Painting is one of the common hobbies across generations. For visual artists and enthusiasts, acrylic paint is one of their go-to mediums because it is water-based, non-flammable, and fume-free. They are permanent once dried and it would take several washes to remove the stains from the hands.
Now that we have more time in our hands and more and more people are exploring different hobbies, we are glad to help you choose excellent acrylic paints. In this article, we are giving you a buying guide and a list of recommended products.
Often times, when people shop for acrylic paints, they just look at the price and the color that they need, and nothing follows. With the growing number of brands in the market, acrylic paints must be of high-quality at a reasonable price. Here are other important things to note before purchasing acrylic paints.
Picking the type of acrylic paint that will fit to your art style. It all depends on the pigment and thickness of paint.
Consistency refers to the thickness of paint in proportion with water while viscosity refers to the resistance of paint to spreading. They both affect the drying time and the quality of artworks. Acrylic ink is both low in consistency and viscosity.
It has a liquid formulation that flows similarly to watercolors when painting on a canvas and it has a soft, glossy effect.There are two kinds of acrylic ink - pigment-based and dye-based. The former is more lightfast, retaining its color opaqueness as compared to the latter.
This paint suits well with airbrush, paint marker, ink or dip pen, rubber stamp, fabric paint, and tint. It also works well for artwork details like drips and splash effects.
Soft body, also known as liquid paint, has a consistency similar to yogurt - not too thick and not too heavy, has low texture, and is not viscous enough to hold brush strokes. But, it won't lose its pigment density or opacity when applied. It can cover up previously painted layers such as alterations or mistakes and can produce glaze effects.
The heavy body acrylic has the thickest consistency and is the most viscous among the three paints. In contrast to the soft body, it holds peaks and brush strokes and creates more texture similar to oil paints - ideal for rough canvases and artistic style in the likes of Vincent Van Gogh. For a lighter consistency, add water to thin down the paint.
Craft acrylic has a cream-like consistency and is the most common, easy to find, and the cheapest acrylic paint. It is mainly for painting basic crafts and applicable to any surface. This paint is a starter pack for the people who are just venturing out on acrylic painting or in need of paint for simple school projects.
It is affordable and comes in various color selections. However, the pigment is not too vivid because it contains a lot of fillers - mixing it with other colors might be hard, and you might end up buying another paint.
Unlike craft paints, student-grade acrylic paint is manufactured by brands that create artist-quality paints. It is created to be used in fine arts instead of craft projects. It is also more expensive than craft paint because it has higher quality. Investing in this will surely improve and develop your paint skills.
With this, you can experiment on mixing colors until you are satisfied because it contains more pigmentation. Its consistency is not too thick and it has a smooth texture. You might even develop and identify your art style.
For an upgrade, artist quality acrylic paint is the next step to professional painting. It has high quality paints with vivid color sets yet are still easy to use. It mixes well with other pigments and has a smoother texture and better coverage. This type might be pricey but worth the penny because it offers plenty of vibrant colors.
Back in grade school, we learned about creating new colors by mixing up primary colors. This technique is essential to painters as it is more cost-efficient. Painting does not require a lot of individual paints - six to ten pigments are enough to mix for producing new colors.
The recommended startup color set contains Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Orange, Cadmium Red, Alizarin Crimson, Phthalo Green, Phthalo Blue, Dioxin Purple, Burnt Sienna, and Ivory. If you know how to mix colors well, you can buy individual paints in large volumes depending on what color you are aiming for.
Acrylic paints vary in sizes and packaging. The smallest size measure two fluid ounces is perfect for those who are exploring different brands or doing one-time small projects.
If you need more paint, buy acrylic paints in bottle jars because they secure the liquid more and usually have drippers for easy palette application. On the other hand, buy the tube ones if you only need less paint.
The lightfastness of the acrylic paint is very important, especially to painters who sell their artworks. Lightfast refers to how the color's intensity maintains or changes over time, especially when exposed to any kind of light and humidity.
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Permanence Standard determines the lightfastness of paint. Expressed in Roman numerals, ATSM I means excellent lightfastness, ATSM II means very good, and ATSM III means fair or non-permanent.This information is usually found at the bottom or back of the package.
However, not all manufacturers of acrylic paint use the ASTM standard but instead, they use the Typical Manufacturer Standard where ** or AA means it has extremely permanent colors, * or A means that has durable colors, ** or B means it has moderately durable colors, and * or C means that the colors are more likely easy to fade.
The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. is the approving agency that art products are non-toxic and safe to use even for kids. The ACMI seal indicates that the product has been evaluated by medical experts and will help you identify which product contains poisonous ingredients or substances that may cause fatal health issues.
Keep in mind to check the label - not only the specifications but also the health cautions. Even though they are water-based, non-toxic, and have a mild odor, inhalation, or skin contact may lead to breathing problems, irritations, or allergies. Acrylic paints do not expire, but when the lids are not closed properly, they may dry out.
