How to Choose the Right Acrylic Paint Set: A Buyer’s Guide

Diving into acrylic painting is a fantastic creative adventure. But with an overwhelming number of options, choosing your first acrylic paint set can quickly become a headache. Between sets promising dozens of colours and a variety of sizes, it's easy to fall into common traps that are more discouraging than helpful. As a product expert at Joybuy, my mission is to help you make an informed choice that perfectly suits your artistic ambitions.

To get you started on the right foot, let's review the 3 most common mistakes when buying a first kit:

1. The "complete" but impractical palette trap: Many beginner kits promise an impressive number of tubes. The problem? They are often filled with tertiary or fluorescent shades that are difficult to harmonise, while leaving out fundamental colours. The bottom line: it's impossible to learn colour theory properly, and you're left with tubes that will just gather dust.
2. The illusion of quantity: A 24-colour set at a low price might seem like a great deal. But if each tube only contains 5 or 10 ml, you'll run out of white, black, or primary blue after a single painting session. Guaranteed frustration.
3. The disappointment of low-quality pigments: A budget-friendly paint might look vibrant straight out of the tube, but it can lose all its intensity as it dries. It becomes dull, chalky, and lacks opacity. The result: you're forced to apply multiple layers, which ruins the joy of painting.

Key Criteria for a Great Acrylic Paint Set

To avoid these disappointments, focus on a few key points. This will ensure you have the right materials to improve your skills and, most importantly, enjoy the process.

1. Palette Composition: The Colours You Actually Need

A good beginner acrylic paint kit isn't judged by the number of colours, but by their relevance. For maximum versatility, your set must include:

• The three primary colours (a primary yellow, magenta, and cyan)
• Titanium white
• Black

With this foundation, you can create an almost infinite palette of shades. Colours like cadmium red, ultramarine blue, a green, and an earth tone (ochre or burnt sienna) are perfect additions, but the primary trio is the non-negotiable requirement for learning to master colour mixing.

2. Tube Size: 12, 20, or 75 ml?

The tube size should match your needs.

• 12 ml tubes: Perfect for beginners who want to try a wide palette without breaking the bank, or for artists on the go. An ideal size for sketches and small projects.
• 20 to 30 ml tubes: A great compromise. They offer enough paint for several sessions, even for the most-used colours, while remaining affordable.
• 75 ml tubes and larger: Reserved for prolific artists or those working on large canvases. Buying the colours you use most in larger sizes is much more cost-effective in the long run.

3. Pigment and Binder Quality

A paint's vibrancy and longevity depend on its composition. A quality paint uses a pure acrylic resin as a binder, which ensures the artwork won't yellow over time. The pigment concentration is just as crucial: the higher it is, the more opaque, intense, and stable the colour will be as it dries. Brands like Talens Art Creation paint or Clairefontaine paint are known for the quality of their formulas, offering a beautiful satin finish and excellent durability.

Top Acrylic Paint Set Picks

To illustrate these criteria, here are a few options that suit different types of artists.

IDEAL FOR: THE ART STUDENT

Talens Art Creation Acrylic Primary Set – 6 x 12ml

Why we chose it: This set is designed for learning. It provides only the primary colours, white, and black, forcing the user to master mixing to achieve their desired shades. It's an educational tool before it's just a kit.

How it avoids the trap

It avoids the "complete" palette trap by focusing on 6 fundamental colours to get you started with colour theory.

Key advantage

Palette optimised for learning to mix. Compact and budget-friendly format for starting out.

IDEAL FOR: THE VERSATILE HOBBYIST

CLAIREFONTAINE DFY Acrylic Paint Set - 10 x 20 ml

Why we chose it: For creative hobbyists, this set offers an excellent balance. The 10-colour palette is versatile, and the 20 ml tubes provide a comfortable amount of paint to tackle various projects without worrying about running out.

How it avoids the trap

It avoids the trap of tiny quantities. With 20 ml per tube, it offers much better value for money than entry-level 12 ml kits.

Key advantage

Good volume for regular use. Creamy texture and a quality satin finish.

IDEAL FOR: THE PRODUCTIVE ARTIST

Talens Art Creation Acrylic Set – 6 × 75 ml

Why we chose it: For those who paint often or on large canvases, volume is crucial. This set offers 6 fundamental colours in generous 75 ml tubes. A smart, economical choice for building a core stock of paint.

How it avoids the trap

It solves the problem of running out of key colours too quickly. The 75 ml size ensures you can work for longer and offers a much more attractive cost per millilitre.

Key advantage

Large volume (75 ml) ideal for large formats or intensive use. Palette of essential colours.

Your Questions About Acrylic Paint Sets

Can you use acrylic paint on any surface?

Acrylic is a very versatile paint. It adheres perfectly to most porous and properly degreased surfaces: acrylic paint on canvas, paper, cardboard, wood, plaster, or even stone. For non-porous surfaces like plastic or metal, applying a primer (like gesso) is recommended to ensure good adhesion.

How long does acrylic paint take to dry?

One of the biggest advantages of acrylic is its fast drying time. A thin layer can be dry to the touch in a few minutes and fully cured in under an hour. This time varies, of course, depending on the thickness of the paint, humidity, and ambient temperature. This rapid drying allows you to layer colours without a long wait.

Should you dilute acrylic paint from the tube?

It all depends on the effect you want. Straight from the tube, acrylic has a thick, buttery texture, ideal for palette knife work (the impasto technique). For a more fluid, watercolour-like effect, or for smooth, flat areas of colour, you can dilute it with a little water. Be careful not to add more than 30% water, as this can weaken the binder and compromise the paint's adhesion. For greater dilution, it's best to use a dedicated medium or an acrylic binder.