints– it just takes longer to get there.

What sets OPEN Acrylics apart is simple but transformative: they dry slowly. Using a proprietary 100% acrylic polymer binder, these paints remain workable five to ten times longer than traditional acrylics. Instead of racing against the clock, artists can take their time to blend colors seamlessly, adjust edges, and develop subtle transitions over extended periods. This extended open time gives the paint a handling quality often likened to the attributes of oils. Colors can be feathered into one another with ease, fine details can be refined without haste, and glazes can be developed gradually. Even on the palette, OPEN Acrylics resist forming a skin, instead drying in a more homogenous way. A thick dollop of paint will slowly thicken. Some artists use this characteristic to condition their palette. Say you prefer a thicker paint, or a slightly faster drying time than fresh out of the OPEN tube, a little palette prep ahead of time can deliver that experience.

Despite their unique formulation, OPEN Acrylics integrate smoothly into the existing acrylic system. They are fully compatible with nearly all other Golden acrylic paints and mediums. Artists can mix them freely, adjusting drying times and handling properties to suit their needs. Previous innovations from Golden have allowed artists to control for viscosity, sheen, texture, and opacity. Adding Open to the tool kit allows you to control for time. That flexibility opens the door to hybrid techniques.

A fast-drying acrylic underpainting can establish composition and structure, followed by layers of OPEN Acrylics for nuanced blending and detail. Mixing OPEN with standard acrylics will shorten drying time proportionally, allowing artists to fine-tune how quickly or slowly the paint sets, while maintaining maximum pigment load.

Rather than replacing traditional acrylics, OPEN Acrylics expand their possibilities. They offer a level of control that many artists have historically associated with oil painting, but without the need for solvents or seriously extended curing times. This makes OPEN especially appealing for painters seeking a more gradual, contemplative process while still working within an acrylic system that retains all the best qualities of an archival professional artist paint.

The benefits extend beyond technique. Because the paint remains workable longer, there is less waste on the palette. Colors can be revisited and adjusted, even after sitting for some time. On the palette, fewer color blends will be lost to drying prematurely, offering more value in less wasted paint.

Golden OPEN Acrylics represent more than just a variation on a familiar medium; they challenge assumptions about what acrylic painting must look like and how it must behave. By extending working time, techniques that have traditionally been challenging for acrylic are now possible. From portraiture and landscapes in Plein Air, to glazing and printmaking applications, the artist can find more time to just paint.