Picking Your Paint
This is probably the part most people are curious about, and the part that most people really don’t understand.
Your choices for acrylic paint are pretty varied and pretty confusing. If you can buy a set of 18 for twelve dollars, why would you spend upwards of eight dollars on a single tube?
It comes down to the quality of the paint you’re getting, and in this case, it’s the amount of pigment versus filler you’re getting in that tube. The more pigment you have, the fuller your colors will be. I’ve also noticed that a heavier dose of pigment means you have to paint less, as it’s likely to cover the area evenly in one coat.
What follows are four types of acrylic paint that I own, what they cost, and what I recommend. Prices are the list price given by Amazon.
Reeves Acrylic Paint
$16.79 for a set of 24 (0.4 oz each)
These paints are…okay. There isn’t a whole lot of paint in each tube, and because they don’t coat all that well, you’ll run out of a color before you know it. I’d say to stay far away from these things, even if you’re just starting out, as they aren’t that great.
Liquitex Basics
$32.81 for a set of 24 (0.74 oz each)
(Shown are 4 oz tubes)
Seems like a huge leap in price, but you’re moving way up in quality here. These offer a decent consistency and a good pigment quality. If you’re hesitant on forking over so much before you know what you’re getting into, Liquitex Basics also offers a 12 color-set for $6 (0.75 oz per color). In fact, that’s where I started off playing with acrylic so many years ago…
Winsor & Newton Galleria
$40.39 for a set of 10 (2 oz each)
These offer true bang for the buck. Although they are a touch more watery than what’s wanted, these offer great pigment quality and spread. I use them in conjunction with my fancier paint (listed below) or if I need a large quantity of a particular color.
Liquitex Soft Body
$45.40 for a set of 8 (2 oz each)
This here is the big league, what the pros use. I buy these individually, and you know your paint is fancy when the price varies from color to color. It has to do with the fact that certain pigments are more expensive than others. What you get here is high-quality pigment, some of the best I have personally ever come across, and great spread. This is the kind of stuff where a little dab goes a long way. They come in both tubes and jars, and also in “heavy body”, which I haven’t tried yet.
