Acrylic paints have only been on the market since the 1950s, yet they have quickly become one of the most popular mediums for artists of all levels. Whether you’re a budding painter or a seasoned professional, acrylic paints offer unique properties that make them a versatile and valuable choice for various artistic endeavors like modern coastal wall art.
However, with the vast array of acrylic paint brands available today, selecting the right one can be overwhelming. From budget-friendly options to premium professional-grade paints, the quality can vary significantly. In this guide, we’ll explore the differences between cheap and professional-grade acrylic paints, helping you make an informed decision that suits your artistic needs and budget.
Not All Acrylic Paints Are Created Equal
When faced with the many options on an art store’s shelves, it’s tempting to choose the cheapest acrylic paint available. While this might seem like a cost-effective decision, it could lead to frustration and less-than-ideal results in your artwork. Understanding the distinctions between different types of acrylic paints is crucial to avoid problems down the line and to make the most out of your painting experience.
Understanding Acrylic Paints
Acrylic paints are a remarkable product of modern paint technology. These paints are composed of fine pigments, an acrylic binder, and a vehicle – usually water – that suspends the pigments within the binder. When the water evaporates, the pigment and binder cure together, forming a durable and vibrant layer of paint. Acrylic paints offer several unique qualities that set them apart from other mediums like oil paints and watercolors:
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Vibrant Colors: Acrylic paints are available in a vast range of vibrant colors, including metallics, pearlescents, and fluorescents. This variety allows artists to achieve the exact hues needed for their projects.
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Water-Soluble: Acrylics are water-soluble, making them easy to thin and clean with water alone. This eliminates the need for harsh chemicals or toxic solvents, making them a safer option for artists working in enclosed spaces.
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Quick-Drying: Acrylic paints dry rapidly, often within minutes to an hour, allowing artists to work quickly and apply multiple layers without long waiting times.
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Modifiable: Acrylics can be mixed with various mediums and additives to alter their properties. Artists can adjust glossiness, extend drying time, or create textural effects like impasto by incorporating different mediums.
Given these characteristics, acrylic paints are highly versatile and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of different artistic techniques. However, not all acrylic paints are made equal, and understanding the differences is key to selecting the right product for your work.
What Are Cheap Acrylic Paints?
Let’s address the elephant in the room – pricing.
Cheap acrylic paints are typically labeled as “student-grade” and are widely available at lower prices. While these paints may seem like an attractive option, especially for beginners or budget-conscious artists, their affordability comes at the cost of quality.
Cheap acrylic paints usually have a higher concentration of acrylic polymer compared to pigment. This lower pigment concentration results in less vibrant colors, requiring more paint to achieve full coverage on your surface. Additionally, cheap acrylic paints often have a limited range of colors, making it challenging to find the precise shade you need for your artwork.
Another issue with cheap acrylic paints is inconsistency. You might find that paints from the same brand vary in texture, with some tubes being perfectly workable while others are chalky or even jello-like. This inconsistency can lead to frustration, especially when mixing colors, as you may not achieve the desired results.
Cheap acrylic paints also tend to dry very quickly, which might seem like an advantage at first. However, this can force you to rush your work, potentially compromising the quality of your painting. The fast drying time also means you’ll need to frequently add more paint to your palette as it dries out before you can use it all. Moreover, cheap acrylics can be tough on your brushes, requiring frequent cleaning to prevent the paint from drying on the bristles, which can damage expensive natural brushes.
Lastly, the durability of cheap acrylic paints is a concern. They often have lower lightfastness, meaning they are prone to fading or changing color over time, especially if not properly varnished.
Benefits of Using Cheap Acrylic Paints
Despite their shortcomings, cheap acrylic paints do have their place, particularly for beginners and specific use cases:
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Introduction to Acrylics: Cheap acrylic paints are an affordable way for beginners to explore the medium and experiment with different techniques. They provide a good starting point to compare and contrast with other painting media.
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Teaching and Learning: Student-grade paints are ideal for teaching young learners the basics of color mixing and painting. They’re also inexpensive enough for use in classroom projects and arts and crafts.
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Large-Scale Craft Projects: If you’re working on large-scale amateur crafting projects, such as painting wargame terrain or other decorative pieces that will see frequent use, cheap acrylic paints are a cost-effective option.
What Are Professional Acrylic Paints?
Now that you understand what cheap acrylic paints offer, let’s delve into the benefits of professional-grade acrylics.
The first noticeable difference is the price. Professional-grade acrylic paints can be significantly more expensive, with some brands offering single tubes at prices comparable to entire sets of student-grade paints. However, the higher cost reflects the superior quality of these paints, which are designed for serious artists who demand the best results.
Professional acrylic paints contain a higher concentration of pigment, resulting in more vibrant and intense colors. A small amount of paint can cover a large area with just a thin layer, making them more economical in the long run despite their higher upfront cost.
These high-quality paints also come in a broader range of colors, allowing for greater creative freedom.
Consistency is another key advantage of professional acrylic paints. Unlike cheap paints, professional-grade products maintain uniformity across all tubes, ensuring that each color behaves predictably and consistently. This consistency gives artists more control over their work, allowing for precise mixing and blending.
Professional acrylics typically offer a longer work time, giving artists more flexibility in layering and refining their paintings without the pressure of rapid drying. Additionally, these paints are much more durable, with higher lightfastness ratings that ensure the colors remain vibrant for years to come.
Benefits of Using Professional Acrylic Paints
So, who stands to gain the most from investing in professional-grade acrylic paints?
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Serious Artists: Any artist looking to produce the highest quality work should opt for professional-level paints. The superior pigment concentration, consistency, and durability of these paints make them the best choice for creating long-lasting, vibrant artworks.
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Artists of All Skill Levels: Thanks to brands like Nova Color, professional-grade acrylic paints have become more accessible and affordable, making them a viable option for artists at all skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner looking to invest in quality materials or a professional seeking to elevate your work, these paints offer excellent value.
In Conclusion
While acrylic paints may look similar at first glance, the difference in quality between cheap and professional-grade products is significant. Cheap acrylic paints are a budget-friendly option for beginners or temporary designer surfboard art projects, but they come with limitations in vibrancy, consistency, and durability. On the other hand, professional acrylic paints offer superior performance, making them the preferred choice for serious artists aiming for the best possible results.
Choosing the right acrylic paint depends on your goals and budget. If you’re just starting out or working on large-scale crafts, student-grade paints might be sufficient. However, if you’re serious about your art and want to create works that stand the test of time, investing in professional-grade acrylics is well worth it.
