What color truly captures the feeling you want to share on your canvas? Choosing the perfect paint feels like a big decision for any artist. You want your vision to leap off the paper or board, but the sheer number of paints available can feel overwhelming. Should you pick oils for their rich blendability, or acrylics for their fast drying time? Many artists waste time and money on paints that just don’t fit their style.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We will explore the most popular types of artist paints. You will learn exactly what makes watercolor different from gouache and when to choose heavy body acrylics over fluid ones. By the end of this post, you will feel confident picking up that tube of paint, knowing it matches your artistic goals perfectly.
Get ready to transform your painting process. Let’s dive into the vibrant world of artist paints and find your perfect match!
Top Paint For Artists Recommendations
- 🎨Safety guarantee & High quality- Made of premium paint material, conforming to ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards,HissiCo acrylic paint set is in rich pigment, creamy, non toxic and safe for adults, teens and kids’ creative art painting time
- 🖌Nice Color Blending- Acrylic paints can blend, layer and mix well to produce an array of unlimited shades for any craft projects. Each paint has a fantastic thick consistency for art paintings, which will keep brush or spatula marks well and give brilliant texture for your art masterpieces
- 🎨Easy to Use & Store- The acrylic paint set in flip-top squeeze bottles makes it easy to control the flow while applying the paint to arts painting. Comes in a sturdy nice flip-lid cardboard box, the paint set will be easy to store and safe keeping
- 🖌Multifunctional Acrylic Paint Set- HissiCo acrylic paints are versatile in canvas art, painting, scrap booking and even nail arts, suitable for most surfaces, including stretched canvas, wood, glass, card decorating, plastic, craft foam, ceramic, decorative wallpaper, terracotta, blackboard easel, paper and tin
- 🎨36 Vibrant Colors & Rich Pigment- The premium acrylic paint set with 36 unique eye-catching vibrant acrylic colors , 12 paint brushes and 1 palette will offer you vivid colors and better selections to bring your artwork to life. Those highly pigmented colors are great to produce true, consistent shades on painting art, ideal for professional artists, young aspiring artists, painting lovers and kids
- 50 VIBRANT COLORS : Shuttle Art Acrylic Paint Set comes with 50 colors acrylic paint in 60 ml/2 oz bottles, providing the most commonly used colors and inspiring hot fluorescent and metallic colors to your art projects, ideal for painting and crafting
- PREMIUM QUALITY : These acrylic paints are water-based, have a creamy texture, and are easy to mix and layer. They have great coverage, and a little paint can go a long way on your surface
- MULTI-PURPOSE PAINT : Acrylic paints for art dry quickly and stay on surfaces extremely well, permanent, waterproof and fade resistant, suitable for most surfaces like glass, rocks, nails, walls, canvas, leather, ceramic, wood, clay, crafts and more, great for art beginners, enthusiasts, professional artists, students, etc
- NON-TOXIC & CERTIFICATED : Conforms to U.S. ASTM D-4236 & EN71-3, non-toxic and acid-free, safe and suitable for all ages
- 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
- 36 VIBRANT COLORS : Shuttle Art 36 colors acrylic paint set contains 36 unique colors highly pigmented paints, including classic metallic gold and silver colors, also comes with 12 brushes and 1 palette, when you receive this art painting kit you can paint right way
- ARTIST QUALITY & STURDY PACKAGE: Creamy acrylic paints are easy to blend, mix and layer, providing great coverage and true, consistent shades for detailing, texturing and coloring. Art projects will stay as beautiful as the day they were painted. Strengthened cardboard package protects paints well and works as an organizer, safe and convenient.
- WIDE APPLICATION & EASY TO CLEAN: Dry fast, water-proof and fade-resistant, acrylic paint is suitable for most surfaces, such as wood, rock, canvas, ceramic, fabric, glass, clay, leather, plastic and more. Water-bases paint can be easily cleaned with soap and water before completely dry, perfect for kids, students, beginner art lovers and professional artists for painting and crafting.
