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Best Acrylic Paints for Beginners in 2023: A Guide to Acrylic Painting Techniques and More
Acrylic painting is a versatile and exciting medium that appeals to both beginners and professionals alike. With its quick drying time, vibrant colors, and ease of use, it’s no wonder that acrylic paints have become a favorite among artists.
Whether you’re just starting your artistic journey or looking to refine your skills, this article will walk you through the best acrylic paints for beginners, essential acrylic painting techniques for professionals, how to start painting with acrylics, the comparison between acrylic and oil paints for beginners, and tips for choosing the right acrylic colors.
We have researched and tested all the major acrylic paint brands for you, so you do not waste your time and money.
When it comes to choosing the best acrylic paints, there are many good brands available on the market. However, not all of them are created equal. Some are better than others in terms of quality, while others offer more affordable prices. The choice will also depend on the type of painting you want to produce.
First, let’s discuss the brands we have selected across the spectrum and then we shall discuss the best acrylic paints option for each type of painting you want to produce.
Our recommended best acrylic paint brands
By choosing the best acrylic paints brand, there are many factors to consider. However, if you‘re looking for quality and affordability, these four brands are a great place to start based on the type of painting technique.
- One of the most popular brands of acrylic paint is Liquitex. This company has been around since 1955 and is a leading manufacturer of high–quality artist supplies. We know their paint for its rich pigmentation and smooth consistency. Ideal for detailed and textured painting. The main USP is in its viscosity and coverage.
- Another great option for acrylic paint is Golden. This brand has been a favorite among artists for over 60 years. We know their paint for its intense colors and high level of pigmentation. This is ideal for textured painting at a budgeted cost.
- The fourth one on our list is Arteza. Arteza acrylic paint is a great option for artists who are looking for high-quality paint at an affordable price. This paint is available in a wide range of colors, so you will find the perfect shade for your project. Very versatile and its USP is its price to quality index.
- The last but not least is Pouring Masters from US Arts Supply. This set is impressive for beginners of acrylic pouring art. The paints have a great consistency right from the bottle, and the pouring medium works wonderfully well. The set also comes with a silicone oil bottle, allowing you to create amazing cell designs in your art. A wonderful option for pour painting lovers who want to start their pour painting journey at less than $50.
ARTEZA Acrylic Paint, Set of 60 Colors, 0.74 oz/22 ml Tubes, includes 5 Metallic Colors, Rich Pigments, Non-Fading, Non-Toxic Paints for Artist & Hobby Painters, Art Supplies for Painting
ARTEZA Acrylic Paint, Titanium White Color, (120 ml Pouch, Tube), Rich Pigment, Non Fading, Non Toxic, Single Color Paint for Artists & Hobby Painters
Arteza Metallic Acrylic Paint, Set of 8 Classic Elements Colors 4.06oz Tubes, Rich Pigments, Non Fading, Non Toxic Paints for Artists & Hobby Painters, Art Supplies for Canvas Painting & Crafts
ARTEZA Acrylic Paint Markers, Set of 40 Acrylic Paint Pens in Assorted Colors, Art & Craft Supplies for Glass, Pottery, Ceramic, Plastic, Rock, and Canvas Painting
ARTEZA Iridescent Acrylic Paint, Set of 10 Chameleon Colors, 2 oz/60ml Bottles, High Viscosity Shimmer Water-Based, Blendable Paints, Art Supplies for Canvas, Wood, Rocks, Fabrics
ARTEZA Acrylic Gouache Paint, Acrylic Paint Set of 36 Basic Colors, Matte Finish, (0.74 oz, 22 ml) Tubes, Art Supplies for Professional Artists and Beginners
ARTEZA Acrylic Pouring Paint, Set of 32, 2oz Bottles, Assorted Colors, High Flow Paint, No Mixing Needed, Art Supplies for Pouring on Canvas, Glass, Paper, Wood, Tile, and Stones
$56.00
ARTEZA ARTZ-2924 Art-Paints, A003 Mars Black, 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
ARTEZA Craft Acrylic Paint, A001 Titanium White, 4fl oz (118 ml) Bottles, Water-Based, Blendable, Matte Acrylic Paints for Art & DIY Outdoor Projects on Glass, Wood, Ceramics, Fabrics, Paper & Canvas
