Daler Rowney: Daler Rowney's acrylic paints are another good brand to consider with their consistency, vibrancy and ease of use. They also have a wide range of paints for different types of artists, from students to professionals. If you’re doing preliminary paintings, or don’t want to work on an expensive canvas surface straight away, then canvas textured papers offer an affordable option. These papers are prepared for use with acrylics and come in bound pads. Plus they’re easy to transport and store like a standard sketchbook. Although they do not offer the same feel as canvas, they are pressed with a canvas texture to mimic some of its working properties. If stretched canvases are too bulky then you may prefer to work on canvas board or painting panels. These surfaces are much thinner, so are easier to store if you don’t have much storage space available. The chemical properties of acrylic are much of a muchness from brand to brand. Where they differ is in their consistency and the levels of pigment they contain. We’ll go into pigment in the following section.

The pigment load will affect the vibrancy of the colors,” Clare says. For the best pigment load, Clare recommends choosing professional quality paints—like many of the brands listed above, including Golden, Liquitex, and Windsor & Newton—to achieve optimum vibrancy.Highly versatile, dries to a low gloss surface on high impasto areas and a soft satin finish on thinner applications. When you’ve finished your painting session it is important to clean your workspace. Waste water can be left to evaporate, leaving behind acrylic solids that can be processed at your local waste disposal. Winsor & Newton, Liquitex and Golden offer some great advice for disposing of your paint waste in a way that will create the least environmental impact. Not only is following this advice better for the environment – it also means you waste less material! Get Creative!

Newbies, beware: there are many so-called ‘beginner’s sets’ that contain as many as 24 different colours. While this range of colour might look enticing, the choice is likely to be a little bit overwhelming. Far better you rely on a limited range and develop your colour-mixing skills. How much should I expect to spend on acrylic paint? You can achieve so many effects with Heavy Body. As well as brushes, you should definitely try applying with a knife - different shaped blades will give you different finishes. Combs and shaped scrapers will also give some interesting relief textures and patterns.Golden: Golden's heavy body and fluid acrylics, another very popular brand, are known for their high color intensity. They are also known for their unique viscosities and consistencies. Their fluid acrylics are especially worth a try if you are looking for a unique experience. Liquitex: Liquitex is one of the most well-known brands in the acrylic paint industry. Their heavy body, soft body, and fluid acrylics are widely considered to be some of the best quality.

Use in conjunction with Liquitex Inks and Liquitex Spray Paints for even greater speed and flexibility. You may find a full size palette too cumbersome for painting when you are out and about – whether it be plein air or in the classroom. In these conditions, some artists prefer to use a disposable tear off palette. These one use palettes are made of an impervious parchment film which can be discarded at the end of each session. Stretched Canvas is perhaps the most common painting surface. It has a long history of use, and offers a good support to ensure your painting will stand the test of time. Today’s artists have much more choice in the surfaces they paint on.

Soft Body / Open Acrylic

Acrylics can be broadly separated into two categories – Student Quality and Artist Quality. Artist Quality Acrylic Paints