- NON-TOXIC & ACIDE FREE: This paint set is conformed to ASTM-D4236, non-toxic and acid-free. Safe acrylic paint set for kids, teens and adults to do art projects with the water-based paints.
- 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.
- Premium Artist quality Acrylic paints with a wide range of vivid & vibrant colors that are uniquely formulated with high quality pigments to bring out the maximum brilliance and color clarity with a buttery consistency and offer great covering power for large areas and fine details. These paints dry to a beautiful gloss finish
- Our acrylic paints have a premium consistency, perfect for blending, layering, and creating texture. Along with your 24-pack of paints, you’ll also receive 3 professional brushes.
- High Quality, Rich Pigments, Certified Safe & Non-Toxic .We are not just Premium and Art Friendly but Environment friendly too; ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3 (CE) certified
- Versatile for most art and craft techniques and suitable for most painting surfaces including Canvas, Paper, Wood, Fabric, Leather, Cardboard, ceramic,MDF and Crafts.
- 18 COLORS BULK PAINT: Shuttle Art 18 colors acrylic paint set contains 18 commonly used colors acrylic paints in bottles, and each contains 250ml/8.45oz large volume paint, ideal for artists, beginners, kids and adults on painting and crafting.
- THICK & VIBRANT PAINT: Artist grade acrylic paints bring bright colors, thick and creamy texture, as well as incredible consistency to painters. They mix and blend well to come up with more colors, and have a great coverage with little paint.
- VERSATILE PURPOSES: Acrylic paints dry quickly and stay on surfaces extremely well, permanent, waterproof and fade-proof, suitable for most surfaces like glass, rocks, nails, walls, canvas, leather, ceramic, wood, clay, crafts and more, great for art enthusiasts, professional artists, students, etc.
- NON-TOXIC & CERTIFICATED: Conforms to U.S. ASTM D-4236 & EN71-3, non-toxic and acid-free, safe and suitable for all ages.
- 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.
- 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
- CONVENIENT SIZE & FUN BRIGHT COLORS - This versatile acrylic paint set includes 16 - 2 oz bottles of colorful craft paint. The colors in this kit include: White, Black, Flag Red, Jack-o-Lantern, Bright Blue, Candy Pink, Nutmeg Brown, Bright Yellow, New Shamrock, Purple Iris, Too Blue, Fuchsia, Key West, Pewter Grey, Bright Magenta, and Parrot Blue
- MATTE FINISH - Each of these bold and bright colors dries to a brilliant matte finish - perfect for all your arts and crafts!
- EASY & SMOOTH APPLICATION - Use on a variety of surfaces including wood, Styrofoam, plaster, terra cotta, and more. This versatile acrylic paint can easily be brushed, stamped, stenciled or sponged to your projects
- SIMPLE CLEAN UP - Clean up is easy with Apple Barrel acrylic paint. Simply clean up while wet with soap and water. Great acrylic paint set for adults and kids!
- AMERICAN MADE - Apple Barrel is proudly made in the USA
- CONVENIENT SIZE - This Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint comes in a versatile 8 oz size that is great for basecoating, stenciling, and so much more
- FUN FINISH - This brilliant acrylic paint dries to a matte finish - perfect for a variety of arts and crafts!
- BRIGHT COLOR - Grab your acrylic paint brushes and add this fun, bright acrylic paint to all your DIY projects
- USE ON MULTIPLE SURFACES - Use Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint on a variety of surfaces such as wood, paper, canvas, Styrofoam, paper mache, and so much more
- EASY CLEAN UP - Clean up is easy with this acrylic paint! Simply clean up while wet with soap and water
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Artist Paints
Choosing the right paint for your art is exciting! This guide helps you find the perfect colors and textures for your next masterpiece.
Key Features to Look For
When you shop for artist paints, several things make a big difference in how they look and last.