ARTEZA Iridescent Acrylic Paint, Set of 4, Candy Tones, 4 fl oz Bottles, High-Flow Pouring Paint, Art Supplies for Canvas, Glass, Wood, Ceramics, Tile, and Stone
ARTEZA Pearlescent Acrylic Paint Set of 14, 2 fl oz Bottles, Quick-Drying Pearl Craft Paint, Art Supplies for Paper, Canvas, Wood, Glass Paper
ARTEZA Colored Gel Pens, Pack of 24, 10 Vintage and 14 Vibrant Colors, Fine 0.7 mm Tip, Retractable, Art Supplies for Journaling, Drawing, Doodling, and Notetaking
ARTEZA Metallic Fabric Paint, 60 ml Bottles, Set of 14 Permanent Colors, Washer & Dryer Safe, Textile Paint for Clothes, T-Shirts, Jeans, Bags, Shoes, DIY Projects & Canvas
Arteza Acrylic Pouring Paint Art Set Includes 14 Pouring Acrylic Colors, 2 Wood Slices, 2 Measuring Cups, Gold & Silver Holographic Glitter Jars, Canvas, Gloves, & Palette Knife, Art Supplies Pouring
Color & Frame - In the Forest (Adult Coloring Book)
$6.36
How To Draw Everything: 600 Simple Step By Step Drawings For Kids Ages 4 to 8
$12.54
Easy Web Design with Web Developer Tools on Chrome, Firefox & Safari
Arteza Kids Painting & Drawing Kit, 75-Piece Artist Bundle — 18 Mini Colored Pencils, 16 Watercolor Cakes, 14 Crayons & 14 Oil Pastels, Art Supplies for Developing Motor Skills and Imagination
$19.99
ARTEZA Dual Brush Pens, Set of 48 Colors, Art Markers with Fine & Brush Tips, Twimarkers for Coloring, Calligraphy, Sketching, Doodling, Art Supplies for Drawing, Journaling, Hand Lettering
52 PCS Acrylic Paint Set with 12 Brushes, 2 Knives and Palette, 36 Colors (2oz/60ml) Art Craft Paints Gifts for Adults Kids Artists Beginners, Art Painting Kit for Canvas Fabric Rock Glass Ceramic Wood
$30.99
For choosing the best acrylic paint, there are many factors to consider. For example: the painting technique and the painting genre you want to paint. However, if you‘re looking for quality and affordability, these four brands are a great place to start.
1. Best acrylic paint brands for Impressional or representational detailed painting
The type of acrylic paint that is suitable for impressional or representational painting depends on the artist‘s preferences and the specific requirements of the painting.
Impressional paintings carry more details in a painting, for example: a painting portrait, a landscape, a still life or even mid-century style paintings. The painting may need finer details with different brushes.
Hence, a soft body acrylic paint is what you need. We recommend Liquitex Basics for beginners or Pro for advanced artists.
Similarly, some artists may prefer to use high–quality acrylic paints for representational painting. For example: a painting of a realistic landscape. The paints can provide better coverage and more vibrant colors.
Choice#1: Best acrylic paint brand for detailed acrylic painting (watercolor or pastel effect)
If you’re a beginner artist, and want to explore this type of detailed painting, like a portrait, landscape or still life, you’d need a high-quality pigment with low viscosity acrylic paint. Our research shows Liquitex Basics is the best acrylic paint to start your journey.
If you’ve progressed from a beginner and moved to the next level, then certainly we recommend Liquitex soft body acrylic paint as the best acrylic paint brand. Look no further.
What is the difference between Liquitex Basics and Professional Acrylic Paint?
If you’re confused choosing between the Liquitex Basics and Professional, here are the major differences you may like to consider for your decision.
Liquitex Basics Acrylic
- Decent pigment mix
- Great for beginner artists
- Decent choice of colors
- Low to medium viscosity
- Lower price compared to Pro
- Available up to 48 color set
- Great for detailed painting
Liquitex Professional Soft Body
- Excellent pigment mix
- Great for pro artists
- Wide range of colors
- High viscosity and smooth coverage
- Higher prices compared to Basics
- Available in 6 or 12 color sets and hundreds individually
- Excellent for abstract paintings
Choice#2: Best acrylic paint brand for budget conscious beginner artists (for acrylic paintings with finer details)
Arteza acrylic paint is a great option for artists who are looking for high-quality paint at an affordable price. This paint is available in a wide range of colors, so you will find the perfect shade for your project. Arteza paint is also very versatile, so we can use it for a variety of applications.
One of the best things about Arteza paint is that it dries quickly. This is a prominent feature for artists who want to work quickly and efficiently. Arteza paint is also non-toxic, so it’s safe for both adults and children to use.
2. Best acrylic paint for textured painting
For choosing the best acrylic paint brand for textured and abstract acrylic painting, there are many factors to consider. However, the three most important things to look for are the quality of the paint, the range of colors available, and the price.
The painting accessories are with knife, spoon, wide brushes or other props used to create a stunning textured look and feel.
The first thing you want to consider when choosing an acrylic paint brand is the quality of the paint. You want to make sure that they made the paint from high–quality materials and that it will last a long time.
The second thing you want to consider is the range of colors available and viscosity. You want to make sure that you have a wide variety of colors to choose from so that you can create the perfect textured painting.
The last thing you want to consider is the price. You want to make sure that you are getting the best deal possible. For quality, undoubtedly Golden Acrylics are the best acrylic paint brand in the market.
Choice#1: Best acrylic paint brand for abstract and textured painting: Golden heavy body acrylic paint
Golden Acrylics made their paints from the highest quality materials and they have a decent range of colors to choose from. For the price, you will be hard–pressed to find a better deal than Golden Acrylics.
Included Colors: Phthalo Blue (Green Shade), Benzimidazolone Yellow Medium, Quinacridone Magenta, Titanium White, Carbon Black, Phthalo Green (Blue Shade).
They offer a great price for their high–quality product. Golden acrylics is the best brand for abstract and textured painting. If you’re a beginner artist, go for the Golden 6 color, heavy body introductory set. If you’re a Pro, go for the 6 sets of Pro heavy body acrylics.
Choice#2: Best acrylic paint brand for abstract and textured painting: Liquitex heavy body acrylic paint
Our close favorite in this textured painting category is Liquitex heavy body acrylic. One of the best things about Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint is that it dries quickly.
If you‘re looking for an acrylic paint that can stand up to heavy–handed painting techniques, Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint is a great option. This paint holds its shape and maintains its structure, even when applied in thick layers. That means you can create textured paintings without worrying about the paint losing its form.
That means you won‘t have to wait around for your painting to dry before you can add another layer on top. This is especially convenient if you‘re working on a large project.
Another plus is that Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint is very versatile. You can use it for a variety of different techniques, including impasto, stippling, and dry–brush painting. And because it‘s so thick, it‘s also great for creating 3D effects.
If you‘re looking for the best acrylic paint brand that can handle a lot of abuse, Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint is a great option. It‘s durable, dries quickly, and is very versatile. Plus, it comes in a 6-12 range of colors (you can mix to create more color variations), so you can find the perfect shade for your project.
3. Best acrylic paint brand for pour painting
Pouring Masters Ready to Pour Acrylic Paint is a versatile painting that is ideal for acrylic pour painting. We know this paint for its high quality and ability to produce beautiful, vibrant colors with a pearlescent sheen. It is also easy to work with and can apply to a variety of surfaces.
If you are specifically looking for an acrylic paint that is designed for acrylic pour painting technique, at a budget less than $50, then this is a great option.
The Pouring Masters Ready to Pour Acrylic Paint comes with 36 vibrant metallic (and non metallic) colors kit, which also comprises a gloss medium and a silicone oil dispenser for creating cells in your acrylic pouring painting.
4. Best acrylic paint brand for creating an iridescent effect on your painting
The iridescent acrylic paint is also great for creating an illusion of light in your painting. It also known this type of acrylic paint as chameleon paint because of its ability to change colors based on the background, light and viewing angles.
This paint is perfect for creating a beautiful, color changing and glowing effect in your painting. It is easy to use and apply the iridescent acrylic paint.
Arteza iridescent acrylic paint is the best acrylic paint in this category to create an iridescent effect on your painting. They made this paint with a special formula that includes a luminous pigment that creates a bright, glowing color changing effect.
This paint is perfect for creating an ethereal, otherworldly look in your painting.
The paint goes on smoothly and evenly, and it dries quickly. The Arteza iridescent acrylic paint is also very versatile. You can use it on a variety of surfaces, including canvas, wood, metal, and more. The Arteza iridescent acrylic paint is also very durable. Once it dries, it is resistant to chipping and fading.
Please note: This paint differs from neon or glow in dark paint.
