AdurArt

Best Acrylic Paints for All Levels

Reviewed by Maya Brooks

Acrylic Paints

I’ve tested a wide range of the best acrylic paints for all levels, from entry-level student sets to professional-grade colours, to find those that deliver consistency, vibrancy, and joy at every stage of your artistic journey

Whether you’re a complete beginner just opening your first set of paints or an experienced artist looking to refresh your studio supplies, acrylics are a wonderfully versatile medium. They’re fast-drying, affordable, and can be used on canvas, wood, paper, or even fabric. But with so many options out there, how do you know which paints are worth your time (and money)?

Table of Contents

Best Overall: Liquitex Basics Acrylic Set

Ideal for: Beginners to intermediate artists
Available in: Tubes, sets, and large bottles

Why I love it:
Liquitex Basics are a fantastic starting point for any artist. The paints have a creamy consistency that’s easy to mix and layer, without drying too fast. The colours are rich and blend beautifully — and they dry to a smooth, satin finish. Plus, they’re completely compatible with Liquitex’s professional line, so you can upgrade gradually without waste.

Pros:

  • Consistent texture and colour across the range
  • Affordable and widely available
  • Lightfast pigments for long-lasting work

Cons:

  • Slightly less pigment load than professional lines
  • May need two coats for strong opacity
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Best Professional Quality: Golden Heavy Body Acrylics

Ideal for: Advanced artists and serious hobbyists

Why I love it:
Golden’s Heavy Body Acrylics are the gold standard (pun intended) for professional acrylic painters. The pigment concentration is exceptional — you get rich, opaque colours that retain their body when mixed or applied thickly. They respond beautifully to palette knife work and impasto techniques.

Pros:

  • Superb pigment strength and coverage
  • Thick, buttery texture for expressive brushwork
  • Excellent lightfastness and archival quality

Cons:

  • Premium price point
  • May dry too quickly for beginners
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Best for Experimenting: Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylics

Ideal for: Students and intermediate artists who love versatility

Why I love it:
Winsor & Newton’s Galeria range bridges the gap between student and professional paints. They’re smooth, vibrant, and slightly softer than heavy-body acrylics, making them perfect for glazing, detail work, or mixed media. They also come in generous 250 ml tubes, which is great value for larger projects.

Pros:

  • Consistent, strong colours
  • Great for brush or palette knife
  • Excellent value and availability

Cons:

  • Slight colour shift on drying (common with mid-range acrylics)
  • Not as thick as professional-grade paints
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Best Budget Option: Daler-Rowney System 3 Acrylics

Ideal for: Beginners, workshops, or large-scale projects

Why I love it:
System 3 paints are a staple in classrooms and studios alike. They’re easy to use, dependable, and affordable without feeling cheap. The texture is smooth and even, ideal for learning mixing, layering, and colour theory.

Pros:

  • Great price and availability
  • Wide colour range
  • Easy to clean up and handle

Cons:

  • Lower pigment concentration
  • Colours may lose intensity when dry
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Best Fluid Acrylics: Amsterdam Expert Series Acrylics

Ideal for: Artists who prefer fluid, pourable paints

Why I love it:
If you enjoy acrylic pouring, fine detail work, or glazing, Amsterdam’s Expert Series offers highly pigmented, fluid paints with consistent flow. They maintain vibrancy even when thinned with water or medium.

Pros:

  • Excellent flow and transparency control
  • Strong pigment load for fluid paints
  • Perfect for mixed-media and modern techniques

Cons:

  • Not ideal for thick impasto
  • Some colours dry to a slightly glossy finish
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Final Thoughts

Acrylic paints have come a long way — you no longer need to sacrifice quality for affordability. My personal recommendation?

  • Start with Liquitex Basics if you’re learning or experimenting.
  • Move up to Golden Heavy Body once you know your preferred techniques.
  • Try Winsor & Newton Galeria if you like versatility and value.

Whichever range you choose, remember: it’s not about the brand — it’s about how the paint helps you express your ideas. Don’t be afraid to mix, test, and play. That’s how great art (and confidence) begins.