Best Paint for Acrylic Pouring

Acrylic pouring is a popular art form that involves mixing acrylic paints with pouring medium and then pouring the mixture onto a canvas or other surface. The result is a unique, abstract piece of art that is full of color. One of the most important aspects of acrylic pouring is choosing the right paint.

There are a lot of different types of acrylic paint on the market, and not all of them are suitable for pouring. Some paints are too thick or too thin, while others are low quality leaving your paint pours muddy and dull. So choosing the right paint is essential for achieving your desired results.

In this article, we will explore the best paints for acrylic pouring. We will look at different brands and types of paint, as well as their characteristics and how they perform when used for pouring. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, this guide will help you choose the right paint for your next acrylic pouring project.

But first, let's talk about the basics of acrylic paint and the criteria that I will use when comparing paint brands so you better understand how to choose your paints.

What is Acrylic Paint?

Acrylic paint is a water-based paint that is made of pigment suspended in acrylic polymer emulsion. It is a versatile medium that can be used on a variety of surfaces and can be thinned with water or medium to create different effects. Acrylic paint dries quickly and is permanent when dry, making it a popular choice for artists.

What Makes a Good Acrylic Paint for Pouring?

Before we begin the comparisons, I'd like to introduce you to the various criteria that I will use in my paint analysis. 

The information in this post is based on my personal experience after using these paints in my acrylic pours. I will also include reliable information from various websites and provided by other acrylic pour artists.

When it comes to acrylic pouring, you have to consider the following factors.

Pigment Load

The pigment load of the paint affects the vibrancy and intensity of the colors. A paint with high pigment load will produce more vivid and intense colors while a paint with low pigment load will produce dull and muted colors in pour paintings. 

The higher the pigment load in a paint, the smaller amount of paint that you will need to mix with pouring medium to achieve a vibrant color.

However, there are no standards for pigment load set by the American Society of Testing and Materials. So the way that I will rate the pigment load of these paints is by using a Low, Good, High Pigment Load rating based on experience or based on what the manufacturer has said about for their paints.

When choosing acrylic paint for pouring, it is essential to select a paint with high pigment density to achieve vivid pours.

Viscosity

The viscosity of the paint is an essential factor to consider when choosing acrylic paint for pouring. A good pouring paint should not be too thick or too thin. If it is too thick, you will have a hard time mixing it with pouring medium. If it is too thin, you will have to mix it with a thickening medium. 

Opacity and Translucency

The opacity and translucency of the paint are also important factors to consider when choosing acrylic paint for pouring. Opacity refers to how much the paint covers the surface, while translucency refers to how much light passes through the paint.

Take a look at the following image to see the way opacity/translucency is usually labelled on paints.

Some pouring techniques require opaque paints, while others require translucent paints. The opacity of the paint will also affect the final result of the pour so it is important to choose a paint that fits your desired technique.

If the colors of your paintings are getting so much darker when dry, then you have to pay special attention to the opacity and translucency of the paints you are using and how you are layering them.

In general, acrylic paints dry a little bit darker, however, a big part of how dark a paint dries depends of the opacity/translucency of the paints and how you layer your transparent vs opaque colors.

Transparent colors let darker colors shine through more, so if you have a darker color on a bottom layer and a light translucent color on the top layer, the top color will look darker than it looks inside the tube because it is now a combination of the top and bottom colors. 

Check out this experiment from Gabi's Flying Colours to see the difference between pouring with opaque and transparent colors.

Lightfastness

Lightfastness refers to how resistant the paint is to fading over time.

ASTM International (formerly the American Society of Testing and Materials) formed a subcommittee on Artist Paints to bring order to the wide variety of information provided by manufacturers of art materials. The following standards were developed for lightfastness:

Lightfastness I: Excellent Lightfastness

Lightfastness II: Very Good Lightfastness

Lightfastness III: Fair Lightfastness 

Lightfastness IV: Poor Lightfastness

Lightfastness V: Very Poor Lightfastness.

Take a look at the following image to see the way lightfastness is usually labelled in paints.

However, keep in mind that the lightfastness rating on certain brands may not show the ASTM standards you see above. Certain manufacturers may provide information about “permanence” rather than lightfastness, or use proprietary terminology or symbols like ++/+++. Unless specifically started, do not assume that these ratings correlate with ASTM standards.

