The Top Ten Acrylic Paints For Artists

Acrylic paint is a versatile and popular medium for artists, known for its fast-drying time, water-resistance, versatility and vibrant colors. With a variety of brands available, each with its own unique qualities, it can be difficult for artists to determine which one is best suited for their work. It is important to consider what style of art you seek to create with your acrylic paints before considering this information. My personal style is abstract expressionism, which requires vibrant, fluid and versatile attributes. I also paint with many mediums to achieve flow and expressive splatter techniques.

In this blog post, I will explore the differences between the major acrylic paint brands and what sets them apart from each other.

1. Golden: Golden is a high-end acrylic paint brand known for its exceptional quality, consistency, and range of colors. Their paints are known for their high pigment load, lightfastness, and ability to mix and blend easily. They offer a variety of products, including heavy body, fluid, and open acrylics. I find the ochre is the best on the market. The deep rich rusty colour shines like no other. The only negative would be the lack of flow in splatter when created abstract expressionism works. It does however dry more like oils than any other acrylic, making for a vibrant shine effect.
2. Liquitex: Liquitex is a popular and widely-used brand of acrylic paint. They offer a range of products, including heavy body, soft body, and spray paints. Liquitex paints are known for their high pigment load, which makes them ideal for artists who want to create bold and vibrant paintings. They have a smooth consistency, which allows for easy blending and layering. The flowing effect is achieved easily with this brand and often used for my abstract expressionism splatters. The colours are almost as vibrant as Golden.
3. Winsor & Newton: Winsor & Newton is a well-known brand of artist supplies, including acrylic paint. They offer a range of products, including Galeria, Artists’ Acrylic, and Professional Acrylic paints. Winsor & Newton paints have a high pigment load and are known for their lightfastness, making them ideal for artists who want to create long-lasting paintings. I use very little of this brand as it does not flow well. However, for regular painting, it is amazing. It almost has an oil paint feeling about it at times.
4. Daler Rowney: Daler Rowney is a popular brand of acrylic paint known for its affordability and versatility. They offer a range of products, including System 3, Graduate, and Simply Acrylic paints. Daler Rowney paints have a lower pigment load than some of the other brands but are still suitable for artists who want to create vibrant paintings. Again, I rarely use this brand, but it is definitely of high quality for people seeking thick strong colour.
5. Liquitex Basics: Liquitex Basics is a more affordable line of acrylic paints from Liquitex, designed for beginners and students. They have a lower pigment load than the professional grade paints, but still offer a range of bright and vibrant colors. This is one of my most loved brands. It is affordable, effective and fun! I use this for most of the splatter effects in my art.
6. Matisse Structure Acrylics: Matisse Structure Acrylics is a line of acrylic paints designed for professional artists. They have a high pigment load and are known for their wide colour range and vibrant colours. They are best for regular painting, though I occasionally mix with various mediums to create flowing abstract splatters in bold colours.
7. M. Graham & Co.: M. Graham & Co. is a premium acrylic paint brand known for its exceptional quality and natural ingredients. Their paints are made with honey, which gives them a smooth consistency and unique texture. They also offer a range of colors that are vibrant and easy to blend.
8. Matisse Flow Acrylics: Matisse Flow Acrylics is a line of acrylic paints designed for flowing art or soft brush work. They have a good pigment load and are known for their smooth consistency and easy blending. They also offer a range of colors that are bright and vibrant. I use this quite often for splatters and highlights. Not so great for thick application though.
9. Atelier: The Atelier brand is a well-established brand of artist supplies, including acrylic paints. They offer a range of products, including heavy body and fluid acrylics. Atelier flow paints are known for their smooth consistency and easy blending. They also offer a range of colors that are vibrant and easy to work with. I use their large 500ml bottles of flow all the time. It’s by far the best for quick easy consistent use.
10. Amsterdam Acrylics: Amsterdam Acrylics is a line of acrylic paints designed for professional artists. They have a high pigment load and are known for their vibrant colors and easy blending. They also offer a range of mediums that can be used to create a variety of textures and effects. I’m new to this brand, though already have a full range in the studio of colours. I’m growing more and more fond of this brand as the blending is incredible when mixed just right with various mediums.