Golden Artist Colours: Which Acrylic Paint is Right for You?

Whether you're building up textured brushstrokes or pouring fluid layers onto canvas, the Golden Artist Colours acrylic range offers a paint to match your technique. With four main lines — Heavy Body, Fluid, High Flow, and OPEN Acrylics — plus an extensive collection of professional mediums and gels, Golden gives artists unparalleled creative control over colour, texture, finish, and drying time.

If you’ve been wondering about the best acrylic paint for your next project, or whether to go with Heavy Body vs Fluid acrylic paint, this guide will help you decide.

What is Golden Artist Colours?

Golden is one of the most trusted artist-quality acrylic paint brands in the world. Every paint is made by hand in New York, using high-performance pigments and innovative formulations. The brand is a favourite among professional painters, educators and experimental artists alike, and it’s now available in Australia at ArtStore Online.

Why Choose Golden Over Other Acrylic Paint Brands?

There are plenty of acrylic paint brands in Australia, from student-grade sets to cheap acrylic paints in craft stores. So what sets Golden apart?

• Professional quality from a 100% employee-owned company
  

• Extensive colour range with unique pigments (like Quinacridone Gold and Cobalt Teal)
  

• No added fillers or flattening agents
  

• Designed to work across techniques and surfaces
  

• Ideal for both traditional and experimental artists
  

Searching Golden vs Liquitex acrylic paint? While both brands offer quality, many artists prefer Golden for its pigment purity and line variety, especially when it comes to blending, pouring, and mixed media work.

Comparing the Golden Acrylic Paint Range

Heavy Body Acrylics – Buttery and Bold

If you're after rich, textured colour, Golden Heavy Body Acrylics are a top choice. Known for their thick, buttery consistency and high pigment load, these paints are ideal for acrylic painting on canvas, offering exceptional colour retention with no added fillers or opacifiers.

Best for:

• Impasto techniques
  

• Mixed media
  

• Strong colour mixing
  

• Sculptural effects
  

Acrylic paint that doesn’t crack – Thanks to their flexible film, these paints resist cracking over time, even on stretched canvas.

Fun fact: Golden was one of the first brands to break away from uniform sheen, so each pigment keeps its natural matte or glossy character.

Fluid Acrylics – Smooth and Versatile

Golden’s Fluid Acrylics offer the same pigment intensity as their Heavy Body paints, but in a smoother, pourable consistency. This makes them perfect for detailed brushwork, staining, and even airbrushing.

Best for:

• Glazes and transparent washes
  

• Painting on wood or paper
  

• Blending with gels and pastes
  

• Acrylic paint pouring
  

Many artists consider these among the best acrylic paints for pouring, especially when paired with Golden pouring mediums.

Did you know? You can easily use these with stencils or to create smooth gradients on canvas.

High Flow Acrylics – Acrylic Ink for Bold Detail

Looking for an acrylic paint set that performs like ink but dries like acrylic? Golden High Flow Acrylics have a thin, ink-like consistency and are ready to use in refillable markers, airbrushes, dip pens and brushes, straight from the bottle.

Best for:

• Calligraphy, linework, and drawing
  

• Fluid art and staining
  

• Mixed media backgrounds
  

• Detailed illustration
  

Can you use acrylic paint on fabric? Yes, mix High Flow Acrylics with Golden’s GAC 900 medium and heat set for textile projects.

OPEN Acrylics – Slow-Drying for Blending and Detail

Golden’s OPEN Acrylics are designed for artists who love the soft, slow-blending feel of oils but want the easy clean-up and versatility of acrylics. They remain wet for hours, making them ideal for glazing, soft transitions, and working alla prima.

Best for:

• Realistic painting styles
  

• Portraiture and landscapes
  

• Acrylic paint for canvas in Australia
  

• Techniques where extended drying time is useful
  

Great for beginners wanting to learn the difference between acrylic and oil paint, or for painters transitioning from oils.

Which Golden Paint Should You Use?

Here’s a quick side-by-side to help you choose:

Golden Mediums: Customise Your Paint

Golden’s professional mediums allow you to control nearly every aspect of your paint, from gloss level to drying time. They’re ideal whether you’re a beginner exploring new techniques or a professional refining your style.

Fluid & Gel Mediums

• Extend drying time
  

• Add transparency or gloss
  

• Build texture and body
  

• Use to seal acrylic paint on wood or mixed media projects
  

Additives

• Retarder: slows drying time for standard acrylics
  

• OPEN Thinner: specially designed for OPEN paints
  

• Wetting Aid: great for staining absorbent surfaces
  

Fabric Applications

Yes, you can use acrylic paint on fabric, just mix it with Golden GAC 900 medium for softness and washability.

Not Sure Where to Start?

If you're new to painting, you might be looking for the best acrylic paint for beginners. Golden offers sets and individual colours to suit all levels. You can also mix and match paint types to create custom effects, for example:

• Combine Fluid and Gel Medium for a high-gloss glaze
  

• Use OPEN for underpainting, then layer with Heavy Body for dimension
  

• Try High Flow for details over a Fluid Acrylic background
  

Looking for non-toxic acrylic paint for kids? While Golden paints are professional-grade and safe when used correctly, they are not designed specifically for children's use. For young artists, we recommend student-specific ranges. Shop our range of Kids Paints.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re painting abstracts, portraits, or mixed media masterpieces, Golden Artist Colours offers the tools and quality to bring your ideas to life. From richly pigmented Heavy Body paints to ink-like High Flow Acrylics, this range covers everything from traditional brushwork to bold experimentation.

Ready to elevate your art?

Buy acrylic paint online in Australia at ArtStore Online