Best Acrylic Paints in 2023

Are you an aspiring or professional artist looking for a reliable set of acrylic paints? With so many brands and types out there today, it can be challenging to narrow down the best options. To help you on your journey to finding the perfect palette, we created this comprehensive guide featuring 2023's top-performing acrylic paints. Our experts have tested each product for pigment quality, opacity, value for money, and various other criteria, thus providing a thorough yet concise overview that is sure to address all your painting needs!

What are acrylic paints?

Acrylic paints are a popular choice among artists for their versatility, fast-drying time, and professional-level finishes. They are water-based and composed of pigments suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion for permanence and water-resistance. Acrylics come in a variety of vivid colours and can be used for a range of painting techniques on canvas, paper, wood, metal and fabric. Additionally, acrylics can be mixed to create new shades and provide long-lasting works of art that make them suitable for both amateur and professional artists alike.

Why are acrylic paints popular? 

Acrylic paints have become popular among artists due to their numerous benefits. Their fast-drying time allows artists to build up layers quickly and work without waiting for the paint to dry.

Acrylic paints are an ideal choice for outdoor painting and mixed-media art, as their water resistance ensures the longevity of works. The wide range of colours available allows for a variety of creative possibilities and can be further explored by mixing different shades together. Furthermore, acrylics do not require solvents for clean-up or complex pre-treatment for most surfaces, making them safe and convenient to use on materials such as canvas, wood, paper, and fabric. With so many advantages, acrylics are a preferred medium amongst professional and amateur artists alike. 

Factors to consider when buying acrylic paint

Acrylic paints are versatile, easy to use, and come in a range of colours, making them an ideal choice for artists of all skill levels. Fast drying time and water resistance add to their appeal, while solvents are not needed for cleaning up after using them, making them safer and more environmentally friendly than other types of paint. 

One of the most critical factors to consider when buying acrylic paint is the quality of the paint.

• Acrylic paints contain higher pigmentation levels compared to other paint mediums, resulting in brighter, more vibrant colours even when mixed. This allows for greater artistic expression and the capability to create bold, dramatic hues in the artwork.
• The pigmentation of the paint is another factor to consider. High-quality acrylic paint should have intense, rich pigmentation that maintains its colour when mixed with other colours.
• High-quality acrylic paint should be used for the best results as its consistency can affect the painting technique and the final look of the artwork. It is important to select a brand that offers consistent texture throughout the process.
• Acrylic paints can have different levels of drying time depending on the brand, allowing for more control and blending if necessary. It is recommended to test out a variety of brands until the right paint is found for everyone’s preferences and artwork ambitions.
• Cost should be taken into consideration when selecting acrylic paints, as higher-quality products tend to be more expensive. Nonetheless, they tend to yield better results and have greater longevity. 

In conclusion, when selecting acrylic paints, artists should consider factors such as quality, pigmentation, consistency, drying time, and price. Investing in high-quality acrylic paints that meet all the above criteria will help ensure that your artwork looks professional and maintains its vibrancy for years to come. 

Best Acrylic Paints of 2023

Atelier Interactive Acrylic Artist Paints

Product Description

Atelier Interactive Acrylic Artist Paint revolutionises painting with its all-day reblending and moisture control that give artists control over the entire process. Its versatility, high quality, and ability to be diluted with water create exceptional results, while the minimal colour shift as they dry ensures greater precision. Unlocking Formula helps to slow down the drying time and perfect creations. This versatile paint is suitable for a range of applications, so it's an ideal choice for taking your artistry to the next level.