Buying an acrylic paint might be hard, especially for beginners. We applied the important things to consider from our buying guide and came up with these recommendations.
From ₱229.75
Type | Artist's Quality |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 118 ml, Individual Tubes |
Viscosity | Medium Viscosity |
Lightfastness | * or A |
Colors Available | Blue Gray, Turquoise Blue, Brilliant Blue, Transparent Mixing White, Parchment, Green Grey, Lime Green, Fluorescent Yellow, Iridescent Graphite, Iridescent Graphite, Iridescent White, Pyrrole Red, Paynes Grey, Fluorescent Blue, Fluorescent Pink, Fluorescent Red, Fluorescent Orange, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Cad Orange Hue, Cad Red Lt Hue, Vivid Red Orange, Cad Red Med Hue, Cad Ylw Lt Hue, Cad Ylw Med Hue, Cob Blue Hue, Deep Grn Perm, Deep Violet, Diox Purple, Transparent Yellow, Gold, Lt Green Perm, Mars Black, Napthol Crimson, Neut Gray Val 5, Primary Blue, Primary Red, Primary Yellow, Pthalo Green, Raw Sienna, Prussian Blue Hue, Raw Umber, Silver, Titanium White, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Oxide, Purple Grey, Rose Pink, Transparent Red, Olive Green, Fluorescent Green |
From ₱219
Type | Student Grade |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 60ml, Individual Tubes |
Viscocity | Medium Viscosity |
Lightfastness | ATSM I-II (varies in color) |
Colors Available | Burnt Sienna, Burnt Amber, Cadmium Orange Hue, Cadmium Red Hue, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cerulean Blue Hue, Cobalt Blue Hue, Deep Turquoise, Flesh Tint, Gold, Mars Black, Mixing White, Opera Rose, Pale Olive, Pale Amber, Payne's Grey, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Permanent Green Deep, Permanent Green Light, Permanent Green Middle, Permanent Magenta, Phthalo Blue, Powder Blue, Process Cyan, Process Magenta, Raw Sienna, Sap Green, Silver, Titanium White, Ultramarine, Vandyke Brown, Vermilion Hue, Winsor Violet, Yellow Ochre, Lemon Yellow |
From ₱429
Type | Artist Quality |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 12ml, Set of Tubes |
Viscosity | Medium Viscosity |
Lightfastness | Not Specified |
Colors Available | White, 2 Shades of Yellow, Light Pink, 2 Shades of Red, 2 Shades of Blue, 2 Shades of Green, Brown, Black |
From ₱399
Type | Heavy Body |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 18ml, Set of Tubes |
Viscosity | Thick Viscosity |
Lightfastness | ATSM I |
Colors Available | Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Orange, Permanent Red, Monastral Green, Cobalt Blue, Violet, Lamp Black |
From ₱159
Type | Student Grade |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 75ml, Individual Tubes |
Viscosity | Medium Viscosity |
Lightfastness | Not Specified |
Colors Available | Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple |
From ₱200
Type | Artist's Quality |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 22ml, Set of Tubes |
Viscosity | Medium Viscosity |
Lightfastness | Not Specified |
Colors Available | Titanium White, Yellow Pale, Magenta, Orange, Phthalo Blue, Green Mid, Burnt Umber, Black |
From ₱374.75
Type | Artist's Quality |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 12ml, Set of Tubes |
Viscosity | Medium Viscosity |
Lightfastness | ATSM I |
Colors Available | Not Specified |
From ₱170
Type | Student Grade |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 6ml, Set of Tubes |
Viscosity | Medium Viscosity |
Lightfastness | Not Specified |
Color Available | Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Vermilion, Crimson Red, Mauve, Blue, Clean Blue, Green Pale, Emperal Green, Burnt Sienna |
From ₱59
Type | Craft |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 125g, Jar |
Viscosity | Thin/Light Viscosity |
Lightfastness | Not Specified |
Colors Available | Light Blue, Apple Green, Gold Yellow, Royal Blue, Black, Brown, Orange, Red, Navy Blue, Lemon Yellow, Violet, Emerald Green |
From ₱74
Type | Craft |
---|---|
Size and Packaging | 100ml, Jar |
Viscosity | Thin/Light Viscosity |
Lightfastness | Not Specified |
Colors Available | Black, Brown, White, Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Apple Green, Emerald Green, Light Blue, Navy Blue, Violet |
Image | 1 ![]() Liquitex | 2 ![]() Winsor & Newton | 3 ![]() Faber-Castell | 4 ![]() Mont Marte | 5 ![]() Mont Marte | 6 ![]() Art Ranger | 7 ![]() Marie's | 8 ![]() Barroco | 9 ![]() Tulco | 10 ![]() Valiant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Basics Acrylic | Galeria Acrylic Paint | Acrylic Colours | Dimension Acrylic Paint Intro Set | Fluro Acrylic Paint | Acrylic Colour Original | Acrylic Colour 12 | Acrylic Colour Set | Tulcraft Acrylics | Creation |
