Acrylic is a type of synthetic material, meaning it's made by humans in factories rather than coming from nature. The most common forms you'll encounter are acrylic paint and acrylic fabric.

Acrylic paint is thick, colorful paint that artists love because it dries quickly and creates bright, long-lasting colors. Unlike watercolors that can run and smudge, or oil paints that take days to dry, acrylic paint dries in minutes and stays put. Once dry, it's waterproof. You can paint with acrylics on canvas, wood, paper, or even rocks. Many school art classes use acrylic paints because they're easy to clean up with soap and water while wet, but permanent once dry.

Acrylic fabric, sometimes called acrylic yarn when used for knitting, feels soft and warm like wool but costs less and is easier to wash. You might own sweaters, blankets, or mittens made from acrylic fibers. Some people prefer acrylic to wool because it doesn't make them itchy and can go right in the washing machine.

Scientists developed acrylic materials in the 1940s. Today, acrylic appears in countless products: paints, fabrics, and the clear plastic used for aquarium walls.