Benefits

• Atelier Interactive Acrylic Artist Paint does not form a skin and dry in 10 to 15 minutes, allowing artists to reblend and rework all day
• They have a smooth, buttery consistency that dries satin
• Gradual moisture loss allows an artist to control the drying process
• Ideal for Wet in Wet and Wet over Dry painting, as unfinished areas can be reworked instead of just being painted over
• Excellent for silkscreen, lino block and monotype printing processes
• Minimal colour shift as the paint dries; unlocking formula slows down the drying time

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 80ml, 250ml, and 1L
• Colour Range: Choose from 80+ individual colours (primary, tertiary and complementary colours 

Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic Paints

Product Description

Winsor & Newton's Professional Acrylic is a top-tier paint range that offers unparalleled quality and exceptional results. Its rapid drying time enables artists to layer and overpaint in mere minutes, allowing for dynamic creative exploration. The revolutionary new binder remains translucent when wet and dries crystal clear, maintaining colour vibrancy across multiple layers. The paint offers unparalleled colour consistency and brilliance from wet to dry, resulting in rich and dimensional works of art. Experience the ultimate freedom of expression with this game-changing paint range.

The unrivalled colour brilliance is evident straight out of the tube with:

Benefits

• Brilliance of colours that is immediately evident when using Atelier Interactive Acrylic Artist Paint
• High-grade, single pigments create brighter and more intense hues
• No colour shift from wet to dry finish, aiding artists in maintaining the colour quality of their artwork

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 60ml, 200ml
• Colour Range: Choose from 75+ inter-mixable colours and includes both in traditional and contemporary shades

Jo Sonja's Artist Acrylic Paints

Product Description

Jo Sonja's Artist Colours offer a velvet matte finish that is associated with traditional gouache but is water-resistant, unlike gouache, making them suitable for long-lasting fine art applications such as airbrushing, wildfowl art, canvas paintings, and watercolour techniques. They dry fast, thanks to the new formula. Jo Sonja's Metallic Colours are compatible with all of Jo Sonja's mediums and can create stunning effects in stencilling, bronzing, faux finishes, and liner work. While the metallics don't crackle easily, they can be dry brushed over a crackled background to achieve the desired effect. The colours are versatile and easy to mix to create iridescent effects with Jo Sonja's Artists' Colours.

Benefits

• JO SONJA ARTIST COLOURS offer opacity of colour and a velvet matte finish while being water resistant and not cracking or chipping when cured
• Designed to meet the needs of serious artists who expect long-lasting work
• Suitable for painting on canvas, airbrushing, wildfowl art, and watercolour techniques
• -JO SONJA METALLIC COLOURS used for dramatic effects such as highlighting, liner work, bronzing, verdigris and faux finishes
• Compatible with all Jo Sonja's mediums; can be mixed to create iridescent effects

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 75ml, 250ml, 1L (Titanium White)
• Colour range: Choose from the range of 80+ vibrant colours, ranging from primary to secondary, earth and metallic tones.

Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints

Product Description

Golden Fluid Acrylics offer a range of vivid colours with a pigment load equal to that of Heavy Body Acrylics. These paints blend easily with all acrylic colours and mediums, allowing for versatile applications such as fine brushwork, glazing, water media techniques, and airbrush painting. Fluids retain colour intensity, tinting strength, film integrity, and adhesion.

Benefits

Here are some of the benefits of Golden Fluid Acrylics:

• Vivid colours with pigment load equal to Heavy Body Acrylics
• Smooth flowing applications while retaining colour intensity, tinting strength, film integrity and adhesion
• Blend easily with all acrylic colours and mediums
• Versatile applications such as fine brushwork, glazing, water media techniques and airbrush painting
• Useful for dry brush application, fine details, pouring, spraying and staining techniques

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 30ml, 118ml, 473ml
• Colour range: Choose from the range of over 80 colours, including hues such as Titanium White, Iridescent Copper, Carbon Black, and Cobalt Turquoise. The range also includes several metallic colours and fluorescent colours.

Matisse Structure Artist Acrylic Paints

Product Description

Matisse Structure Formula paints are high-quality, impasto paints that come in 98 different colours, including unique Australian colours. The paints are ideal for creating textured effects and can be combined with Matisse mediums for added flexibility. The colours are vibrant and cover the full spectrum, and all the ingredients are of the highest quality, ensuring that the paints are lightfast and archival. Matisse Structure Formula works well with other Matisse Artist's Mediums, making it a versatile choice for any artist.