1. Pigment Concentration (Color Strength)
Pigment is the actual color powder in the paint. High pigment load means the color is strong and vibrant. Good paints use a lot of pigment. This lets you mix colors without them looking dull quickly.
2. Lightfastness (How Long Color Lasts)
Lightfastness tells you if the sun will fade your painting over time. Look for ratings like ASTM I (Excellent) or ASTM II (Very Good). Never buy paints rated III or lower for important artwork that you want to last many years.
3. Binder Type
The binder holds the pigment together and sticks it to your surface. The main types are oil, acrylic, and watercolor. Each binder acts very differently when you paint.
Important Materials and Paint Types
Different art projects need different materials. Know which paint base works best for your goal.
- Oil Paints: These use linseed oil as a binder. They dry very slowly, which lets artists blend colors smoothly for a long time.
- Acrylic Paints: Water is the base for these paints. They dry fast, which is great for layering quickly. You can clean brushes with just soap and water.
- Watercolor Paints: These use a gum arabic binder and are transparent. You activate them with water. They are perfect for light, airy effects.
- Mediums and Solvents: These liquids change how the paint works. Solvents (like turpentine for oils) thin the paint or clean brushes. Mediums change texture or drying time.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The quality of paint affects your final result. Paying a little more often buys you better performance.
What Makes Paint Better?
High-quality paints often use single pigments. This means the color comes from one pure source, making the color cleaner when mixed. Professional grades usually have higher pigment load and better lightfastness ratings.
What Reduces Quality?
Student-grade paints often substitute expensive pigments with cheaper fillers. These fillers reduce the color strength and can make the paint chalky or dull when dry. Always check the label for filler ingredients if you want the best results.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you plan to use the paint matters greatly when making a choice.
For Beginners:
Start with student-grade acrylics or a basic watercolor set. These are more affordable. You can learn techniques without wasting expensive materials while you practice.
For Detailed Work:
Oil or high-quality acrylics work best. Oils allow slow blending for portraits. Acrylics let you build sharp, crisp edges quickly.
For Large Canvases:
Acrylics are often the practical choice because they dry faster and cleanup is easier. You do not need expensive solvents for large areas.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Artist Paints
Q: What is the difference between artist grade and student grade paint?
A: Artist grade paints use more pure pigment and fewer fillers. Student grade paints use cheaper fillers, so the colors are less intense and might fade faster.
Q: How long does it take for oil paint to dry?
A: Oil paint dries very slowly. A thin layer might take a few days. Thick layers can take weeks or even months to fully cure.
Q: Can I mix oil and acrylic paint together?
A: No. You should never mix oil and acrylic paint. They use different binders (oil vs. water) and they will not stick together properly. The paint layer will crack over time.
Q: What is the safest way to clean oil paint brushes?
A: You clean oil brushes first with a solvent like odorless mineral spirits to remove most of the paint. Then, you wash them thoroughly with soap and water.
Q: Do watercolor paints need a special paper?
A: Yes. Watercolor needs thick, absorbent paper, usually 140 lb weight or higher. Thin paper buckles and wrinkles when water is applied.
Q: What does “impasto” mean?
A: Impasto is a technique where you apply paint very thickly onto the canvas. This creates visible brushstrokes and texture. Heavy body acrylics or thick oil paint work best for this.
Q: Are expensive paints worth the extra money?
A: For serious artists, yes. Better paints offer superior color mixing, better lightfastness, and a nicer texture while you work.
Q: How should I store my leftover paint?
A: Keep paint tubes tightly capped to stop air from getting in. Store them in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight or extreme heat.
Q: What is “gesso”?
A: Gesso is a primer. You apply it to a surface like canvas or wood before painting. Gesso seals the surface and gives the paint something good to grip onto.
Q: Which paint type is best for beginners learning color theory?
A: Acrylics are often recommended for beginners. They dry quickly, are easy to clean up with water, and allow you to experiment without long drying delays.