So when choosing acrylic paint for pouring, it is important to select a paint with high lightfastness (the lower the number the better) to ensure that your artwork will last for a long time without fading.

Artists who want to sell their paintings usually use pigments that are extremely lightfast so their paintings stand the test of time. 

Here's an image that shows how good paint brands label their paints so that it's easier for you to understand what type of paint you are purchasing. FYI... some brands might put their opacity and lightfastness on the back of the tube. 

Color Selection

The color selection of the paint brands is also an important factor to consider when choosing acrylic paint for pouring. Some artists prefer to work with a limited color palette, while others prefer to work with a wide range of colors.

It is important to choose a paint brand that offers a wide range of colors or mix paint colors from different brands to fit your desired technique and style.

Availability

Some brands of paints are more readily available in certain countries than others. So the best acrylic pouring paint for you might not be the best one for me, or vice versa.

When looking at my recommendations, consider if you can buy the paints at your local store, if you have to order them online, or if they are not available at all where you live.

Price ($)

Some paint brands are more expensive than others. When choosing acrylic paint for pouring, it is important to select a paint brand that offers good quality at an affordable price.

When comparing paint brands, it's a good idea to calculate the price per ounce of paint tubes of similar sizes. For example, don't compare the price/ounce of a 24 oz tube paint with the price/ounce of an 8 ounce tube paint. Always compare apples to apples.

If you buy in bulk, using a discount, or in bigger amounts, the price per ounce usually goes down so it won't be an accurate comparison.

Top Brands for Acrylic Pouring

Overall, I prefer Liquitex Basics for my acrylic pour paintings with Arteza and Amsterdam paints close behind. However, it's important to experiment with different brands and colors to find the ones that work best for you, your pouring style, and the effects that you want to achieve.

Look at the pros and cons of each so you can decide which one you like best.

Brand 1: Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Pouring Paint

Liquitex BASICS Paints are a popular choice among acrylic pouring artists due to its excellent quality and affordability. Since 1955, the Liquitex brand has been producing acrylic paint. 

This brand offers a wide range of colors that are perfect for creating beautiful and unique acrylic pours. The paint has a smooth consistency that makes it easy to mix and pour, and it dries quickly to a satin finish. 

• Cost – More expensive than Artist's Loft but less expensive than higher quality brands like Arteza, Amsterdam, Pebeo, or Winsor & Newton.
• Pigment Load – Medium-High. They retain their color and vibrancy when mixed with a pouring medium.
•  Lightfastness – ASTM I (excellent) and II (very good)
  • With a few exceptions, almost all Liquitex Basics paints have a lightfastness of I.
• Availability – Liquitex Basics paints are available in a variety of sizes. The larger 8 to 16 oz containers offer the best value. Since Liquitex is an industry pioneer and one of the most well-known companies in the water-based acrylic paint industry, their paints are available at most craft and hobby stores, as well as online.
• Viscosity – These paints have a medium viscosity. They have a rich, creamy texture with a consistency similar to toothpaste. When mixing with pouring medium, you first need to mix the paint with a small amount of pouring medium before adding the rest of the pouring medium to the mix. I recommend a paint-to-pouring medium ratio of one part paint to three to four parts pouring medium (1:3/4). Depending on the technique, you may need to add a little water to achieve the desired consistency.
• Color Selection - Great. Liquitex Basics has a selection of 72 colors including regular, fluorescent, and metallic colors.
• Opacity and Translucency - Paint tube indicates the opacity/translucency of the paint.
• What I Like – This is a great all-around paint with good color selection and good pigmentation at an affordable price. I highly recommend it to anyone transitioning from the beginner stage to a more professional stage, or when someone is considering selling their artwork.
• What I Dislike –  You will most likely have a hard time finding Liquitex paints at a discounted price. It's hard to get all of the paint out of the container unless you cut it open. 

Brand 2: Amsterdam Standard Series

Amsterdam Standard Series acrylic paints are excellent for beginning, intermediate, seasoned, and professional artists. They are simply one of the best brands out there. These highly pigmented and high quality paints are reasonably priced, making them an excellent choice for the beginning or intermediate artist.