Benefits

• Matisse Structure Formula is a rich impasto paint available in 98 colours
• Perfect for application with a brush or palette knife for striking textured effects
• Intense, vibrant colours covering the full-colour spectrum, including several uniquely Australian colours
• Made with only the finest quality pigments and ingredients, fully compatible with the range of Matisse Artists Mediums
• All paints have the highest lightfastness rating of ASTM I or II and are archival quality

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 75ml, 250ml, 500 ml, 1L
• Colour range: Choose from a range of 98 colours. The colours range from deep, bold hues to lighter and more subtle shades, with several uniquely Australian colours included in the range. This variety of colours provides artists with a broad range of options to choose from when creating their artwork. 

Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paints

Product Description

Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paints are known for their thick, buttery consistency and high pigment load, which give rich, brilliant colours. These paints are ideal for impasto applications, retaining brushstrokes and textures even when dry, and they don't crack or chip. All Liquitex products, including their Heavy Body range, are inter-mixable with other Liquitex colours and mediums, allowing artists to experiment with various techniques and mixed media applications. These paints have a high viscosity, are highly pigmented, hold knife marks, and brush strokes, and offer a satin finish to the artwork.

Benefits

• Liquitex Heavy Body Acrylic Paints are rich, brilliant colours due to their high pigment load
• Perfect for impasto applications as they retain brush strokes or textures from applying with a palette knife once dry
• Don't crack or chip once dry
• Intermixable with other Liquitex colours and mediums, allowing experimentation with different techniques and mixed media applications
• High viscosity and highly pigmented for a satin finish

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 59ml, 138ml (Ivory Black)
• Colour range: Choose from 90+ different colours

Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Paints

Product Description

Golden Artist Acrylics feature a line of pigments in a 100% acrylic emulsion vehicle that offer excellent permanence and lightfastness. These colours are exceptionally smooth, thick, and buttery, with no fillers, extenders, opacifiers, toners, or dyes added. Depending on the pigment used, the colours may dry to an opaque matte finish or a glossy, transparent finish without any matting agents. This range of paints is ideal for professional artists looking for superior performance. Depending on the pigment used, heavy body colours may dry to an opaque matte finish or a glossy, transparent finish with no matting agents added. These colours offer excellent permanency and lightfastness for professional artists

Benefits

• Smooth, thick and buttery consistency
• Largest assortment of unique pigments in a 100% acrylic emulsion vehicle
• No fillers, extenders, opacifiers, toners or dyes added
• Colours that dry to opaque matte or glossy transparent finishes depending on the pigment used
• Excellent permanency and lightfastness

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 59ml, 237ml, 473ml, 946ml, 3.78L
• Colour range: Choose from 90+ colours

Matisse Flow Artist Acrylic Paints

Product Description

Matisse Flow Formula Paints provide vibrant, intense colours in a low-viscosity formula that glides from the brush. These paints allow for fine brushwork with or without water dilution and come in 95 colours, including several that are uniquely Australian and metallics. They are also compatible with other Matisse mediums and background colours, making them highly versatile for any kind of art project, from mural work to canvas painting.

Benefits

• Vibrant, intense colours in a low viscosity formula
• Allows for free-flowing brushstrokes or use through an airbrush
• Fine flow with a low-sheen finish and good levelling
• 95 colours covering the full-colour spectrum, including several uniquely Australian colours and Metallics
• Compatible with other Matisse Mediums and Background Colours to create a highly versatile painting system 

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 75ml, 500ml
• Colour range: Choose from the range includes 95 vibrant, intense colours covering the full spectrum. This includes several uniquely Australian and Metallic colours

Golden High Flow Acrylic Paints

Product Description

Introducing Golden's latest innovation: High Flow Acrylic, the ultimate reality-bending paint that takes your creativity to new heights! Say goodbye to limitations, as this versatile medium effortlessly transitions from brush to marker, dip pen to airbrush, and beyond. Experience the smooth, ink-like consistency that allows for everything from wispy, fine lines to bold, broad strokes. Let your imagination run wild as you explore an endless array of techniques, including staining, levelling, calligraphy, and mixed media. With High Flow Acrylic, the only limit is your own boundless creativity!

