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Acrylic paint is still a comparatively young medium unlike watercolours and oil paints which have been used by artists for centuries. Paint manufacturers had been toying with a pigmented polymer suspension as early as the 1930’s but the company Liquitex came up with the first acrylic paint as we understand it today, and by the early 60’s acrylic paints were becoming widely accessible to artists around the world.
Nowadays painting in acrylics has been adopted by many artists as their medium of choice having many of the strengths of oil paint in terms of colour translucency, opacity and body without the need to use toxic solvents for mixing and cleaning. Its versatility can be extended further with the use of mediums that increase the drying time, change the finish and alter the viscosity or fluidity of the paint largely without affecting the colour strength.
Typically, acrylic paints are divided into 2 broad categories; professional grade and student grade.
Artists grade acrylic paints often contain pure pigments and depending on their availability, manufacturers group colours into various price bands called series A or series B or number the colours 1 to 9. (series 9 being the highest price, series 1 the cheapest price) The higher the letter or number, the more expensive the colour is to produce: leading to greater colour intensity meaning there’s less change in the colour once the paint is dry. They are also formulated to last longer than their student counterpart being made to resist reactions with water, UV light and exposure to the elements. The artist’s quality acrylic paints intermix well and are more vibrant due to the strength and purity of the pigments; if mixed with mediums they should also maintain their intensity of colour.
Studentgrade acrylic paints can be made from the same pigments but dispersed in more binder and filler. Also some of the more expensive pigments may have been replaced by a combination of alternative colour mixes to simulate the pure pigment, these synthetic pigment alternatives are called “hues”. The less expensive formulas don’t tend to mix cleanly but make up for it in handling very similarly to artist quality. Being more economically produced also means they are great for when quantity is required. Student quality paints are great for covering large areas, as a base coat and to use when you are just starting out as an acrylic painter. Student quality paints only come in series 1 and series 2.
If you’re looking for a great choice of colours then our own brand ARTdiscount acrylic paint offers more paint for the price and quantity in comparison to other student grade paint we stock. Made by one of the UK’s leading art supplies manufacturers and available in 28 of the most common colours found in any artist’s tool box. The acrylic paint has fantastic colour strength and stability, can be used on a variety of primed surfaces, paper, wooden panel, canvas, primed plaster ...
Considered by many to be the gold standard for student quality acrylic paints, the Daler Rowney System 3 is characterised by its strong colour stability, slightly satin finish and excellent body. System 3 is arguably the most popular student acrylic paint on the market, available in tubes or pots to suit every artist; 59ml, 150ml, 500ml and huge 2.25ltr in selected colours. Boasting a plethora of colours to match even some artists’ quality paints, System 3 has all angles covered, including some unique colours like the antique looking grey-blue Wedgewood and the rich and regal Velvet Purple. A superb choice for an artist looking to match quality with a highly affordable paint. Daler Rowney also offer a selection of mediums for use with their acrylic paints such as iridescent and pearlescent mediums for giving your acrylic paints a subtle and distinct metallic shimmer.
Acrylic paints made from high quality eco-friendly water based pigments and finest acrylic emulsions. Ideal for Established Artists and Students of Art, provides a thicker consistency; can be used with a palette knife, silicon wedge or brushes. Impasto applications retain knife or brush marks. Excellent blending and mixing characteristics, has a high pigment load providing - rich, brilliant colours. Our heavy body acrylic paints offer 31lightfast & durable colours, dries waterproof. Highly versatile, dries to a low gloss surface on high impasto areas and a soft satin finish on thinner applications.
Liquitex Basics Acrylic paint tubes are available in 72 brilliant colours. These paints are perfect for all painting techniques including underpainting and sketching. This is a lightfast medium viscosity paint . Made with artist quality pigments, has a satin finish, with a range of opacities. They are incredibly versatile, they retain peaks and brush strokes, and are completely safe for educational use. Great performance at a more affordable cost
It is fitting that the pioneers of the first modern acrylic paints should find a spot on our list as Liquitex heavy body acrylic paint deliver a superb thick and smooth consistency of acrylic fit to be used straight from the tube right onto the canvas if it suits you. Richly pigmented and wonderfully viscous for those strong peaks and deep brush marks used in impasto techniques.
