Artist Supplies: Everything You Need to Know When Buying Acrylic Paint

When searching for an artistic activity that will make them relax and spike their creativity levels, many people steer clear of painting. Some think that painting requires inherited talent and skills. Others assume that to succeed, they must be good at drawing, and if they’re not, they fight shy of painting. However, none of this proves true, and people of all ages start painting as the perfect artistic, creative activity.

When you are starting, the world of art supplies can be daunting. There are so many supplies on the market that it’s tough to know where to start and what you need. One of the most important decisions that you have to make at the very beginning is what paints you will use. Acrylic paint is considered the most suitable option for budding creatives and professional artists throughout the world. Stay with me to find out why painters love artist acrylic paint so much and how to choose the best one for your project.

Why Do Artists Prefer to Use Acrylic Paint?

Quick-Drying

Acrylics dry much faster than oils and watercolours. When you paint with acrylic paint, you don’t need to wait much time for a layer to dry so you can add another one. This shortens the time required to finish a project, cutting on boring waiting time. If you don’t have much patience to wait, acrylic may be a perfect choice.

Versatile

You can use acrylic paint on different surfaces if they’re not covered in wax or oil. Such are canvas, clothes, glass, wood and stone. You can also mix acrylics with a wide range of media, including rice, sand or pasta. Think about the variety of artwork that can come out of those. Another perk is that acrylic paint can be easily mixed or added to other paints, like oils and watercolours. Since they dry quickly, they’re perfect for adding layers to any painting.
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You can use acrylic paint on different surfaces if they’re not covered in wax or oil. Such are canvas, clothes, glass, wood and stone. You can also mix acrylics with a wide range of media, including rice, sand or pasta. Think about the variety of artwork that can come out of those. Another perk is that acrylic paint can be easily mixed or added to other paints, like oils and watercolours. Since they dry quickly, they’re perfect for adding layers to any painting.

Water-Soluble

Acrylic paints can be mixed with water in the same way as watercolours. They can mimic watercolours just by adding water to them.

As they do well with water, you don’t need different mediums as you need with oil colours. And if you want to use mediums, you can too; but these are often water-based, which means they are easier to clean and don’t smell as bad as the oil ones.

Another advantage of their water-solubility is that they’re easy to clean. As long as you don’t leave them for more extended periods, which can dry them off, you can clean your workspace, palette and brushes with ease using only soap and water.

Forgiving and Easy to Use

Everyone that has watercoloured can tell that it takes time to take on board using them. You can’t correct a watercolour painting, nor can you add colour on top of it to make it better. With acrylic paint, this is all possible. They’re forgiving and can fix almost every mistake. If you’re not happy with something you’ve painted, just let it dry and paint right over it. A quick fix in a matter of minutes! If only Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, or Rembrandt knew about this when they created their great works.
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Everyone that has watercoloured can tell that it takes time to take on board using them. You can’t correct a watercolour painting, nor can you add colour on top of it to make it better. With acrylic paint, this is all possible. They’re forgiving and can fix almost every mistake. If you’re not happy with something you’ve painted, just let it dry and paint right over it. A quick fix in a matter of minutes! If only Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, or Rembrandt knew about this when they created their great works.

Inexpensive

Artist acrylic paint is less expensive than oil paints. They’re more permanent than watercolours, which makes them more cost-effective than watercolours in the long run.

You can buy acrylic paints in bottles and tubes. This makes them easy to store and travel-friendly. The fact that you don’t need much-added equipment for their use also adds to functionality.

What to Consider When Buying Acrylic Paint?

Consistency

The consistency of paint can vary from light through smooth-medium to extra-thick. Paints with a light consistency are runnier and don’t offer as great colour coverage as thicker ones. The thickest paints you can even use to add a dimension to your painting, which you can’t do with lighter ones.

Colour Intensity

Different brands offer paints with different colour intensities. This highly depends on the level of saturation that paint has. Highly-saturated paints will produce more vivid colours, while less saturated brands will give a more sheer effect.

The range of colours often depends on the brand, as well. Some brands offer a more limited selection than others. Since colour can be mixed, this isn’t as important as the quality of the paint. To start, you don’t need much more than the basic colours to make a rainbow of colours. However, if you prefer to have your colour squirted directly from the tube, opt for a brand that offers a wide colour spectrum.
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The range of colours often depends on the brand, as well. Some brands offer a more limited selection than others. Since colour can be mixed, this isn’t as important as the quality of the paint. To start, you don’t need much more than the basic colours to make a rainbow of colours. However, if you prefer to have your colour squirted directly from the tube, opt for a brand that offers a wide colour spectrum.

Quality

Quality features like permanence and lightfastness often depend on the paint brands you’re buying? What are good acrylic paint brands Australia wide, you may ask? There are many great acrylic paint brands, but some notable ones include Matisse, Amsterdam, Mont Marte, Liquitex, Atelier, Jo Sonja.

Extra tip: buy your acrylic paints from a store that offers a vast selection of all premium brands of paints. That way, you will find precisely what you’ll need at everyday low prices.

Which Is the Best Acrylic Paint For Me?

There isn’t a single answer to this question. The right choice of paint for you won’t be the right choice for another artist. It all comes to personal needs and preferences. Asking and answering several questions can help you make the right decision. These include:

  • What are you painting? Something casual, decorative, mural, or a commissioned piece? If you’re painting casually, student-grade colours will do just fine. But if you want a more professional paint approach, opt for artist-grade paints.
  • How often do you paint? If you don’t paint often, buy more permanent paints to preserve their quality for a longer time.
  • What technique will you use?
  • Do you care for the vibrancy of the colours, or do you need something simple?
  • Are you painting with kids? If you are, then consider buying safe, non-toxic paints. Most acrylic paints are toxic-free but check just in case.