• Henry Levison establishes Permanent Pigments, Inc., a small, family owned enterprise that makes artists’ oil paint.

• Permanent Pigments plays the leading role in the introduction of the first quality standards for artist’s paints, established by the federal agency, the Bureau of Standards.
• Permanent Pigments becomes the first art material company to test paint for lightfastness.
• Permanent Pigments becomes the first company to list pigment identification and lightfastness ratings on artists’ paint container labels.

• Henry Levison and other founding members created the National Art Materials Trade Association. The first trade organization dedicated to the advancement of artist materials.

• Permanent Pigments develops the first commercially available water-based acrylic paint. The paint is called: Liquitex ("liquid texture").
• The first water-based acrylic mediums and varnish are developed: Gloss Medium & Varnish, and Matte Medium.
• The first water-based acrylic gesso is developed.
• The first modeling paste is developed.

• The first high viscosity, heavy body, water-based acrylic paint, with a consistency similar to oil paints, is developed: High Viscosity Artist Color.
• The first high viscosity, heavy body, water-based acrylic gel medium is developed.

• Binney & Smith (the manufacturer of Crayola crayons) acquires Liquitex (Permanent Pigments, Inc.).

• The Lecture Demonstration Program is established: The first program of lectures and demonstrations given by practicing artists, to artists at colleges and universities throughout the U.S.
• Technique Sheets and Project Sheets are developed: Designed and written specifically for artists, describing product attributes and applications.

• The first removable acrylic varnishes are developed: Soluvar Gloss Varnish and Soluvar Matte Varnish.
• Develops the first use of an Isolation Varnish.

• The first machine to test paint for lightfastness is developed.

• The first pre-mixed acrylic colors are developed: Modular Color System.
• Becomes the first acrylic paint to label its colors according to their hue, chroma and value.
• Develops the first Cadmium Replacement Colors. In 1980 these colors are re-labeled: Cadmium Hue Colors.
• The first neutral gray colors are developed: Neutral Gray Colors
• The first acrylic retarder mediums are developed: Retarder Medium and Slow-Dri Medium.
• The Color Map and Mixing Guide developed.

• Becomes a member of the original ASTM sub-committee that develops the test standards for artist paints and related materials.

• Becomes the first paint to be packaged in Glaminate tubes. These tubes (laminated layers of plastic, metal and paper) replace all metal tubes, which are prone to corrosion, cracking and other problems.
• Iridescent acrylic paint is developed: Iridescent Artist Colors.
• Cadmium Hue color line expanded to offer non-toxic substitutes for hazardous and/or expensive colors.
• The Art Purchase Program developed: A program, which purchases artwork from artists nationwide for the corporate collection.

• The How to Use and Mix Color Book is written: Designed and written specifically for artists.

• The first paint to be labeled for ASTM standards, for toxicity, quality and lightfastness.
• Liquitex tests all acrylic paint, for ASTM standards, for the entire art material industry.

• Matte Gel Medium and Heavy Gel Medium are developed.
• Fine Arts Council is created. A group of influential artists and art educators from colleges and universities who meet once a year to discuss the needs of art students, professional artists and art educators.

• Fabric Medium is developed.
• Interference Acrylic Paints are developed.

• The Art Video Series: Volume I - An Introduction to Color Mixing is developed.

• The Art Video Series: Volume II - A survey of Acrylic Techniques is developed.

• Iridescent Tinting Medium is developed.

• The first and only acrylic opaque extender mediums are developed: Jarpaque and Gelex.
• Flow Aid Medium is developed.
• High Gloss Varnish is developed: A gloss varnish designed for rigid surfaces.
• Satin Varnish is developed: A satin varnish designed for rigid surfaces.

• Acrylic Wood Stains are developed.
• First Acrylic Enamel Paints are developed: Glossies™.
• Consumer Education Department established, to promote the exchange of information and education of acrylic art materials.

• Acrylic Texture Gel Mediums are developed.
• Blending & Painting Medium is developed.
• Liquithick™ is developed.
• Acrylics in Action Video is developed: Designed and written as an introduction to acrylic paints and mediums.

• The first U.S. fine art, high quality, economy acrylic paint for beginners and students are developed: Basics.
• Basics Gesso is developed.
• Basics Brushes are developed.

• The first 3-dimensional, non-leveling, polyurethane paint developed: Structural Paint.
• Airbrush Medium is developed.

• Internet Site is established.
• Paint for Publication started.

• Develops new resin system for all its acrylic colors and mediums. New resin system offers the highest quality acrylic paint and mediums ever made: state of the art color clarity, brilliance, and longevity.
• Student Paint Exchange started: Up to $1,000 in acrylic paints and mediums are awarded monthly to college-level fine art painting students.
• Paint A Difference Competition established: A program celebrating the works and benefiting the lives of artists with AIDS. The first national effort to assist artists with HIV/AIDS in continuing , presenting and preserving their work

• Liquitex Acrylics are the only acrylic colors that are rated CP (Certified Product) by the ASTM. These are the only acrylic colors that pass specific tests for quality, performance and safety.
• Excellence in Art Purchase Award program started: Cash and product awards for artists.
• The Acrylic Book is written.

• 18 New High Viscosity Colors added to the line.
• High Viscosity colors (limited palette) available in 16 and 32 oz. wide mouth, clear jars.
• Basics colors (Ivory Black and Titanium White) available in 16 and 32 oz. wide mouth, clear jars.
• Primary Mixing Sets are developed.

• 15 New Medium Viscosity Colors added to the line.

• ColArt acquires Liquitex.

2001

• Liquitex publishes a New Acrylic Book as a resource for artists

2002

• Much anticipated launch of newly designed web site
• BASICS MATT is developed and launched as the first completely Matt acrylic available in a student range. Includes 36 colors in spectrum.
• Launch of six new mediums: Clear Gesso, High Gloss Varnish, Slow-Dri Fluid Blending Medium, Slow-Dri Gel Blending Medium, Glazing Medium, Gloss Super Heavy Gel
• Eight new colors added to BASICS range, along with reformulation of range to include more single pigment colors.

Go to the top

---

All contents ©1999-2007 Liquitex Artist Materials. All materials are provided for non-commercial, educational use. To contact Liquitex, e-mail us, or call 1-888-4ACRYLIC (1-888-422-7954)
Sitemap