Acrylic was a three-piece band with Jeff Gutt (The X Factor USA season 3 ru… Read Full Bio ↴Acrylic was a three-piece band with Jeff Gutt (The X Factor USA season 3 runner-up, Band With No Name, ex-Dry Cell) on vocals/guitars.

There are 8 songs of Acrylic that can be found on the Internet (All The Dirty, Blinded, Died In Your Arms (Cutting Crew Cover), Fading, Loser, No Audience, Odium, Reason To Bother).

"Loser" was re-recorded for Band With No Name's 2009 album "Humanity".

Reason To Bother
Acrylic Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't, 'cause I've finally found myself, in a dark and dirty hole
And I'm doing fine without a soul

Someone find a-another reason, for us to bother with all of this
Why should we care, why should we try, when no one's ever gave a shit for us?
(Why should we try?)

Calm, like an overwhelming peace, I've been wating for so long for

Maybe I can get some sleep, for once

Someone find a-another reason, for us to bother with all of this
Why should we care, why should we try, when no one's ever gave a shit for us?
(Why should we try?)

For us, for us, for us

Someone find a-another reason, for us to bother with
Someone find a-another reason, for us to bother with all of this
Why should we care, why should we try, when no one's ever gave a shit for us?
(Why should we try?)

No more reasons
(For us)
Why should we?
(For us)

Why should we try?
(For us)

Overall Meaning

In "Reason to Bother," Acrylic portrays the feelings of apathy and despair in a way that reflects the struggles of the younger generation. The dark and dirty hole that the singer finds themselves in could be interpreted as a metaphor for the struggles of daily life or the gloominess of the current political atmosphere. The line "And I'm doing fine without a soul" can be seen as the singer coming to terms with the fact that they are alone, but they are fine with it. It may also point to a desire to center oneself and find inner strength.

The chorus of "someone find another reason for us to bother with all of this" seems to speak to a sense of disillusionment and lack of motivation. Why should they try or care if nobody else does? This feeling is common among many young people who feel like they're getting lost or left behind in a world that doesn't value them, or a society that doesn't recognize or adequately respond to their problems.

The line "maybe I can get some sleep, for once" highlights the emotional and mental exhaustion that emerges from prolonged and unrelenting struggles, and the sense of relief that can follow when one reaches a calm, secure space. Overall, Acrylic's "Reason to Bother" is a poignant expression of the frustration and social fatigue that many youth feel towards the unequal and often oppressive structures that shape their lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't, 'cause I've finally found myself, in a dark and dirty hole
I don't need anyone or anything anymore, because I have found myself in a bad place and have adapted to it

And I'm doing fine without a soul
I am able to cope without feeling any emotions since I found myself in this place

Someone find a-another reason, for us to bother with all of this
There should be another reason for us to continue living and putting effort into things

Why should we care, why should we try, when no one's ever gave a shit for us?
We have never received care or attention from others, so why should we waste our time and energy caring about anything?

Calm, like an overwhelming peace, I've been waiting for so long for
I finally feel peaceful and content, which is something I have been seeking for a long time

Maybe I can get some sleep, for once
Perhaps I can finally rest and find some peace of mind

Someone find a-another reason, for us to bother with all of this
We need someone to provide us with another reason to keep going and trying

No more reasons
We have run out of reasons to bother with anything

Why should we?
Why should we keep trying or caring?

Why should we try?
Why put forth effort and waste our time?

Contributed by Isabella N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Comments from YouTube:

@Cindy-zn2so

1y↑17

Crazy. I have around a dozen hand painted - with acrylics that I surely thinned with water as needed, then varnished. They're still as bright, strong and beautiful as the day they were made.

@therenaissancelass

1y↑8

Thank you so much for clearing this up! I saw that video and was initially scared but all my experiences with using water with acrylics showed me she didn't make sense. Im so glad you posted this video. You just confirmed what I believed

@dorothygladsjo3510

41w↑3

We newbies need these “unhack” videos!
Thank you Lisa!!

