As an artist I have used all sorts of acrylic paint ranging from the
basic thin acrylic paint to the more expensive strong coat paint such as
Golden. Most of the acrylic paint I use has been cheaper acrylic paint -
it gets the job done just as well as the more costly professional
acrylics.
There are some differences between the more affordable and expensive
acrylic paints, like buoyancy, but overall some more affordable acrylic
paints can still get the job done just as well as the more expensive
professional acrylic paints. If you are a student or novice, buying
affordable acrylics will be your best choice, especially when you are
developing your painting skills.
Personally, most of the acrylics I use is very affordable. I paint with a
palette knife and the main thing that I want any of my paints to have,
whether cheap or expensive, is good pigment and to be thick enough to
create some great textures. When I paint I like to layer my paint over
my surface using the palette knife, sort of like layering icing on a
cake, and most of the cheaper acrylics allow me to do that. I could buy
acrylic paint that you see at places like Walmart - the ones that are in
the small cylinder tubes. Those acrylics are just too thin to paint
with - they are for crafts only.
For artists that want to paint on a canvas or hard surface I would
suggest getting paint from your local art supply store or online like at
Dick Blick or Mister Art; both of those retailers have all brands of
paints at affordable prices. Before you start buying acrylics here are
some brands of cheaper acrylic paint that are available.
Liquitex's Basic
One of my favorite acrylics
is Liquitex Basic - it has been around for a long time. What I like
about Liquitex Basic acrylic paint the most is that you get a lot of
paint in their tubes and if you are close to running out in a particular
color you can easily cut the bottom of the tube with scissors and get
the remainder of the paint from the tube
The paint is nice and thick and you can easily add different mediums to
change the consistency of the paint. I use Liquitex Basic acrylic paint
all the time and find it offers among one of the best for the values on
the market. I would recommend Liquitex Basic acrylic paint to anyone
using a fair amount of paint in whatever art they create.
A2 Chrome Acrylic Paint
A2 Art Students'
Acrylics are another specially designed acrylics for the needs of
students, beginners or hobby painters who wish to avoid the expense of
buying artists colors, especially during the earlier stages when they
are learning how to handle paint. A2 acrylic paint has not been around
along as Liquitex's Basic yet still provides the same pigment and
consistency as any other professional paint.
A2 derives from the
popular brand Atelier, which I have used well. A2 is a little thinner
than Liquitex's Basic but it's just as effective. A2 and Liquitex's
Basic are similar in a lot of ways, but a little different in body and
pigment.
Depending on where you purchase A2 Chrome, you may be
able to get it for a lower price than Liquitex's Basic and you will not
spend over six dollars for a four ounce tube. I encourage you to try
both and see which one you like more.