Features | Acrylic Paint for All Creatives and Painting Techniques | Highly Pigmented Acrylic Paint for Professional Results | Acrylic Set of 12 Colors Both for Beginner and Pro Artists | A Set of 8 Vivid Colors with a Glossy Finish | 6 Brilliant Color Selections for Color Mixing | Acrylic Paint with Various Set Series Option | Award-Winning Acrylic Paint Manufactured by Engineers | Beginner-Friendly Acrylic Paint Set with 12 Colors | Acrylic Paint For Craft Artists | Affordable Craft Acrylic Paint Perfect for Beginners |
Price Starts at | ₱229.75 | ₱219 | ₱429 | ₱399 | ₱159 | ₱200 | ₱374.75 | ₱170 | ₱59 | ₱74 |
Type | Artist's Quality | Student Grade | Artist Quality | Heavy Body | Student Grade | Artist's Quality | Artist's Quality | Student Grade | Craft | Craft |
Size and Packaging | 118 ml, Individual Tubes | 60ml, Individual Tubes | 12ml, Set of Tubes | 18ml, Set of Tubes | 75ml, Individual Tubes | 22ml, Set of Tubes | 12ml, Set of Tubes | 6ml, Set of Tubes | 125g, Jar | 100ml, Jar |
Viscosity | Medium Viscosity | Medium Viscosity | Medium Viscosity | Thick Viscosity | Medium Viscosity | Medium Viscosity | Medium Viscosity | Medium Viscosity | Thin/Light Viscosity | Thin/Light Viscosity |
Lightfastness | * or A | ATSM I-II (varies in color) | Not Specified | ATSM I | Not Specified | Not Specified | ATSM I | Not Specified | Not Specified | Not Specified |
Colors Available | Blue Gray, Turquoise Blue, Brilliant Blue, Transparent Mixing White, Parchment, Green Grey, Lime Green, Fluorescent Yellow, Iridescent Graphite, Iridescent Graphite, Iridescent White, Pyrrole Red, Paynes Grey, Fluorescent Blue, Fluorescent Pink, Fluorescent Red, Fluorescent Orange, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Cad Orange Hue, Cad Red Lt Hue, Vivid Red Orange, Cad Red Med Hue, Cad Ylw Lt Hue, Cad Ylw Med Hue, Cob Blue Hue, Deep Grn Perm, Deep Violet, Diox Purple, Transparent Yellow, Gold, Lt Green Perm, Mars Black, Napthol Crimson, Neut Gray Val 5, Primary Blue, Primary Red, Primary Yellow, Pthalo Green, Raw Sienna, Prussian Blue Hue, Raw Umber, Silver, Titanium White, Ultramarine Blue, Yellow Oxide, Purple Grey, Rose Pink, Transparent Red, Olive Green, Fluorescent Green | Burnt Sienna, Burnt Amber, Cadmium Orange Hue, Cadmium Red Hue, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cerulean Blue Hue, Cobalt Blue Hue, Deep Turquoise, Flesh Tint, Gold, Mars Black, Mixing White, Opera Rose, Pale Olive, Pale Amber, Payne's Grey, Permanent Alizarin Crimson, Permanent Green Deep, Permanent Green Light, Permanent Green Middle, Permanent Magenta, Phthalo Blue, Powder Blue, Process Cyan, Process Magenta, Raw Sienna, Sap Green, Silver, Titanium White, Ultramarine, Vandyke Brown, Vermilion Hue, Winsor Violet, Yellow Ochre, Lemon Yellow | White, 2 Shades of Yellow, Light Pink, 2 Shades of Red, 2 Shades of Blue, 2 Shades of Green, Brown, Black | Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Orange, Permanent Red, Monastral Green, Cobalt Blue, Violet, Lamp Black | Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Pink, Purple | Titanium White, Yellow Pale, Magenta, Orange, Phthalo Blue, Green Mid, Burnt Umber, Black | Not Specified | Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Vermilion, Crimson Red, Mauve, Blue, Clean Blue, Green Pale, Emperal Green, Burnt Sienna | Light Blue, Apple Green, Gold Yellow, Royal Blue, Black, Brown, Orange, Red, Navy Blue, Lemon Yellow, Violet, Emerald Green | Black, Brown, White, Red, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Apple Green, Emerald Green, Light Blue, Navy Blue, Violet |
Link |
Painting with acrylics might be tricky, especially if you're a beginner. No matter how difficult it is, don't let your guard down and let this video from Jennifer Funnell Visual Arts enhance your acrylic painting skills. Follow these top 10 acrylic painting tips to lead your way on painting like a pro.
Tips:
Level up your creativity with more paint and drawing tools by checking out our other articles.
Painting is one of the ways to express ourselves as humans, and visual arts like acrylic paints are our colorful helpers to show creativity. Exploring and trying different acrylic paints might be challenging, especially for beginners.
With all the considerations to think about before purchasing one, the best factors are your passion, talent, and artistic style, so make sure to follow them to make the right choices.
Author: Roel Pillas Malubay
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