Acrylic paint is the go-to choice for artists who want bold colour, quick drying times and the freedom to paint on pretty much anything. From canvas to wood, paper, fabric and even the occasional terracotta pot you rescued from the garden, acrylics adapt to almost every creative idea. At Art Shed, you'll find Australia’s favourite acrylic ranges, including Mont Marte, Liquitex, Golden, Winsor & Newton, Atelier, Matisse, Amsterdam and more, from pocket-friendly student tubes to professional heavy-body giants and complete sets for artists who like to have “one of everything, just in case”.

Whether you love crisp detail, buttery texture or smooth pours, you’ll find the perfect acrylics here, ready to blend, layer, glaze, scrape, splatter and play. Browse by brand, size or set and build the colour stash your studio deserves.

Understanding Acrylic Paints and Their Uses

Acrylics come in different consistencies and grades, each designed for particular techniques and styles.

Heavy Body Acrylics

These are thick, buttery and perfect for artists who want visible brushstrokes, texture and impasto techniques. Heavy body acrylics hold peaks beautifully, making them ideal for palette knife work and chunky, expressive painting. You’ll see this consistency in professional ranges like Liquitex Heavy Body or Golden Artist Colours, which behave most like oils while still drying much faster.

Fluid Acrylics

Fluid acrylics are smooth, runnier and perfect for glazing, pouring, fine detail, mixed media and anything that needs soft, even flow. Brands like Atelier and Matisse Flow layer beautifully, dilute with mediums without breaking apart and are a favourite for artists who love transparency, blending and movement.

Student-Grade Acrylics

Student acrylics tend to be more affordable with slightly lower pigment load. Ranges like Mont Marte Signature and Winsor & Newton Galeria are fantastic for beginners, classrooms, colour studies, underpainting and artists who go through paint faster than they can brew their morning coffee. They still offer great colour payoff, just with less concentration than professional ranges.

Where to Use Acrylic Paint

One of acrylic’s biggest advantages is versatility. You can use acrylics on canvas, wood, cardboard, fabric, paper, panels and primed craft surfaces. As long as the surface is clean and has tooth, acrylics will grip beautifully.

How to Achieve Professional Results with Acrylic Paints

Acrylics are incredibly beginner-friendly, but with a few pro techniques you can take your artwork from “nice” to “absolutely nailed it”.

Layering and Dry Time

Because acrylics dry quickly, layering is one of their superpowers. Start with thin layers, let each coat dry and build your depth slowly. This prevents muddy colours and helps your details stay crisp.

Tip: If your paint dries too fast on the palette, mist it lightly with water or use a stay-wet palette.

Mixing Mediums

Mediums let you customise the paint without breaking its structure. Use glazing medium for transparent layers, gel medium for thicker texture, flow medium for smooth blends or retarder medium to slow drying time (great for hot Aussie weather). Every major brand, from Atelier to Matisse to Liquitex, offers mediums that pair perfectly with their acrylic lines.

Using Varnishes

Once your painting is fully dry, varnish helps protect it from dust, UV fading and dulling. Gloss varnish boosts colour vibrancy, satin gives a soft sheen and matte offers a muted, velvety finish. Varnishing also evens out shine so your artwork looks consistent from edge to edge.

Preventing Cracking and Dull Spots

Cracking usually comes from applying thick paint over an under-layer that’s still wet. Let your layers dry properly.
Dull spots often appear when the paint sinks into the surface, adding a layer of gesso or using mediums helps keep colours rich and bright.

Essential Supplies for Acrylic Painting

Acrylics are versatile on their own, but the right tools make painting smoother, easier and way more fun. A few essentials can completely change how your colours blend, how your textures build and how long your artwork lasts.

A good set of brushes is the first must-have. You’ll want a mix of flats, rounds and filberts for different strokes, plus a couple of detail brushes for crisp lines and glazing. Stiff bristles give you texture, while soft synthetics help with smooth blends and fine work.

For thick texture, scraping or bold knife strokes, palette knives are your best friend. They’re perfect for impasto, spreading gel mediums and creating clean, sculptural marks that brushes can’t replicate.

Most acrylic artists also rely on acrylic mediums to level up their paint. Whether you’re after transparency, extra gloss, more body, longer working time or smoother pours, mediums give you full control over consistency without weakening your colours.

You’ll also want gesso for prepping surfaces, varnish for protecting finished pieces and a handful of painting accessories like stay-wet palettes, misting bottles, tape and mixing tools to keep your workflow flowing.

If you’re starting fresh, collecting a few key supplies now will save you headaches later, and make the whole painting process way more enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between student and professional acrylic paints?

Student paints have lower pigment load and more fillers, making them budget-friendly and great for learning. Professional acrylics contain higher-grade pigments for stronger colour, better coverage and consistent long-term results.

Can I use acrylic paint on wood or fabric?

Yes! Acrylics work beautifully on wood, fabric, canvas paper, primed craft surfaces and more. For fabric, heat-setting helps lock the colour in. For wood, a layer of gesso improves adhesion.

How do I keep my acrylic paints from drying too quickly?

Use a retarder medium, mist your palette with water or try a stay-wet palette. Painting in thin layers also helps prevent your colours from drying on the brush.

What mediums should I use with acrylic paints?

It depends on your style. Use glazing medium for transparency, gel medium for texture, flow medium for smooth blends and pouring medium for fluid art. Mediums help you customise acrylics without changing their strength or adhesion.

Resources, Tutorials & More

Ready to level up your acrylic painting?

Explore our guides, blogs and tutorials covering colour mixing, acrylic techniques, brush care, medium hacks, drying-time tricks and step-by-step projects. Whether you’re a beginner learning the basics or a seasoned painter chasing new ideas, these resources are here to help you grow your skills and get more out of your paints.

Education

What’s the difference between different Brands of Acrylic Paint?