Ever mixed a beautiful color only to have it look dull and lifeless on your canvas? It’s a frustrating moment every artist knows. Choosing the right acrylic paint feels like navigating a maze. You see vibrant tubes in the store, but how do you know which ones will truly bring your vision to life without fading or cracking later?
Many artists settle for less expensive paints, only to deal with chalky textures, weak color payoff, and muddy blends. These problems steal the joy from creating! We want our art to shine, but low-quality materials often hold us back. Understanding what makes a paint “quality” is the secret to unlocking your best artwork.
This post cuts through the confusion. We will explore what pigments matter, how much you should spend, and how to spot the difference between student-grade and professional acrylics. By the end, you will confidently choose paints that give you rich color and lasting results.
Top Quality Acrylic Paint Recommendations
- NEW AND IMPROVED FORMULA – Experience enhanced color vibrancy and opacity, smoother application, and a satin finish, now with vegan-friendly ingredients.
- LIGHTFAST & LONG-LASTING – Fade-resistant, lightfast-rated pigments ensure your artwork remains vibrant for many years to come.
- HIGHLY PIGMENTED – Enjoy rich, vibrant colors with excellent coverage and opacity. Use straight from the tube or thinned with water.
- SATIN FINISH – Dries to a soft sheen, striking the ideal balance between matte and glossy for a professional-quality look.
- MINIMAL COLOR SHIFT – Our advanced formula keeps colors true as they dry, ensuring your final piece reflects your original vision.
- Good coverage and a creamy texture
- Fast drying time allows you to layer paint quickly without muddying your colors
- Suitable for most surfaces including canvas, wood, MDF, leather, air-dried clay, plaster, cardboard, paper and some plastics
- 24 colors: Titanium White, Lemon Yellow, Medium Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Brilliant Red, Vermilion, Orange, Yellow Deep, Magenta, Crimson, Purple, Phthalo Blue, Phthalo Green, Viridian, Cerulean Blue, Deep Cyan, Sap Green, Monastral Green, Burnt Umber, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna, Lamp Black, Gold, Silver
- INFINITE RANGE OF COLORS: A wonderful array of 100 different vibrant acrylic paint colors can meet your various painting needs. Including 76 regular acrylic paints, 16 metallics, and 8 fluorescents. Basics & novelties, colds & warms, what you need & what you want, all in one.
- QUALITY PIGMENT: Well-ground heavy body acrylic paint sets provide fineness and excellent consistency to feature the paints with strong coloring ability and coverage. After full integration, the paste shows bright luster and high lightfastness that retain the masterpiece for a long time.
- ALL COLORS YOU NEED: The no toxic acrylic paints tubes includes the common and rare, gorgeous, and low-profile colors in a 76-color basic serial, which can handle a full colorful abstraction more than enough. The 16-color metallic serial provides authenticity in every stroke, and the fluorescents can support your artwork with a dreamy neon vibe.
- IDEAL GIFT CHOICE: Exquisite packaged plus 100-color combination, a perfect mix got all aspects covered - all-level, all-age, and all-scenario friendly. The acrylic paints can save most of the trouble finding a matched gift for your closed ones who are enthusiastic about painting. Suitable for various applications: canvas art, wood, fabric, ceramics, crafts, Halloween pumpkin painting decorations.
- MEEDEN for ULTIMATE SATISFACTION: MEEDEN is more like a family with hundreds of members wholly dedicated to helping you succeed in your artistic endeavors through high-quality, unique art supplies. And like a family, we stick together, and if anything goes south, you can always rely on MEEDEN, through thick and thin - give us a little sign - a mail, a call, or a message.
- PROFESSIONAL PIGMENTS, SMARTLY BALANCED: Bright, stable colours with high tinting strength, thanks to high-quality pigments at a lower concentration—making it easier to transition to professional ranges.
- EFFORTLESS CONSISTENCY, VIBRANT RESULTS: Smooth, satin finish with excellent coverage and flow—easy to work and perfect for layering, blending, and bold brushwork.
- EXPANDED COLOUR FREEDOM: Wide spectrum of over 60 colours, with a high proportion of single pigment tones - for cleaner mixes and richer results.
- BUILT TO LAST: Excellent lightfastness and permanence; once dry, Galeria acrylics are water- and weather-resistant—ideal for lasting studio or outdoor work.
- CREATIVE VERSATILITY: Works across many surfaces—canvas, paper, wood, board, and more - Suitable for any user exploring expressive or detailed work.