• Cost – More expensive than Artist's Loft and Liquitex Basics but more affordable than Pebeo and Winsor & Newton.
• Pigment Load – Medium-High. They retain their color and vibrancy when mixed with a pouring medium.
• Lightfastness –  ++ (very good) and +++ (excellent)
• Availability – These paints are available online at most major retailers as well as in-store at some arts and crafts stores.
• Viscosity – These paints have a medium viscosity similar to toothpaste. They mix well with mediums and water if you first dilute them with a little bit of water of pouring medium. I recommend a paint-to-pouring medium ratio of one part paint to three to four parts pouring medium (1:3/4). Depending on the technique, you may need to add a little water to achieve the desired consistency.
• Color Selection - Great. Amsterdam has a selection of 70 colors including regular, fluorescent, and metallic colors.
• Opacity and Translucency - Paint tube indicates the opacity/translucency of the paint.
• What We Like – Amsterdam acrylic paints are vibrant and long-lasting. The paint is weather resistant and will not crack. Their Titanium white is a staple for most acrylic paint pourers since it is an essential ingredient in the cell activator used in the Shelee Art blooms technique. Has some beautiful colors that are not sold by other other brands.
• What We Dislike – These paints do not go on sale often, so using store coupons or purchasing them on Dickblick.com when they are on sale are the best way to get them at a cheaper price. Their lightfastness ratings (++ and +++) are not ASTM standards (I, II, III, IV, V) and are opposite of what other paint manufacturers use so it is a little confusing.

Brand 3: Arteza Acrylic Premium Artist Paint

Arteza Acrylic Premium Artist Paint is another great option for acrylic pouring. This brand offers a wide range of colors that are highly pigmented and vibrant. Their metallic paints are gorgeous!

Arteza Acrylic Paint is Certified Safe and Nontoxic Formula: All products, including nontoxic acrylic paint, are free of harmful chemicals. The paint has been ACMI-certified.

• Cost – More expensive than Artist's Loft and Liquitex Basics, but less expensive than Amsterdam. Winsor & Newton, and Pebeo when sold individually, but when purchased in kits, the cost is similar to Artist's Loft or Liquitex paints (some of the most affordable paints).
• Pigment Load– Highly Pigmented Color 
• Lightfastness – + (good), ++ (very good) and +++ (excellent)
• Availability – Individual paints and kits are only available at Arteza store and online in stores like Amazon, Michael's, etc.
• Viscosity – These paints have a high viscosity/consistency that is perfect for creating textures with a palette knife. When used for acrylic pouring, it's best if you first dilute them with a little bit of water or pouring medium before mixing them into the rest of the pouring medium. I recommend a paint-to-pouring medium ratio of one part paint to four parts pouring medium (1:4). Depending on the technique, you may need to add a little water to achieve the desired consistency.
• Color Selection - Great. Arteza has a great range of regular, iridescent, and metallic colors, some which are not available in other brands. Could not find the exact number of colors they offer but I know they have at least 60 colors to choose from.
• Opacity and Translucency - Paint tube indicates the opacity/translucency of the paint.
• What We Like –These paints come in a gorgeous selection of colors. They're of good quality and they provide adequate coverage. The cost/ounce of paint is really low when you purchase the paints in kits.
• What We Dislike – Their lightfastness ratings (+, ++ and +++) are not ASTM standards (I, II, III, IV, V) and are opposite of what other paint manufacturers use so it might be confusing. Couldn't find a color chart that lists all of their available colors.

Brand 4. Artist Loft (Academic Level)

The Artist's Loft brand is Michael's Store's in-house brand. These soft body acrylic paints are available in three different qualities: Academic, Artist, and Professional.

Artist Loft paints (academic level 1) provide decent coverage and come in a decent color selection at an affordable price. 

• Cost – One of the cheapest brands of acrylic paints available on the market that have a decent quality for acrylic pouring.
• Pigment Load – Low-Medium
• Lightfastness – Lightfastness is not indicated on the paint tubes but if I were to guess, I would say most of them should be labeled ASTM III since they are the not considered artist or professional grade paints.
• Availability – Individual paints are only available at Michael's stores and online on Amazon.
• Viscosity – These academic level Artist's Loft paints have a medium viscosity similar to toothpaste and mix well with pouring mediums and water. I recommend a paint-to-pouring medium ratio of one part paint to 2-3 parts pouring medium (1:2/3). Depending on the technique, you may need to add a little water to achieve the desired consistency.
• Color Selection - Decent. Artist's Loft has a decent color selection of 49 paints.
• Opacity and Translucency - Paint tubes don't indicate the opacity/translucency of the paint.
• What We Like –These paints are inexpensive and widely available, both online and in Michael's stores. You can find them at even more affordable prices when a special is running or if you have a Michael's coupon. 
• What We Dislike – Does not show the opacity/translucency or the lightfastness of the paint on the tube. However, most student grade acrylics will last longer than a typical painter's lifetime, so I am not too concerned to use them. Most paints are less pigmented than other brands, so your colors will look slightly less vibrant when mixed with pouring medium.