ARTEZA Acrylic Paint, Set of 60 Colors, 0.74 oz/22 ml Tubes, includes 5 Metallic Colors, Rich Pigments, Non-Fading, Non-Toxic Paints for Artist & Hobby Painters, Art Supplies for Painting
ARTEZA Acrylic Paint, Titanium White Color, (120 ml Pouch, Tube), Rich Pigment, Non Fading, Non Toxic, Single Color Paint for Artists & Hobby Painters
Arteza Metallic Acrylic Paint, Set of 8 Classic Elements Colors 4.06oz Tubes, Rich Pigments, Non Fading, Non Toxic Paints for Artists & Hobby Painters, Art Supplies for Canvas Painting & Crafts
ARTEZA Acrylic Paint Markers, Set of 40 Acrylic Paint Pens in Assorted Colors, Art & Craft Supplies for Glass, Pottery, Ceramic, Plastic, Rock, and Canvas Painting
ARTEZA Iridescent Acrylic Paint, Set of 10 Chameleon Colors, 2 oz/60ml Bottles, High Viscosity Shimmer Water-Based, Blendable Paints, Art Supplies for Canvas, Wood, Rocks, Fabrics
ARTEZA Acrylic Gouache Paint, Acrylic Paint Set of 36 Basic Colors, Matte Finish, (0.74 oz, 22 ml) Tubes, Art Supplies for Professional Artists and Beginners
ARTEZA Acrylic Pouring Paint, Set of 32, 2oz Bottles, Assorted Colors, High Flow Paint, No Mixing Needed, Art Supplies for Pouring on Canvas, Glass, Paper, Wood, Tile, and Stones
$56.00
ARTEZA ARTZ-2924 Art-Paints, A003 Mars Black, 8 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
ARTEZA Craft Acrylic Paint, A001 Titanium White, 4fl oz (118 ml) Bottles, Water-Based, Blendable, Matte Acrylic Paints for Art & DIY Outdoor Projects on Glass, Wood, Ceramics, Fabrics, Paper & Canvas
ARTEZA Iridescent Acrylic Paint, Set of 4, Candy Tones, 4 fl oz Bottles, High-Flow Pouring Paint, Art Supplies for Canvas, Glass, Wood, Ceramics, Tile, and Stone
ARTEZA Pearlescent Acrylic Paint Set of 14, 2 fl oz Bottles, Quick-Drying Pearl Craft Paint, Art Supplies for Paper, Canvas, Wood, Glass Paper
ARTEZA Colored Gel Pens, Pack of 24, 10 Vintage and 14 Vibrant Colors, Fine 0.7 mm Tip, Retractable, Art Supplies for Journaling, Drawing, Doodling, and Notetaking
ARTEZA Metallic Fabric Paint, 60 ml Bottles, Set of 14 Permanent Colors, Washer & Dryer Safe, Textile Paint for Clothes, T-Shirts, Jeans, Bags, Shoes, DIY Projects & Canvas
Arteza Acrylic Pouring Paint Art Set Includes 14 Pouring Acrylic Colors, 2 Wood Slices, 2 Measuring Cups, Gold & Silver Holographic Glitter Jars, Canvas, Gloves, & Palette Knife, Art Supplies Pouring
Color & Frame - In the Forest (Adult Coloring Book)
$6.36
How To Draw Everything: 600 Simple Step By Step Drawings For Kids Ages 4 to 8
$12.54
Easy Web Design with Web Developer Tools on Chrome, Firefox & Safari
Arteza Kids Painting & Drawing Kit, 75-Piece Artist Bundle — 18 Mini Colored Pencils, 16 Watercolor Cakes, 14 Crayons & 14 Oil Pastels, Art Supplies for Developing Motor Skills and Imagination
$19.99
ARTEZA Dual Brush Pens, Set of 48 Colors, Art Markers with Fine & Brush Tips, Twimarkers for Coloring, Calligraphy, Sketching, Doodling, Art Supplies for Drawing, Journaling, Hand Lettering
52 PCS Acrylic Paint Set with 12 Brushes, 2 Knives and Palette, 36 Colors (2oz/60ml) Art Craft Paints Gifts for Adults Kids Artists Beginners, Art Painting Kit for Canvas Fabric Rock Glass Ceramic Wood
$30.99
Do you have a favorite brand of acrylic paint? Let us know in the comments below!
Other useful posts:
Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paint or Soft Body – Beginner Artists’
