Acrylic paint is mixed with water just as watercolor paints are mixed. Once the acrylic paint dries it is permanent and cannot be lifted from the surface of the painting. Watercolor can be removed by wetting again and scrubbing with a dry brush or blotting with a cloth or paper towel.

Acrylic can be thinned while painting to make the color transparent, like watercolors, or it can be used directly from the tube and applied thickly like oil paint to become opaque. It can be painted over as soon as it dries and layers built up. Thinned until transparent, acrylics can be layered with different colors to produce depth to the color.

Acrylics don't necessarily need a glazed frame but watercolors need some protection due to the fragile nature of the paint.