Brand 5. Artist Loft (Ready-Mixed Pouring Paint)

The Artist's Loft brand has a ready-to-pour paint. There is no need for purchasing additional pouring medium or mixing when using these ready-mixed pouring paints. If you are a beginner and having a hard time mixing your paints or simply hate mixing paints, then this is a great solution for you. Just pick your colors and pour them directly onto a canvas or other hard surface. It has a low viscosity and will give your finished artwork a glossy finish.

• Cost – More affordable than other brands like Amsterdam, Liquitex Basics, Winsor & Newton, and Arteza. 
• Pigment Load – Low-Medium
• Lightfastness – Bottles do not have any lightfastness info on them, but if I were to guess, I would say most of them should be labeled ASTM III since they are the not considered artist or professional grade paints.
• Availability – Individual paints are only available at Michael's stores and online on Amazon.
• Viscosity – These ready-to-pour paints have a low viscosity since they have already been mixed with pouring medium. No need to mix with pouring mediums. Depending on the technique you will be using, you might need to add a tiny bit of water to adjust the consistency.
• Color Selection - Limited. Artist's Loft has a limited selection of 30 paints colors.
• Opacity and Translucency - Paint tubes don't indicate the opacity/translucency of the paint.
• What We Like –These paints are convenient and great for beginners that don't know how to mix their paints or for those who prefer to get to pouring without mixing paints. The paints are decent and dry with a natural sheen.
• What We Dislike –There is a limited color selection, and the opacity and lightfastness is not available for these types of paints.

Brand 6: Pebeo

Pebeo acrylic paint is a high-quality paint known for its bright and vivid colors, as well as its high-viscosity, smooth, and creamy consistency.

Pebeo acrylic paint can be used on a variety of surfaces, including canvas, paper, wood, and more, making it ideal for a wide range of art projects. Overall, Pebeo acrylic paint is a great choice for artists who value archival-quality in their art supplies. 

• Cost – More expensive than Artist's Loft, Liquitex Basics, and Amsterdam but similar in cost to Arteza and Winsor & Newton.
• Pigment Load – High
• Lightfastness – + (fair), ++ (very good), +++ (excellent) or ASTM III, II, I
  • The majority of the paints are +++/ASTM I while a few are ++/ASTM II and only one is +/ASTM III
• Availability – Paints are available in many online stores including Pebeo, Blick Art Materials, Amazon, Jackson's Art Supplies, Jerry's Artarama,  and many more.
• Viscosity – These paints have a high viscosity. When used for acrylic pouring, it's best if you first dilute them with a little bit of water or pouring medium before mixing them into the rest of the pouring medium. I recommend a paint-to-pouring-medium ratio of one part paint to four parts pouring medium (1:4). Depending on the technique, you may need to add a little water to achieve the desired consistency.
• Color Selection - Good. Pebeo has a selection of 66 paints colors.
• Opacity and Translucency - Paint tubes indicate the opacity/translucency of the paint.
• What We Like –These paints are highly pigmented and great for artists that want vivid pours or want to sell their artwork but still cannot afford artist grade acrylic paints. Almost every color has an excellent lightfastness.
• What We Dislike –There are a little more expensive than other brands of paints.

Brand 7: Winsor & Newton Galeria

Winsor & Newton Galeria is a high-quality acrylic paint brand that produces professional results, making it ideal for artists looking to make stunning acrylic pours. This brand offers a wide range of colors that are highly pigmented and vibrant with great lightfastness. Winsor & Newton paints have a smooth consistency that makes it easy to mix with pouring medium and pour. 

