Your Ultimate Guide to Understanding Acrylic Paint

Diving into the world of acrylics can feel overwhelming with the vast array of brands, colours, and types available. But don’t worry—this guide will help you navigate the maze of acrylic paint to find the perfect products for your artistic journey, whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills.

At Broad Canvas, we stock top-quality acrylics from brands like Winsor & Newton, Daler-Rowney, and Golden to suit every budget and style.

Let’s break down the key factors to consider when selecting acrylic paint, so you can start creating with confidence!

1. Why Acrylics Are Perfect for Beginners

Acrylics are a versatile and forgiving medium, making them ideal for newcomers. They dry quickly, blend beautifully, and work on various surfaces like canvas, paper, or wood. Whether you’re experimenting with bold abstracts or detailed realism, acrylic paint offers endless possibilities. The key is choosing the right acrylics to match your goals, and this guide will walk you through the essentials.

2. It’s Personal: Finding Your Style

Selecting acrylic paint is a personal journey tied to your preferred art style and techniques. Do you love vibrant, textured layers or smooth, watercolour-like washes? Your choice of acrylics will depend on these preferences. As a beginner, don’t overthink it—grab some paint and start creating! With experience, you’ll discover which brands and types of acrylic paint suit you best.

3. Quality: Artists’ vs. Students’ Acrylics

Acrylics come in two main grades: artists’ quality and students’ quality. Artists’ quality acrylic paint boasts high pigment concentration, vibrant colours, and excellent permanence, making it ideal for professional or lasting artwork. Students’ quality paint is more affordable but may contain fillers, resulting in less intense colours and a slightly grainier texture.
For beginners, students’ quality acrylics are a great starting point, especially on a budget.

As you progress, consider upgrading to artists’ quality for richer hues and smoother blending. A smart tip? Use students’ paint for underpainting or earth tones and splurge on artists’ quality for vivid colours like cadmiums.

Check out Daler Rowney Heavy Body Acrylics, or Golden Heavy Body Acrylics for top-tier options.

4. Colour: Building Your Palette

The array of colours in acrylic paint can be dazzling, but you don’t need every shade to start. A basic palette of 10 colours—red, blue, yellow, white, black, and a few earth tones—lets you mix virtually any hue. For convenience, consider an acrylic paint set, which offers a curated selection at a lower cost per tube.

Sets like the Daler Rowney System 3 Acrylic Set are perfect for beginners.

For fun, try specialty acrylics like fluorescent or iridescent paints for luminous effects, but check their lightfastness if longevity matters.

5. Permanence: Ensuring Your Art Lasts

Permanence, or lightfastness, measures how well acrylic paint resists fading when exposed to light. Acrylics generally have better permanence than oils or watercolours, but not all pigments are equal. Look for paints rated ASTM I (Excellent) or ASTM II (Very Good) on the tube, or manufacturer ratings like **** (AA) for extremely permanent colours.

Avoid ASTM III or * (C) fugitive colours for serious work, as they may fade over time. Our Golden Fluid Acrylics (#) and Soft Body Acrylics (#) offer excellent lightfastness for lasting creations.

6. Viscosity: Thick or Thin?

Viscosity refers to the thickness of acrylic paint. Heavy body acrylics are thick and buttery, perfect for textured brushstrokes and impasto techniques, similar to oil paint. Fluid acrylics are thinner, ideal for smooth washes, detail work, or watercolour effects. You can also mix acrylics with mediums to adjust consistency.

Beginners should start with heavy body acrylics, like Golden Heavy Body Acrylics, as they’re versatile and can be thinned with water or mediums. If you prefer fluid techniques, try experimenting with different water amounts. Keep experimenting to find what suits your style!

7. Drying Time: Fast or Slow?

Acrylics dry quickly, which is great for layering but tricky for blending or if paint dries on your brush. To slow drying, use a retarding medium or try open acrylics, like Golden Acrylic Retarder, which stay workable for days or even weeks. These are perfect for artists who love the slow-blending feel of oils but want the durability of acrylics. Test both to see what fits your workflow.

8. Top Brands to Explore

Choosing a brand of acrylic paint comes down to preference, but quality matters. At Broad Canvas, we stock trusted names like:

• Golden: Known for vibrant heavy body and fluid acrylics with excellent permanence.
• Winsor & Newton: Reliable for both artists’ and students’ quality paints.
• Daler-Rowney System 3: Affordable students’ acrylics with decent pigment load.

For budget-conscious beginners, try students’ sets from Daler-Rowney. Tip: Stick to one brand per painting to avoid issues with differing binders, which can cause curdling or poor adhesion.

See the full range here.

9. Acrylic Gouache: A Unique Option

Acrylic gouache combines the matte, opaque finish of traditional gouache with the durability of acrylics. It’s water-resistant when dry and perfect for flat, bold designs or illustration. While not as common, it’s a fun addition for beginners experimenting with styles. Check its permanence ratings, as some colours may be less lightfast.

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10. Get Painting: Start Your Journey

The best way to choose acrylics is to start painting! Don’t get stuck analysing every detail—grab a set, experiment, and let your creativity flow. Broad Canvas has everything you need, from Winsor & Newton Acrylic Sets and Daler Rowney for beginners to Golden Acrylics for advanced techniques.

Browse our acrylic paint range, pick a few colours, and start creating your masterpiece. With practice, you’ll find the acrylics that make your art shine.

And don't forget that if you need any help or advice, we are always available to talk you through it.