@myspud9254

51w↑2

I wanted to add a comment to support you Lisa. Thanks for your video. As you say, the quality of the paint is everything, and understanding how acrylic works is essential. As it happens, David Jansen just recently provided a very in depth discussion of this topic on You Tube in his How To Use Acrylics Like Oils Video. I have already listened to it a couple of times, and will listen again many more times. Not only is David an artist and teacher, he is also a chemist and had formulated paint for several companies in his earlier career. There is a use for water, mediums and extenders with acrylic paint depending on the type of painting you do and where you live and now I know why. I almost gave up on any kind of acrylic art. I live in the desert. Today is a typical 90 degrees and 4% humidity. I need to use all these tools, and now that I’ve been educated by David I can enjoy acrylics (I was a former oil painter). All of your tips, information and examples are so helpful. Thank you again for supporting and helping us.

@SheilaLandry

1y↑2

I am with you 1000 percent, Lisa. I started out painting in acrylic paint and yes - the QUALITY paint doesn't have any issues when adding even a lot of water. I always thin my acrylics to some extent. I usually just move on when I see goofy videos like the one you described. I am glad you debunked the fear-mongering. I think these videos that you are doing that clears up misinformation are among your most valueable. Thank you so much! <3 You are "da best!" :D

@carolsieminski6192

1y↑3

Thank you for this! I tried glazing with a glaze medium because I was afraid to water down my paint, and I hated the results!

@davidcoker7989

14w

Great video, thanks for posting! To add to this, twenty years ago I painted a terracotta pot with ultramarine Liquitex basics, straight out of the tube, thinned with a good bit of water to make it spread and hold on to the pot. This has been sitting out in the Southern California sun now since it was painted in all kinds of weather and not only is the paint all still there but it is as brilliant and full of color as the day it was painted. The paint has not faded one bit. Acrylics are some of the best paints there are and will take a beating!

@travisnobleart

1y↑8

I used to listen to all art advice when I started, that is until I started getting knocked around by contradictions. I've learned since that the only way to really know is to test it out for yourself in the cheapest, quickest way possible.

@jeffreykitchens6729

13w

My wife used the liquitex Basics paints when she was starting out. The color faded over a few years so she switched to the liquitex professional paints. Better results for sure.

@TsukabuNosoratori2

1y↑1

Thank you so much for this. I'm kind of annoyed that a video which wasn't really well founded in facts was getting so much attention. I use my acrylics with water all the time- M Graham is another good brand, and Sennelier have good acrylics too. I also use my Acrylics in my journals after I Gesso the heck out of a page to protect it. An artist can really accomplish a whole world of artsy dreams with the right information and products.

@danaparsonsliquidcosmosart2669

1y↑1

The only instance I can think where using to much water is an issue is acrylic paint pouring. But painting traditionally.. hell no! <3 thanks Lisa

@marikothecheetah9342

1y↑1

I think I saw the video and it's great to hear from you. Acrylics is water soluble medium and the only major difference between acrylics and watercolour or gouache (afaik) is the fact, that acrylic contains plastic. Also, with this all being said by that person, Holbein's acrylic gouache could not exist. :D

@justacatwhocantype

1y↑7

I remember a video like that, it's been around for a while. Or is there a new one out now? I gotta have to check. Of course you can mix acrylics with water, I am surprised that someone who has painted with acrylics before would even doubt this. It's not like I'm some huge acrylics painter, this is actually a medium that I use quite rarely, but when I do I will use as much water as I want. Never ran into problems with this. If the plastic stuff in the paint would not connect properly, one should notice this immediately, and I have never seen that. As you said, it is thinkable that the gesso or structure paste or something might not provide a good surface and the paint will flake, but that is so entirely different than the paint not being able to set properly, and flaking off from problematic surfaces can even happen with thick paint directly from the tube.