- Large Bulk Acrylic Paint Set - 14 Bold Colors. This Nicpro acrylic paint set includes 14 essential shades like White, Mars Black, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green and Burnt Umber—each in a large 16.9oz (500ml) easy-squeeze bottle. Bonus palette knife, art sponge, and a color wheel make color mixing fun and efficient—perfect for group crafts, classrooms, and Christmas decorating projects
- Smooth & Rich Texture – Professional Quality for Every Stroke. Formulated with premium pigments, our acrylic paints offer a rich, creamy consistency for smooth blending, easy layering, and excellent coverage. Create stunning details or bold strokes with confidence, all while achieving consistent, vivid results on every surface
- Fast-Drying & Fade-Resistant – Made to Last. Thanks to the quick-dry formula, colors won’t smudge or muddy when layered. This long-lasting acrylic paint set resists light, water and fading, ensuring your crafts, Christmas decor, wall murals, or seasonal decorations stay bright and bold all season and beyond
- Safe for All Ages – Certified Non-Toxic Paint Set. Crafted with non-toxic, safe ingredients, this large paint set is perfect for adult beginners, students, and hobbyists alike. Great for school, art classes, family craft nights, and bulk painting needs like a paint party - safe, mess-free fun for all artists
- Multi Surface Paint - From Canvas to Rock to Fabric. Designed for wide-ranging creativity, this acrylic paint adheres beautifully to canvas, rocks, wood, glass, ceramic, fabric, leather, plastic, clay, metal and more. Ideal for rock painting kit, crafts, window paint, DIY Christmas pajamas and stockings, Halloween pumpkin. A perfect painting kit for artists or anyone looking to explore their creativity
- Pure pigments – the finest quality artists’ pigments used in high concentration. Heavy body acrylic is known for its rich, permanent color. Our chemists use the latest basket bead-mill technology to bring out the best in every pigment
- Acrylic innovation – the low-odor acrylic resin base gives you increased open time and colors of great clarity and vibrancy, with minimal wet-to-dry shift. The film is highly flexible, durable, non-yellowing, uv-resistant and water-resistant when dry
- High viscosity – satisfyingly rich and smooth. This is our highest viscosity paint. Good surface drag gives excellent handling and blending characteristics, with increased open-working time. Never too slippery, or too sticky
- Non-cracking – a flexible, crack-free result. Even when you go in thick. Impasto and 3D applications dry without fracturing due to advanced acrylic technology which brings flexibility to the paint film. Giving you a durable, noncracking finish
- Possible – at least 50 years+ in gallery conditions – with no color shifting or fading, to stay vibrant and true
- VIBRANT ACRYLIC PAINTS : Shuttle Art 30 Acrylic Paint Set consists of 30 vibrant assorted colors and with BONUS 3 FREE PAINT BRUSHES. Each tube is filled with 12 ml (0.4 oz) paints with rich pigments that are professional artist quality
- VERSATILE PAINTS : Paint lay down is creamy and vivid. Great for teens, beginners or artists for wide range of surfaces, such as canvas, ceramic, wood, fabric, clay, walls, nails, crafts and more. Children use acrylic paints in art class and leisure time to develop imagination skills and adults paint to relax and boost creativity, great for creating decorative art for your home
- DURABLE PAINTS : Acrylics dry very quickly. Paint stays on surface extremely well and is durable and long lasting. It’s permanent, waterproof and fade-proof
- HIGH QUALITY THICK PIGMENTS : When acrylic pigments are thin, artwork will appear watery and difficult to achieve vibrancy. We have developed a thick and rich pigment that provides superior coverage and maintain smoothness while painting. Conforms to ASTM-D4236, non-toxic and acid-free
- SERVICE GUARANTEE : Your satisfaction is our top priority, please rest assured to purchase our products. If you are not satisfied with our products or have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time
- Thick, creamy with satin finish; Good pigment load
- Retains peaks and brush strokes; Ideal for learning color theory and color mixing
- Includes 8.45-ounce / 250 millilitre tube of acrylic paint
- Intermixable with Liquitex Professional Acrylic Paint Colors and Mediums.
- Conforms to ASTM D4236; Safe for educational use
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Choosing Quality Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint is a fantastic choice for artists of all levels. It dries fast and cleans up easily with water. But not all acrylics are created equal! This guide helps you pick the best quality paint for your next masterpiece.
Key Features to Look For
When shopping for acrylics, look closely at these important features. They tell you a lot about how the paint will perform.
Pigment Load and Concentration
This is the most important part. Pigment is the color powder in the paint. High-quality paints use more pure pigment. High pigment load means:
- The colors are bright and vibrant.
