Magna

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Magna is an acrylic-resin artist paint developed by Leonard Bocour and introduced by Bocour Artist Colors in 1947.

Last updated August 26, 2026

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First read: Nov 4, 2026
Latest read: Nov 4, 2026

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Overview

Magna is the brand name of an acrylic-resin artist paint developed by Leonard Bocour and sold by Bocour Artist Colors, Inc. beginning in 1947. It occupies an important transitional position in the history of synthetic artists' colors: unlike conventional oil paint, it used an acrylic resin binder, but unlike the water-soluble acrylic paints that later became standard, Magna was formulated with solvents and could be mixed with turpentine or mineral spirits. The paint therefore belongs to an earlier generation of acrylic media whose handling characteristics differed from those of modern water-borne acrylics. The material was made by grinding pigments into an acrylic resin and bringing the mixture into an emulsion through the use of solvents. This formulation gave Magna a relatively rapid drying time and a distinctive surface. Compared with many modern acrylic paints, it was noted for a shinier or glossier finish, although the dried appearance could vary between matte and glossy effects. Its solvent compatibility also made it useful to artists who wanted some of the visual or working properties associated with oil-based media while using an acrylic-resin system. Magna became associated with postwar American painting and was used by several important artists, including Barnett Newman, Morris Louis, and Roy Lichtenstein. Lichtenstein used Magna alongside oil paints, demonstrating that the product could function within mixed-media painting practices rather than being limited to a single technique. Its place in modern-art history derives less from mass-market consumer recognition than from its adoption by influential painters and from the role it played in the development of synthetic artist colors. Bocour Artist Colors later developed Aqua-Tec, a water-borne acrylic paint, in 1960. Aqua-Tec reflected the broader movement toward water-based acrylic formulations that became more familiar to artists and educators. Magna itself is chemically and practically distinct from those later water-soluble products: it is miscible with turpentine or mineral spirits, whereas modern acrylic paints are generally water-soluble when wet. These differences affect cleanup, compatibility, working methods, and the final surface. The historical Magna product is not clearly documented as an active, independently marketed brand in the supplied reference material. Golden Artist Colors produces Mineral Spirit Acrylics, described as a direct modern replacement for Magna. The replacement was also used by Roy Lichtenstein for this purpose, and the available reference notes that he considered the newer product's conservation color range advantageous. Accordingly, Magna is best understood today as a historically significant artist-paint brand and formulation, with its technical legacy represented by solvent-compatible acrylic products rather than by a clearly documented current Magna retail line.

History

Magna was developed in the United States by Leonard Bocour and introduced commercially by Bocour Artist Colors, Inc. in 1947. Its development formed part of the emergence of synthetic resin-based artists' colors during the twentieth century. Rather than relying on a conventional drying oil as its principal binder, Magna used pigments ground into an acrylic resin. The resin was brought into emulsion through solvents, producing a paint with working properties that distinguished it both from oil color and from the water-based acrylic products that later became dominant. One of Magna's notable technical characteristics was its compatibility with turpentine or mineral spirits. This made it a solvent-miscible acrylic medium, in contrast with modern water-soluble acrylic paints. The formulation could dry relatively quickly and was associated with a more pronounced sheen than many later acrylic products. Depending on the application and drying conditions, the surface could appear matte or glossy. These characteristics gave artists a different balance of handling, layering, surface finish, and compatibility from that offered by either traditional oil paint or conventional water-borne acrylic. Magna became particularly significant in the context of postwar American art. Barnett Newman, Morris Louis, and Roy Lichtenstein are among the artists identified with its use. Lichtenstein combined Magna with oil paints, showing how the material could be incorporated into an established oil-painting practice and into paintings that depended on contrasts between different media. The brand's historical importance consequently rests on both its formulation and its role in the working methods of prominent twentieth-century painters. In 1960, Bocour Artist Colors developed Aqua-Tec, a water-borne acrylic paint. The introduction of Aqua-Tec marked a movement toward the type of water-based acrylic technology that became more familiar in contemporary studio and educational settings. Magna remained technically distinct because solvent compatibility was central to its formulation. The difference is consequential for cleanup, studio practice, and the interaction of the paint with other materials. The supplied historical reference does not establish a current owner, active manufacturing program, or continuing retail distribution for the original Magna brand. Golden Artist Colors produces Mineral Spirit Acrylics as a direct replacement. The reference characterizes the differences between the replacement and Magna as small and notes that Roy Lichtenstein used the newer product for that purpose. It also records his view that the MSA Conservation Color range offered a broader or more useful spectrum than the original Magna colors. Magna is therefore best treated as a historically important paint brand whose formulation influenced professional painting practice and whose solvent-compatible acrylic concept survives through a modern replacement rather than through a clearly documented current Magna business.