@staciecarrel4492

1y↑1

I’ve seen the video myself, it was one of the first I stumbled upon when I was first painting over 10 years ago. I’ve been to most every acrylic painting channel many times and that one video from the early days of YouTube is the only one I’ve seen making that claim. From my understanding the liquid retarder like what golden makes is for when you want to use watery paint BUT have a shorter dry time.

@bozomahoney

17w

A famous local artist paints with watered-down acrylics. I went to her large studio, and she happened to be there that day; what a treat for me! I asked her how she gets such beautiful detail.....she said "lots of water".

@pickenchews

18w

Question: if you start a painting with a wash that used too much water, is it wise to paint over it, or will future layers of paint be at risk of flaking & peeling due to the early overly-thinned wash underneath?

@lindausery6456

Saw that video when I first started looking at YouTube to learn to paint. I’m so glad I found you almost immediately. You are the best!❤

@anamationandplaythroughs7501

1y↑1

Wow! Good to know, I’ve used colored pencils or watercolor pencils and lately Derwent inktense. I’m starting to dabble in acrylic so I don’t know much about this medium yet. Also I don’t know this person you speak of and thanks for the info because for people who are starting this will be mislead (if not for you, probably me included) and that would detour them from possibly being great at this medium, you know?

@paulakerman2371

28w↑1

I bought a An Acrylic painting Course (luckily on offer) which said you must glaze between each layer, which i wasn't sure about, so i searched and found that this was not the case with other, professional artists, so thank you for confirming this

@Lachri

23w

Glad I could help!

@serjerin

1y↑1

Another great piece of advice. Thank you.

@cindyd.01

1y↑1

Thank you for the public service! I have been adding water to my Golden acrylics for years. :)

@Lacroix999

While I don’t particularly use water to water down my acrylics, I’ve NEVER heard this before or experienced this before in this manner due to watered down paints and I, too, have been painting for nearly 30 years myself! I can’t even get water to get the acrylic paint off my paintbrushes because it won’t break down in just water! 😂😂 acrylic paint is essentially made with acrylic….or PLASTIC binders. Once it dries, it’s basically a layer of PLASTIC! While it CAN chip off the surface it’s painted on, it does this not because of the water that it’s mixed with but because it doesn’t completely adhere to the surface it’s put on. This is why you can peel it off of some things very easily (like off you palette) and others not so much (like your canvas or off of other surfaces like wood).

@oiseaufeu

1y↑1

I once mixed my own pouring paint and I added too much water in it. It didn't give me the consistance I wanted and it was more water than paint. That's a mistake that I made a year or 2 ago. I do now mix water and some medium to make my pouring paint. Enough water with some medium in to make thick enough and fluid enough to be able to pour it on my support (wooden plank mostly).

@loati94

1y↑3

Best thing about that video is that her explanation of underbinding also completely obliterates watercolors and oil paints because you also dilute the binder with either water or oms lol

@marikothecheetah9342

Yeah, acrylic gouache enter the chat :D

@tinkerquinn8580

1y↑4

My brain doesn't understand watercolors. So I have thinned my acrylics down to watercolor consistency in order to do backgrounds on canvases before my finished paintings. Never had problems.

@jjunimd

I have a somewhat different take. When I thin my acrylic paint with a lot of water - maybe 40-50% - I often have trouble getting the paint to stick, especially if I am painting over an existing layer of paint. As you say, once it has dried, the watery paint is perfectly durable, but I have often been intensely frustrated when I stroke the loaded brush over the previous layer of (dry) paint and paint just won't come off the brush. Anyone else have this issue? Lisa?

@Lachri

1y↑1

I'm guessing it's the type of paint you're using. The liquitex basics dry more mat so you're less likely to have this issue with them than a high gloss paint.

@jjunimd

@Lachri Fine Art Ahh... I've been using Golden. I've not heard this aspect of diluting paint discussed before. Thank you!

