Acrylic Paint Sets: Top Picks for Beginners and Hobbyists

Diving into acrylic painting is an exciting adventure, but taking the first step can be daunting. Faced with an overwhelming selection of sets, it's hard to know where to begin. Should you get a small assortment of primary colours or a much richer palette?? What paint volume should you choose to avoid running out of creative fuel??

As a product specialist at Joybuy, I'm here to break down artist supplies for you. The goal of this guide?? To give you clear, practical advice for finding the perfect acrylic paint set for your creative goals and budget, all without unnecessary jargon.

How to Choose Your First Acrylic Paint Set??

Before diving into our selection, let's review a few essential criteria for making the right choice.

1. Number of Colours?: Starter Kit or Extended Palette??

The ideal number of colours depends mainly on your approach.

• For learning to mix colours?: A beginner's acrylic paint kit containing the primary acrylic paint colours (yellow, magenta, cyan), plus black and white, is an excellent foundation. It encourages you to experiment and understand how to create your own shades.
• For more convenience?: An acrylic paint set with 24 tubes or more gives you a ready-to-use palette. This is a practical option if you'd rather focus on application and technique than on colour theory, or if you need specific shades for a project.

2. Tube Volume?: For Which Projects??

The volume of the tubes is not a minor detail, especially for your budget. 12?ml tubes are perfect for starting out, creating small pieces, or simply trying a new brand without breaking the bank. 75?ml tubes (or larger) are much more economical per millilitre. They are essential if you paint on large canvases or use a lot of certain colours, like the indispensable Titanium White.

3. Included Accessories?: The All-in-One Box Set

Some acrylic paint box sets are true starter kits. They include not only paint but also basic acrylic art supplies like brushes, a palette, and even paper or a small canvas. It's the ideal solution for those starting from scratch who want a ready-to-use kit to get started right away.

Acrylic Paint Sets We Recommend

We have selected several options for you from Talens Art Creation, a trusted brand known for its excellent value for money for artists and hobbyists.

1. Talens Art Creation Acrylic Paint Set – 24 × 12 ml

Why we love it?: This set offers a very rich colour palette, ideal for unleashing your creativity without spending all your time mixing.

Highlights?:

• Very complete palette?: Includes 24 carefully selected colours, including two tubes of Titanium White, the most used colour.
• Versatility?: The paint can be used straight from the tube or thinned with water and adheres to many surfaces (canvas, paper, wood, stone, etc.).
• Reliable quality?: The acrylic resin-based paint has a paste-like consistency and a silky satin finish when dry.
• Durability?: Once dry, the paint is waterproof.

Who is it for?? For hobby artists and students who want a wide range of colours on hand to explore different styles and subjects.

2. Talens Art Creation Acrylic Combiset with Paper

Why we love it?: This is the ultimate all-in-one kit. No need to run to different shops?: everything you need to start acrylic painting on canvas or paper is right here.

Highlights?:

• Truly all-in-one?: Contains 12 x 12?ml paint tubes, 3 brushes suitable for acrylics, and a 15-sheet pad of A4 paper designed for acrylics.
• Ready to create?: Ideal as a gift or for diving straight into a creative project.
• Guidance included?: Includes a QR code that links to tutorials to guide your first steps.
• The essentials to get started?: The 12 basic colours provide an excellent starting point for learning to mix.

Who is it for?? For absolute beginners, students, or as a creative gift that's always a hit.

3. Talens Art Creation Acrylic Paint Set – 6 × 75 ml

Why we love it?: This one is all about quantity. This set offers a generous volume of basic colours, making it very economical for large-scale projects.

Highlights?:

• Generous tubes?: The 75?ml tubes allow you to cover larger areas without worrying about running out of paint quickly.
• Fundamental colours?: Contains 6 essential colours (white, yellow, red, blue, green, black) to create most mixes.
• Easy application?: The paste-like consistency is easy to apply with a brush or a palette knife.
• Practical cap?: Makes using and storing the paint easy.

Who is it for?? For artists who paint on large formats or who simply want to stock up on their most-used colours without breaking the bank.

4. Talens Art Creation Primary Acrylic Set – 6 × 12 ml

Why we love it?: This set is a colour theory class in a box. It's designed to help you master colour theory with a curated selection of pure primary colours.

Highlights?:

• The school of mixing?: Contains white, black, and the three primary colours (yellow, magenta, cyan) to create a nearly infinite spectrum of hues.
• Compact format?: The 12?ml tubes are practical for exercises, studies, and small-scale projects.
• Ideal for learning?: It's a smart choice for art students or self-learners who want to master the science of colour mixing.
• Art Creation quality?: Same quick-drying properties and satin finish as the other sets in the range.

Who is it for?? For students, dedicated self-learners, and artists who love having total control over their palette by creating their own shades.

Looking for More Creative Inspiration??

And once your masterpieces are complete, why not display them?? If you're looking for other ideas to decorate your walls or patio, our collection of decorative patio wall art might inspire you.

Discover Our Wall Art Selection →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What surfaces does acrylic paint work on?? Acrylic is incredibly versatile. It adheres perfectly to porous, non-greasy surfaces?: canvas, paper, cardboard, wood, plaster, stone, cement... The only golden rule?: make sure the surface is clean and dry before you start?!

2. How many colours do you really need to get started?? There's no absolute rule. A kit of 5 or 6 colours (the three primaries, plus white and black) is enough to learn how to create an infinite number of shades. That said, a 12 or 24-colour set is often more motivating for a beginner?: you can focus on the joy of painting without overthinking it.

3. "Student" vs. "Professional" Grade Paint?: What's the difference?? The difference mainly comes down to pigment concentration. "Professional" (or extra-fine) grade paint is richer in pigments, resulting in more intense, purer colours with better lightfastness over the long term. "Student" (or fine) grade paint, like the Talens Art Creation range, offers the perfect balance between quality and price. It's the ideal choice for practising, learning, and creating without breaking the bank.