1960
Bocour develops Aqua-Tec
[1]Magna (paint)en.wikipedia.org
Bocour Artist Colors develops Aqua-Tec, a water-borne acrylic paint that differs from Magna's solvent-compatible formulation.
1947
Magna is introduced
[1]Magna (paint)en.wikipedia.org
Leonard Bocour develops Magna, an acrylic-resin artist paint sold by Bocour Artist Colors, Inc.

Products and positioning

A pioneering professional artist-paint brand positioned between traditional oil media and later water-borne acrylic paints, known for rapid drying, solvent compatibility, and a comparatively glossy surface.

Solvent-compatible acrylic-resin artist paint · 1947
Magna
Magna is an acrylic-resin paint made by grinding pigments into an acrylic resin and using solvents to bring the mixture into emulsion. It dries relatively rapidly and can be mixed with turpentine or mineral spirits, distinguishing it from later water-soluble acrylic paints. The material is associated with a shinier or glossier surface than many modern acrylics, although its dried appearance could range from matte to glossy. Artists including Barnett Newman, Morris Louis, and Roy Lichtenstein used it, with Lichtenstein combining it with oil paint.
Water-borne acrylic artist paint · 1960
Aqua-Tec
Aqua-Tec was a water-borne acrylic paint developed by Bocour Artist Colors after Magna. It represented a different technical direction from Magna's solvent-miscible acrylic-resin system and anticipated the broader acceptance of water-based acrylic paints in contemporary artistic practice. The supplied reference identifies its development in 1960 but does not provide detailed information about its color range, distribution, or current availability.

Recent events

2022.03.02
Reported2022.03.02
Sanctuary raises $58.5 million in Series A funding[3]Sanctuary完成5850万美元A轮融资siliconangle.com
Sanctuary Cognitive Systems Corp. said it raised $58.5 million in an early-stage Series A funding round.
2022.02.23
Reported2022.02.23
Magna launches EtelligentForce electric powertrain[4]麦格纳推出 EtelligentForce 电动动力总成carscoops.com
Magna launched EtelligentForce, a battery-electric powertrain system designed to be installed in existing combustion-powered pickup trucks.
2022.01.11
Reported2022.01.11
Magna acquires Optimus Ride technology and assets[5]麦格纳收购Optimus Ride的技术和资产techcrunch.com
Magna acquired the technology, intellectual property and assets of autonomous-vehicle startup Optimus Ride, and hired more than 120 of its employees. Optimus Ride will cease operations.
2021.12.21
Reported2021.12.21
Nielsen announces Nielsen ONE Alpha debut[6]Nielsen宣布Nielsen ONE Alpha即将亮相prnewswire.com
Nielsen announced that Nielsen ONE Alpha, its deduplicated ad measurement offering, would debut at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show. Disney and MAGNA were participating in the Alpha program.
2021.11.05
Magna reports third-quarter 2021 results[7]麦格纳发布2021年第三季度业绩auto.hexun.com
Magna released its third-quarter results on November 5, reporting revenue of $7.9 billion, down 13.1% year over year, and lower operating and net income than a year earlier. The article attributes the production and financial pressure in part to the ongoing microchip shortage and lower global vehicle production.
2021.10.20
Reported2021.10.20
Magna opens seating plant in Serbia[8]Magna在塞尔维亚开设座椅工厂canplastics.com
Magna International opened a new seating plant in Aleksinac, Serbia, which is intended to produce seating products for European automakers.
2021.07.22
Reported2021.07.23
Magna announces acquisition of Veoneer[9]麦格纳宣布收购维宁尔finance.sina.com.cn
Magna announced that it would acquire Veoneer for approximately $3.8 billion in cash. The transaction had been approved by both companies’ boards and was expected to close before the end of the year.
2021.06.24
Reported2021.06.24
Fisker and Magna finalize Ocean manufacturing agreement[10]菲斯克与麦格纳敲定Ocean制造协议finance.sina.com.cn
Fisker and Magna finalized a long-term manufacturing agreement covering Fisker's Ocean electric SUV, with production planned to begin in November 2022.
2021.04.15
Reported2021.04.15
Magna appoints Nick Durrant as managing director[11]Magna任命Nick Durrant为董事总经理mumbrella.com.au
IPG Mediabrands’ CEO Mark Coad appointed Nick Durrant to the role of managing director of Magna.
2020.12.16
Reported2020.12.16
PMG Shanghai receives supplier awards from Magna and ShuangHuan[12]PMG Shanghai 获得 Magna 和 ShuangHuan 颁发的供应商奖项metal-powder.tech
PMG Shanghai received the Cost Optimisation Contribution Award from Magna and the Excellent Supplier Award from ShuangHuan.

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