Benefits

• Ink-like consistency for a range of techniques, including staining, levelling, calligraphy and mixed media
• Goes from brush to marker or from dip pen to airbrush
• Creates fine lines as well as broad strokes
• Low viscosity formula allows for free-flowing acrylic paint
• Highly versatile with a low-sheen finish and good levelling

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 30ml, 118ml, 473ml
• Colour range: Choose from the range of 50 vivid and intense colours, including several uniquely Australian tones, brilliant metallics and transparent shades. 

Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Paints

Product Description

The Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Paint range offers exceptional quality without breaking the bank. The high-level pigmentation ensures artworks will maintain their original colour for decades and won’t fade. With a smooth and consistent texture, this acrylic paint is suitable for artists of all levels. Try out your creative ideas with Galeria Acrylic Paints and finish them with mediums and varnishes from Winsor & Newton.

Benefits

• Affordable and high-quality acrylic paint
• Professional and student work quality
• Pure pigments for long-lasting colours
• Smooth consistency with a satin sheen
• Galeria Mediums and Varnishes for finishing touches

Specifications

• Tube size: Available in 60ml tubes
• Colour range: Choose from a range of 50 colours
• Set: 10 or 20 colour sets for any level of artist. Use Galeria Mediums and Varnishes to add texture and depth

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have thoroughly evaluated the top acrylic paints for the year ahead, showcasing the special characteristics and advantages of each selection. As you choose which acrylic paint to purchase, keep in mind the brand, quality of the components, and the price tag. Furthermore, weigh the benefits of a small or large quantity of paint. Finally, do not forget to explore additional references to expand your expertise in acrylic paints. With your newfound knowledge, you are well-equipped to confidently select the perfect acrylic paint that suits your purpose. 

Acrylic Paint FAQs

Q: What are acrylic paints?

A: Acrylic paints are water-based paints made of pigments suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. They are known for their vivid colours and fast-drying capabilities. 

Q: Which types of surfaces can I use acrylic paint on?

A: Acrylic paints can be used on a variety of different surfaces, such as paper, canvas, wood, metal, fabric, and more. 

Q: What is the best way to clean up acrylic paint?

A: The easiest way to clean up after using acrylic paint is to use soap and water on the brushes or rollers before the paint dries. You can also use mineral spirits for tougher stains. 

Q: Are acrylic paints toxic?

A: Acrylic paints are generally non-toxic and safe to use. However, some pigments and mediums may contain toxic ingredients, so it's important to read labels and follow safety precautions.

Q: How long do acrylic paints take to dry?

A: Acrylic paint dries quickly, usually within 15 to 30 minutes. However, the drying time can vary depending on factors such as humidity, temperature, and the thickness of the paint layer.

Q: How do I clean up after using acrylic paints?

A: Acrylic paints can be cleaned up with soap and water while they are still wet. Once they have dried, they become water-resistant and can only be removed with solvents specifically designed for acrylic paints.

Q: Can I mix different brands of acrylic paints?

A: Yes, you can mix different brands of acrylic paint. However, some brands may have different consistencies or drying times, so it's important to test the paint mixture before using it in your artwork.

Q: How do I store acrylic paints?

A: Acrylic paints should be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and heat sources. They should also be kept tightly sealed to prevent them from drying out.

Q: Can I use acrylic paints in combination with other mediums?

A: Yes, acrylic paints can be used in combination with other mediums such as gels, pastes, and varnishes to create different effects and textures in your artwork.

Q: How do I thin acrylic paints?

A: Acrylic paints can be thinned with water or a medium specifically designed for acrylic paints. It's important to add small amounts of water or medium at a time to avoid over-thinning the paint.

Q: Can I use acrylic paints for outdoor projects?

A: Yes, acrylic paints can be used for outdoor projects. However, it's important to use an acrylic paint specifically designed for outdoor use and to apply a protective varnish to prevent fading and damage from weather conditions.