- The paint covers other colors well (good opacity).
- Colors stay true even after they dry.
Lower quality paints often use more filler—cheap white or clear material—to save money. This makes the color dull.
Lightfastness Rating
Lightfastness tells you how long the color will last without fading when exposed to light. Artists use a rating system:
- **ASTM I (Excellent):** These paints will last for hundreds of years. Great for professional work.
- **ASTM II (Good):** These might fade slightly over a long time. Fine for practice or décor.
- Avoid paints without a rating if you want your art to last.
Binder Quality
The binder is the glue that holds the pigment together and sticks it to the surface. Good acrylics use 100% pure acrylic polymer. This binder makes the paint flexible and strong when dry.
Important Materials and Ingredients
Knowing what is inside the tube helps you judge the paint’s worth.
Student Grade vs. Artist Grade
Paints fall into two main groups:
- **Artist Grade (Professional):** These use single pigments for clean mixing. They have the highest pigment load and the best lightfastness. They cost more, but the results are professional.
- **Student Grade:** These are good for beginners or large practice pieces. They use more extenders and sometimes use mixtures of pigments instead of single ones. They are cheaper but might not mix as cleanly.
Consistency and Body
Good paint should feel thick, like butter or cream. This is called “body.”
- **Heavy Body:** This is thick, like traditional oil paint. It holds brushstrokes well.
- **Soft Body/Fluid:** This is thinner and flows easily. It is better for pouring or detailed work where you do not want texture.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The ingredients directly affect how you use the paint.
Factors That Improve Quality:
- **Single Pigments:** When a color label lists only one pigment code (like PB29 for Ultramarine Blue), the color mixes are cleaner and brighter.
- **High Pigment Concentration:** More pigment means better coverage and richer color.
- **No Harmful Fillers:** Quality paints avoid cheap chalks or fillers that weaken the paint film.
Factors That Reduce Quality:
- **Dyes Instead of Pigments:** Dyes are transparent and fade very quickly. They are cheap substitutes for real color.
- **Too Much Extender:** If the paint feels chalky or dries dull, it probably has too much filler material.
- **Poor Packaging:** If the paint dries out in the tube or leaks oil, the binder quality is low.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you plan to use the paint should guide your choice.
For Beginners and Practice:
Student-grade acrylics work well. They are affordable for experimenting with color mixing and learning techniques like glazing (making thin layers).
For Finished Artwork and Portfolios:
Always choose Artist Grade. You need paints that will not fade over time. You also need the smooth texture and strong coverage that professional paints offer.
Specialty Uses:
If you want to pour paint, look for acrylics specifically labeled as “Pouring Medium” or “Fluid Acrylics.” These are pre-thinned for that specific technique.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Quality Acrylic Paint
Q: How can I tell if the acrylic paint is high quality just by looking at the tube?
A: Look for labels that list “100% Acrylic Polymer Binder” and check for an ASTM lightfastness rating (ideally I or II).
Q: Is expensive acrylic paint always better?
A: Usually, yes. The higher price reflects the cost of high-quality, pure pigments and better binders, which results in better color and longevity.
Q: Can I mix student paint with artist paint?
A: Yes, you can mix them. However, the resulting mixture will take on the lower quality characteristics, like reduced lightfastness, of the student paint.
Q: What does “opacity” mean in paint?
A: Opacity is how well the paint covers what is underneath it. Highly opaque paint covers dark colors in just one or two strokes.
Q: Should I use heavy body or fluid acrylics?
A: Use heavy body if you like texture, impasto (thick application), and seeing distinct brush marks. Use fluid acrylics for smooth coverage, washes, or detailed line work.
Q: Does acrylic paint change color when it dries?
A: Yes, most acrylics darken slightly as the water evaporates and the binder cures. High-quality brands show very little change.
Q: What is the best way to clean brushes after using quality acrylics?
A: Clean them immediately with mild soap and warm water. Do not let the paint dry in the bristles, as dried acrylic is very hard to remove.
Q: Are there toxic ingredients in quality acrylic paint?
A: Most modern acrylics are non-toxic. However, some professional colors use traditional pigments (like Cadmium) that require careful handling. Always check the safety label.
Q: How do I make cheap paint look better?
A: You can improve student paint by adding a high-quality acrylic medium, like a gloss or matte medium, which improves flow and sometimes pigment saturation.
Q: What is the difference between “acrylic paint” and “craft paint”?
A: Craft paint is very low quality. It has minimal pigment and lots of filler. Quality acrylic paint has high pigment load and is made for archival artwork.