• Cost – More expensive than most of the brands of paints mentioned in this post but similar in cost to Pebeo paints
• Pigment Load – Medium-High
• Lightfastness – ASTM I, II 
• Availability – Individual paints are available at the Winsor & Newton store and online at stores like Amazon, Blick Art Materials, and other retailers.
• Viscosity – These paints have a medium viscosity. They mix well with pouring medium and water. I recommend a paint-to-pouring medium ratio of one part paint to three to four parts pouring medium (1:3/4). Depending on the technique, you may need to add a little water to achieve the desired consistency.
• Color Selection - Good. Winsor & Newton has a selection of 60 paint colors.
• Opacity and Translucency - Paint tubes indicate the opacity/translucency of the paint.
• What We Like –These are high-quality paints that are vibrant in color and retain their vibrancy on the canvas for years. 
• What We Dislike – They are a little bit more expensive than other brands of paints mentioned in this post.

Brand 8: Prizm Pour Acrylic Paint

Prizm Pour colors can be used with any style of fluid art project. Prizm Pour paints dry beautifully on its own, but are enhanced with a clear coat of epoxy on top.

Keep in mind that Prizm Pour is NOT a ready-to-pour paint and should be mixed with a pouring medium in the same way as any other regular tube paint when creating your various abstract fluid art projects.

• Cost – More expensive than all the paints mentioned in this post but you can save 20% off your order when you use coupon code love621
• Pigment Load – High
• Lightfastness – Not mentioned on the paint bottles but I know the owner of this small company uses high quality ingredients and therefore I feel confident to assume that most of their paints have a lightfastness of at least an ASTM II (very good).
• Availability – Paints are available at the Colourarte online store and on Amazon. 
• Viscosity – These paints have a low viscosity but still need to be mixed with pouring medium. I recommend a paint-to-pouring medium ratio of one part paint to 2 parts pouring medium (1:2). Depending on the technique, you may need to add a little water to achieve the desired consistency.
• Color Selection - Great. Colouarte currently has a selection of 81 Prizm pour colors. The owner of this small business frequently comes up with new luscious colors so the selection of colors keeps growing constantly.
• Opacity and Translucency - Paint bottles don't indicate the opacity/translucency of the paint.
• What We Like – Colourarte carries a great selection of gorgeous high-quality paints that come in luscious and vibrant colors. The paints are made by a small family-owned business.
• What We Dislike – They are a little bit more expensive than other brands of paints mentioned in this post but their gorgeous colors make it worth it.

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about acrylic pouring:

• Do I need to use a special medium for acrylic pouring? Yes, you will need to mix your paint with a pouring medium to achieve the right consistency for pouring unless you are already using a ready-to-pour paint. A pouring medium is a liquid that thins out the paint and helps it flow smoothly. Some popular pouring mediums include Liquitex Pouring Medium, Floetrol, and GAC 800.
• What kind of surface should I use for acrylic pouring? You can pour acrylic paint on a variety of surfaces, including canvas, wood, glass, ceramic tiles, and paper. However, it's important to prepare your surface properly before pouring to ensure that the paint adheres well and doesn't crack or peel. You can prime your surface with gesso or use a pre-primed canvas or board.
• Do I need to use silicone in my acrylic pour? Silicone is not necessary for acrylic pouring, but it can be used to create interesting cell effects in your painting. If you want to use silicone, you can add a few drops to your paint before pouring. Keep in mind that silicone can affect the drying time and archival quality of your painting, so use it sparingly.
• How do I clean up after acrylic pouring? Acrylic paint is water-soluble, so you can clean up your tools and surfaces with soap and water. If the paint has already dried, you can use a scraper or sandpaper to remove it.

Conclusion

Choosing the right paint is crucial to achieving the desired results.

Based on my experience and research, I recommend Liquitex BASICS as it has good pigmentation, has good lighfastness, is of good quality, is available locally and online, and has a great selection of colors.

If you need something a little more affordable, use Artist's Loft Academic Level 1 paints.

If you have the budget to splurge on paints that are of higher quality, any of the other paints mentioned in this post will work.

These paints are all great options for acrylic pouring and offer a variety of colors and consistencies to choose from. It's important that you experiment with different brands to see what you like best. It's all about finding what works best for your personal style and technique.

Just remember, always purchase artist-quality paints rather than craft-quality paints. The low-quality paints will leave you dissatisfied with your pour paintings.

Now go create some colorful, beautiful, and mesmerizing acrylic pour paintings.