Liquitex uses artist quality pigments in the formulation of these paints meaning they have fantastic staying power and are made to last. Perfect for use with a palette knife, silicone wedges and large brushes. Additional Liquitex mediums, gels and varnishes are also available.
View range of Liquitex products here.
GOLDEN Heavy Body Acrylic Paint
GOLDEN are a particularly highly regarded brand when it comes to acrylic paints and mediums, their uncompromising approach to colour formulation in their paints leads to superior quality colours across their generous range of 101 colours across a variety of primaries, tints, neutral tones and metallic encompassing cadmium, cobalt and quinacridone pigments. To quote GOLDEN themselves;
“These colours offer excellent permanency and lightfastness. There are no fillers, extenders, opacifiers, toners, or dyes added.”
If price is no exception or you cannot compromise on quality, then we can recommend precious few alternatives to GOLDEN heavy body.
Winsor & Newton Galeria acrylic paint colours are a range ideal for the artists who require large quantities of good quality acrylic colour at an economic price. There are 60 strong and vibrant colours to choose from in the Galeria range. They are extremely versatile and are suitable for a variety of techniques. They can be used on most surfaces, but are NOT recommended for use on shiny or greasy surfaces (i.e. glass, unprimed metal or surfaces painted with oil colour). As with all acrylics, equipment should be cleaned with water immediately after use. The full range is available here.
The Professional Acrylic Paint colours are unrivalled in their richness, intensity and depth of colour. The Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic comes in 60ml tubes. The colours appear brilliant when wet but they remain as bright when dry. Winsor & Newton Professional Acrylic paint is available in 79 colours.
The professionals' choice since 1963, the new Cryla Artists’ Acrylic range now has 87 colours. The new combination features colours used by the old masters, specific primary shades and contemporary colours containing the most modern pigments available.
New Graduate Acrylics offer a very affordable range of acrylic colours. The range features bright and strong colours that are easy to brush onto surfaces. They can be used on any paper surface, primed board or canvas, used indoors or outdoors and are so versatile they can also be used with a variety of acrylic mediums, also available from Daler-Rowney. There are 48 colours in the range, including metallic colours. A good quality acrylic paint offering fantastic value for money ! Ideal for schools, colleges and all artists.
View whole range of Daler-Rowney products here.
IMAGINE A WHOLE NEW WAY OF PAINTING THAT COMES IN A POUCH WHICH IS INNOVATIVE, ELEGANT, HANDY AND JUST FEELS RIGHT.
A Heavy Body, multi-media acrylic paint with high pigment concentration. The paints come in an ultra-strong pouch which is waste free among other benefits.
Benefits of new packaging: The pouch is so strong that you can take it with you wherever you go and, unlike a tube, it can stand up to pressure even if you accidentally step on it. The paint is better preserved because air cannot get inside the pouch. You can use every last drop of the paint, there is no waste and no air bubbles which could cause the paint to spill out. With Abstract acrylics, there are no surprises when choosing a colour. There's no difference between the colour you can see from the outside of the pouch and the inside.
About the paint: Abstract is the result of three years of research and development by the Sennelier expert lab team. It is a fine acrylic paint which meets all the stringent quality demands that are a guarantee of Sennelier paints. It's pigment concentration (quite amazing for this segment of the market) gives it a creamy to thick consistency which we've called 'heavy body', along with incomparable covering power. The paste is a pleasure to handle with a brush, a palette knife or straight out of the soft pack. It's ease of application onto multiple surfaces makes it very popular with students, professional painters, street artists and many more creative people.
Single Pigments: Abstract is composed of 34 single pigment colours among the range's 60 shades. Range includes: 36 Satin finish colours, 12 High Gloss colours, 6 Iridescent colours and 6 Fluorescent colours.
View more Sennelier products here
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MEEDEN is a company known for providing high-quality art supplies and tools to artists and enthusiasts. They are committed to inspiring creativity and supporting artistic endeavours through their range of products, which include Easels, Artist Supplies storage drawers, Table Easels, and Artists’ Print rack with castors.
Scott Stewart
May 11, 2021
@ Trevor Halliday: 2 Windsor & Newton acrylics were described -??