The Perfect Student-Grade Acrylic Set for Beginners

by Maya Brooks – Acrylic Artist & Enthusiast

Which are the Best Artists Oil Paints

When you’re just starting out with acrylic painting, it’s easy to get lost in all the choices — dozens of brands, hundreds of colours, and prices that range from a few pounds to small fortunes.

But here’s the truth: you don’t need an expensive professional kit to make beautiful art. What you do need is a reliable student-grade acrylic set for beginners— something affordable, versatile, and forgiving enough to help you learn the basics without worrying about wasting paint.

In this post, I’ll share my favourite beginner-friendly set and what makes it such a great starting point.

Table of Contents

Why Start with Student-Grade Paints?

Student-grade acrylics are perfect for learning because they:

  • Cost less, so you can experiment freely
  • Mix easily for learning colour theory
  • Dry quickly, making them great for layering practice
  • Clean up with water — no harsh chemicals needed

 

Professional paints are wonderful, but they’re designed for artists who already understand pigment load, mixing, and opacity. When you’re learning, what matters most is confidence and exploration, not perfection.

My Go-To Starter Set

If I had to recommend one acrylic set for beginners, it would be the:

Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Paint Set (10 x 60ml Tubes)

This set gives you:

  • A balanced palette — from primary colours to earth tones
  • Good texture and consistency — thick enough for brush and knife work
  • Smooth, even finish — great for both canvas and paper
  • Excellent lightfastness for the price

 

You can thin them for washes or apply straight from the tube for bold impasto effects. They blend well and dry to a low-sheen satin finish — perfect for both practice and display pieces.

Check price and availability on Amazon

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What’s Inside

The 10-tube Galeria set usually includes:

  • Titanium White
  • Lemon Yellow
  • Cadmium Red Hue
  • Ultramarine
  • Phthalo Blue
  • Yellow Ochre
  • Burnt Sienna
  • Burnt Umber
  • Mars Black
  • Permanent Green Middle

 

These colours can be mixed to create just about anything — from subtle skin tones to bold abstract compositions.

If you prefer a smaller intro, the 6-colour set is another excellent choice for quick studies or sketchbook work.

Optional Add-Ons

If you want to round out your student setup, I recommend:

  • Galeria Acrylic Medium (Matt or Gloss) – for adjusting texture or sheen
  • Stay-wet palette – keeps your paints workable longer
  • Synthetic brush set – durable and easy to clean
  • A4 or A3 acrylic paper pad – ideal for practice

 

(You can find all of these in my Acrylic Starter Kit Recommendations.)

Tips for Using Student Paints

  • Work quickly! Acrylics dry fast, especially thin layers.
  • Mist your palette with a spray bottle to keep colours wet.
  • Use white sparingly. It can dull bright colours if overused.
  • Clean brushes immediately. Once dried, acrylic paint won’t come out.

Why I Still Use Student Paints

Even though I’ve moved on to professional-grade acrylics, I still keep a student set around. They’re brilliant for sketching, experiments, and underpaintings. Sometimes, I actually prefer their looseness and unpredictability.

Art shouldn’t feel precious — it should feel possible. That’s what I love about sets like this: they remind you that creativity is about process, not product.

Quick Links

Recommended Starter Set:

Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Paint Set (10 x 60ml Tubes) – Amazon

Budget Alternative:

Daler Rowney System 3 Acrylic Set – 10 x 22ml Tubes

Read Next:

Acrylic Painting for Absolute Beginners

Choosing the Right Brushes and Tools for Acrylic Painting

 

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