@celtpro

Have no problems when using water with acrylic paints, as with anything like painting or cooking it is the amount of a liquid that you use or don't that, makes all the difference to the end product.

@P_i_l_s_o

1y↑2

Once I saw that video I didn't believe it because I like to use super water-thined acrylics and never had a problem. I even have used it to tint wood slats as artist frames. Why keep the misinformation up and not put up a correction is beyond me, they would get even more views and interaction with their stuff.

@user-wo8un7vv9t

Thank you for the information ✨♥

@honsville

1y↑1

I have a question. I get my water from a well and it's very hard water, lots of calcium and whatnot, very easy to get soap off ya after you shower.

My parents get city water which is very soft. When you wash your hands it takes forever to get the soap off.

Has anybody ever noticed a difference between thinning acrylics with hard vs soft water? I wonder if the paint would be smoother going on the canvas with very soft water.

@kristyb787

I have used acrylic paint even on my stairs, 20 yrs and still look good.

@joesweeney7216

51w↑1

Is the video you're referring to the one that says to thin your paint using airbrush medium for toning a canvas?

@KavyaChannaganu

I am trying to make a paint pendulum, for that, up to how much water can I add to acrylic paint...any idea?

@lisavineyard348

OMG I'm so glad you're bringing this up. I seen that video 🤣🤣🤣 I won't listen to anything else she says, that's for sure. Thanks for the knowledge.

@myhandlehasbeenmishandled

1y↑2

I think not liking results is a bad argument. You are just not used to the medium so you are not getting what you want. But yeah you don't need to use what you don't want. And at the end if you can't get what you want from a tool when you need it you don't have to use it.

At the end i would still prefer information from chemists that make the paint. Not just personal experience. I'll take a look at that Golden paints video. But a while back it's their website where I found info on why you shouldn't use water.

@paulwoodford1984

1y↑1

Acrylics and water are born to be together.

@jeffhildreth9244

20w

Whoever the expert was who said no water.. what do they think makes the acrylic paint liquid in production and makes it water clean up.
The best water for acrylic paint is Acqua Panna or plain tap water through a BRITA filter.
BTW I go to settings and then to Play Back Speed and tone it down to .75.

@Lachri

20w

I will do more for sure. I typically open the critiques up for top tier patreon students and depending on how many submissions I get, I invite other tiers to submit :)

@tiagodagostini

1y↑1

That video is a disgrace. I posted so many answers pointing that she was wrong but she kept removing it. Acrylics can resist an absurd amount of water.

That said, I learned a trick a few years ago.. I started using liquid transparent floor wax. It is 99% the same component as base of acrylics and you can thin it without making it get a long sticky perdiod durign the dry out.

@ChristinaTodd1970

I found that video and laughed. You're right. She's got almost 6 million votes but only 87k subs.

@jpwartist

Daler-Rowney can't be that bad. They are a British company that have been going since 1783.

@Lachri

1y↑1

They were terrible last I used them.

@EevaSaviranta

1y↑2

They have different series, from hobby quality to professional ones and I would imagine the professional ones are just fine

@jpwartist

1y↑1

@Lachri Fine Art I believe their better quality professional range of acrylic paint goes under the name of "System 3". The "graduate" range is cheap paint for schools and hobby artists.

@sajwilswilson2186

1y↑1

@JPW-Artist You are right about the System 3 range from Daler-Rowney. I've always been very happy with the results and even exhibited pieces painted with System 3. I also use Liquitex Basics.

@bcLCurtis214

Not acrylic paint, that's a "new" medium.

4 More Replies...

@rubylicious1024

26w

would be nice if you linked or named the video you're talking about, so people could look it up themselves..

@hyukiru

1y↑8

omg acrylic is litterely A WATER BASED MEDIUM- why people always try to make up this bs and make people scared...it's like as if someone said "u can not use water with watercolor"... WGAT IS THE MEANING OF THAT VIDEO?!