I have been painting with acrylic paints for just over a year now and I absolutely love the freedom and experimentation that working in acrylic has brought to my art practice. I fully believe in sharing about my process, materials, and techniques. If something I share inspires someone else to make art, that means more art that exists in the world, and more art means a better world.
Why you shouldn’t go buy everything on this list
I think it’s important to say that just because these are my favorite paints doesn't mean they will be yours. When I first started painting, buying materials I saw artists I admire using, helped me feel confident getting started. But, I also had to do my own experimenting to figure out what I liked best. So, I would encourage you to do the same. If you’re new to painting, don’t go out and buy big bottle of expensive paint in every color. Start with a few smaller bottles/tubes and compare brands and types of paint to see what works for you.
My Favorite Acrylic Paints for Mixed Media Art:
1. Liquitex Soft Body Acrylic Paint
THE MAIN REASONS I LOVE THIS PAINT:
- Consistency of paint
- Relatively matte finish when dry
- Squeeze bottle with nozzle top
I love the consistency of this paint. For me, it’s the perfect balance between heavy body and fluid and I can easily mix it with a bit of water or flow aid to make it more fluid. I also love the bottles it comes in. I definitely prefer bottles to tubes of paint, and I love how easily the squeeze bottle tops come on and off. It’s also super easy to take the whole top off and put paint back in the bottle if you squeeze out too much. I generally prefer matte finish to glossy, so I really like the relatively matte finish this paint has when dry.
2. Amsterdam Acrylic Ink
THE MAIN REASONS I LOVE THIS INK:
- Rich color
- Variation in opacity
- A little goes a long way
These inks are my current obsession. I love how rich the colors are and the variation in opacity you can achieve. You can create a super light watercolor-like wash, or a completely opaque mark with these. Since they are acrylic, once they dry on your surface, you can paint right over them and they won’t smudge or reactivate. I often mix acrylic ink with soft body acrylics and I love how the two work together. You can even apply the ink with the dropper top for some really cool marks.
3. Posca Markers
I thought I would throw Posca markers in here because they are just so fun and great for mixed media painting. If you haven’t heard of them, they are basically acrylic paint in marker form and they come in a ton of colors and thicknesses. I love making big scribbles, fun shapes, and thin lines with them in my paintings.
Acrylic Mediums I use in my Abstract Art
1. Liquitex Fluid Matte Medium
I use this matte medium to attach all my collage pieces in my paintings. I generally choose Liquitex mediums because they are typically a little cheaper than Golden, and still professional grade. I like working with the fluid consistency better the a gel matte medium, and I prefer a matte finish to gloss.
2. Liquitex Fluid Gloss Medium
I use gloss medium to seal wood panels before painting on them. Since I prefer a matte look in my paintings, this is pretty much the only way I use gloss medium.
3. Liquitex Acrylic Gesso
When painting on wood panels, I prime them with gesso (after sealing with gloss medium). I love using gesso to create lots of texture. I typically put a thin coat or two down first and then go in with a thicker layer to add a nice textured base for my paintings. I use lots of different tools and brushes to get a variety of textures and shapes. I share a few of these techniques in a video here.
4. Liquitex Acrylic Matte Varnish
When I'm completely finished with a painting on wood panel, I varnish it with this matte varnish to add a protective layer.
I always love to chat art/art supplies, so let me know what your favorite paints are or what you think of the supplies I've included here!
- Emma (:
