Watercolor is one of the most fluid and expressive paint mediums, allowing for delicate washes, vibrant blends, and fine detail work. It is water-activated, meaning it can be reworked even after drying, making it unique among other paint types.

Unlike acrylics or oils, watercolor is transparent, meaning you build depth and intensity through layering rather than applying thick, opaque strokes. Because of this, light areas must be preserved from the start instead of being painted over.

Key Characteristics of Watercolor Paint

✔ Highly Transparent – Watercolor is known for its sheer quality, allowing light to pass through layers to create glowing, luminous effects.

✔ Water-Activated & Rewettable – Unlike acrylics and oils, watercolors reactivate when wet, allowing for blending and correction even after drying.

✔ Requires Watercolor Paper – Because it is water-based, watercolor must be used on special absorbent paper to prevent warping.

✔ Soft Brushes Work Best – Watercolor brushes are designed to hold more water and pigment, allowing for smooth, flowing strokes without streaks.

✔ Comes in Multiple Forms:

• Tubes – More concentrated, great for larger washes and mixing.
• Pans (Solid Blocks) – Convenient for travel and controlled pigment use.
• Pencils – Draw dry and then activate with water for soft effects.
• Sheets – Pre-mixed dried watercolor sheets (like Peerless Watercolors) that can be cut and used for small, portable projects.

💡 Pro Tip: Watercolor is best applied in thin layers (glazes) to create depth and vibrancy without muddying colors.

 

Watercolor Techniques

🎨 Wet-on-Wet – Apply water to the paper first, then drop in pigment for soft, blended effects.
🎨 Wet-on-Dry – Painting directly on dry paper allows for crisp, controlled edges.
🎨 Glazing – Layering thin washes to build up color gradually.
🎨 Salt Effects – Sprinkling salt on wet watercolor creates organic, textured patterns.
🎨 Dry Brush – Using a damp brush with little water for rough, grainy textures.

💡 Pro Tip: Masking fluid can be applied before painting to preserve white areas—perfect for highlights, clouds, or fine details.

 

Best Paper & Brushes for Watercolor

✔ Paper: Use at least 140 lb (300gsm) cold-press watercolor paper to prevent buckling. Hot-press paper is smoother and great for fine details.
✔ Brushes: Soft, natural-hair brushes (like sable, squirrel, or synthetic blends) hold water well and allow for smooth application.

 

Watercolor Paint Brands

 

💡 Pro Tip: While professional watercolors offer better pigment load and longevity, student-grade options are great for learning and practice.

➡ For an in-depth guide, visit our Mastering Watercolor Painting blog.

Acrylic Paint

Best For: Versatile techniques, fast drying, and mixed media applications.

Acrylic paint is one of the most popular and adaptable painting mediums available. It is water-based, fast-drying, and incredibly versatile, making it a great choice for artists of all skill levels. Acrylics can be applied thinly, like watercolors, or thickly, like oils, and can be used on a variety of surfaces beyond traditional canvas—including wood, metal, glass, plastic, and fabric (with a medium).

Unlike watercolor, which remains water-soluble after drying, acrylic paint dries permanently and forms a plastic-like film that resists water. This makes acrylic ideal for layering, glazing, and mixed media techniques, but it also means you must work quickly before the paint dries.

Key Characteristics of Acrylic Paint

✔ Fast-Drying – Acrylic paint dries within minutes, allowing for quick layering but requiring speed when blending. If you need more time, slow-dry mediums can extend working time.

✔ Water-Based & Easy to Clean – Unlike oils, acrylics are non-toxic, water-soluble while wet, and easy to clean with just soap and water. However, once dry, they become waterproof.

✔ Highly Versatile – Can be used on canvas, wood, paper, metal, fabric, plastic, and more.

✔ Flexible Application – Can be thinned with water for watercolor effects or thickened with gels and mediums for heavy texture.

✔ Comes in Multiple Forms:

• Heavy Body – Thick, buttery consistency, retains brush strokes.
• Soft Body – Smoother, more fluid for fine details.
• Fluid Acrylics – High-pigment, thin consistency, ideal for pouring techniques.
• Acrylic Ink – Liquid form, great for airbrushing and calligraphy.
• Acrylic Markers – Perfect for mixed media, adding detail over dried paint.
• Acrylic Spray Paint – Excellent for urban art, stenciling, or large-scale projects.

💡 Pro Tip: Use a wet palette to keep acrylics moist and workable longer. A simple DIY wet palette can be made using a damp sponge and parchment paper in a sealed container.

 

Acrylic Painting Techniques

🎨 Glazing – Layering thin washes of transparent color to create depth.
🎨 Impasto – Using thick applications of paint (often with a palette knife) to build texture.
🎨 Dry Brush – Applying paint with little to no water for rough, textured strokes.
🎨 Pouring – Mixing acrylic with a pouring medium to create abstract fluid effects.
🎨 Stippling – Using small dots of paint to create shading or texture.
🎨 Sgraffito – Scratching through a layer of wet paint to reveal colors underneath.

💡 Pro Tip: Acrylic mediums can completely change how the paint behaves—adding gloss, texture, transparency, or extending drying time. Experiment with different gels, pastes, and extenders to customize your paint.

 

Best Surfaces & Brushes for Acrylic Paint

✔ Surfaces: Acrylics adhere well to canvas, wood, paper, glass, plastic, and fabric (with fabric medium). When painting on non-porous surfaces like metal or glass, use a primer like gesso or acrylic ground.

✔ Brushes: Stiffer brushes, such as synthetic or hog bristle brushes, work best for applying thick acrylics, while softer synthetic brushes are ideal for smooth blending and fine details.

💡 Pro Tip: Keep brushes wet while working with acrylics to prevent the paint from drying in the bristles. Once dried, acrylic paint is nearly impossible to remove from brushes.

 

Acrylic Paint Brands

💡 Pro Tip: If you're on a budget, invest in professional-grade primary colors, white, and black, and mix them with student-grade colors for improved vibrancy and longevity.

 

Acrylic Paint Safety & Cleanup

✔ Non-toxic & water-based, making them safer than oil paints.
✔ Always clean brushes immediately—once dry, acrylics are difficult to remove.
✔ Use ventilation when airbrushing, spraying, or using acrylic varnishes.
✔ Avoid rinsing paint down the drain—dried acrylic can clog pipes. Instead, let excess paint dry on a palette before disposing of it in the trash.

💡 Pro Tip: For easy cleanup, keep a jar of water nearby and rinse brushes frequently to prevent acrylic buildup.

Acrylics are one of the most adaptable and user-friendly paint types, offering both quick-drying convenience and limitless creative possibilities. Whether you're working on fine art, mixed media, crafts, or large-scale murals, acrylics provide durability, flexibility, and bold color for any project.

Oil Paint

Best For: Rich blending, deep color, and traditional painting techniques.

Oil paint is one of the oldest and most revered painting mediums, known for its slow drying time, rich texture, and unparalleled blending capabilities. Artists from Rembrandt to Van Gogh have relied on oil paint to create works with depth, luminosity, and lasting beauty.

Unlike acrylic and watercolor, oil paint is slow-drying, allowing for smooth blending, soft transitions, and intricate layering. It is pigment-rich, providing vibrant, long-lasting color. However, oil painting requires specific techniques, special surfaces, and additional materials such as solvents and mediums for thinning and cleaning.

Key Characteristics of Oil Paint

✔ Slow-Drying – Unlike acrylics, which dry in minutes, oil paint can remain wet for hours to days, allowing for extensive blending and layering.

✔ Thick, Buttery Consistency – Oil paints can be applied thinly or built up in thick layers (impasto) to create texture.

✔ Exceptional Blending & Glazing – Because it stays wet for a long time, oil paint allows for seamless color transitions and transparent glazes.

✔ Rich, Vibrant Pigments – Oil paint has a higher pigment load than most other paints, resulting in deep, saturated colors that remain vibrant for centuries.

✔ Requires Special Thinners & Solvents – Unlike water-based paints, oil paint does not clean up with water. Artists must use solvents like mineral spirits or turpentine for thinning and brush cleaning.

✔ Oil Paint Comes in Tubes and Sticks – While most artists are familiar with oil paint in tubes, oil sticks (or oil bars) offer a unique way to apply paint directly to the surface. Oil sticks contain oil paint mixed with just enough wax to form a solid, crayon-like shape. They allow for gestural, expressive marks and can be blended with a brush or palette knife. Once applied, oil sticks dry just like traditional oil paint and can be used alongside regular oils.

💡 Pro Tip: If using oil sticks, remove the outer skin before applying and store them in a cool place to prevent softening.

 

Alternative Oil Paints: Water-Soluble and Alkyds

For artists looking for oil-like properties with different working characteristics, there are modern alternatives that offer distinct advantages in drying time, cleanup, and texture.

Water-Mixable Oil Paints

These are real oil paints modified to mix with water instead of solvents. They maintain the slow drying time, blendability, and rich color of traditional oils but allow for easy cleanup with soap and water. Many artists prefer them as a safer alternative to solvent-based oils.

✔ Pros: No need for solvents, safer for home studios, behaves like traditional oil.
✔ Cons: Slightly different handling than regular oils, may dry faster than traditional oils.

Alkyd Oil Paints

Alkyd paints are fast-drying oil paints that use a modified oil binder, allowing them to dry in 24 hours instead of weeks. They retain the richness and depth of oils but make it possible to work in layers more quickly.

✔ Pros: Faster drying, great for artists on a deadline, compatible with traditional oils.
✔ Cons: Less open working time than regular oils, some brands may have a slightly different gloss level.

💡 Pro Tip: Water-mixable oils and alkyds each have their own strengths—consider trying small sets of each to see which best fits your painting style.

 

Oil Painting Techniques

🎨 Alla Prima (Wet-on-Wet) – A technique where layers are painted before the previous layers dry, often used for quick, expressive work.
🎨 Glazing – Applying thin, transparent layers of color to create depth and luminosity.
🎨 Impasto – Painting with thick, textured strokes, often using a palette knife.
🎨 Scumbling – Lightly dragging a dry brush with opaque paint over a dry layer, creating a soft, textured effect.
🎨 Underpainting – Creating a monochromatic base layer before applying full-color paint.
🎨 Fat Over Lean Rule – To prevent cracking, each layer should contain more oil (fat) than the previous layer (lean), ensuring flexibility as the painting dries.

💡 Pro Tip: Oils take weeks to fully dry and months to cure—always allow paintings to dry completely before varnishing.

 

Best Surfaces & Brushes for Oil Paint

✔ Surfaces: Oil paint works best on canvas, wood panels, and oil-primed paper. Never paint oils directly on raw paper or unprimed canvas—they will absorb the oil, weakening the structure. Gesso or an oil-based ground is required for proper adhesion.

✔ Brushes: Stiffer brushes, such as hog bristle brushes, work best for oil painting, allowing better control of thick paint application. Softer synthetic brushes are used for smooth blending and glazing techniques.

💡 Pro Tip: A good oil painting setup includes palette knives for mixing and applying thick paint and rags or paper towels for wiping brushes.

 

Oil Paint Brands

💡 Pro Tip: If you're on a budget, start with professional-grade primary colors, titanium white, and burnt umber, and mix your own hues. Higher-quality white paint makes a big difference in color mixing.

 

Oil Paint Safety & Cleanup

✔ Use a Well-Ventilated Space – Many oil mediums and solvents release fumes. Work in an area with good airflow or use odorless mineral spirits.
✔ Dispose of Rags Safely – Oily rags can spontaneously combust if stored improperly. Always lay them flat to dry before disposal or keep them in a sealed metal container.
✔ Never Rinse Brushes Down the Sink – Oil paint does not dissolve in water. Instead, wipe off excess paint with a rag, clean with solvent, then wash with soap and water.
✔ Avoid Skin Contact – Some oil paints contain toxic pigments (like cadmium or lead white). Wear gloves if handling paint extensively.

💡 Pro Tip: To avoid solvent use, try water-mixable oil paints, which clean up with water but still behave like traditional oils.

 

Drying Time & Preservation

• Oil paint dries by oxidation, not evaporation, meaning exposure to air is required for curing.
• Thin layers may dry in a few days, while thicker applications can take months.
• Varnishing should only be done after the painting has fully cured—which can take 6 months to a year for thick paintings.

💡 Pro Tip: If you need oil paint to dry faster, use an alkyd medium like Liquin, which speeds up drying time without compromising flexibility.

 

Why Choose Oil Paint?

Oil paint is ideal for artists who want rich color, long blending time, and lasting results. It requires more patience and preparation than acrylic or watercolor, but the results are unmatched in depth, texture, and vibrancy.

Gouache, Acrylic Gouache, Casein & Golden SoFlat

Best For: Illustration, opaque layering, matte finishes, and fine detail work

Gouache, acrylic gouache, casein, and Golden SoFlat are highly pigmented, matte-finish paints that provide strong coverage and smooth application, making them favorites among illustrators, designers, fine artists, and commercial painters.

• Traditional gouache is water-based, opaque, and reworkable, combining the vibrant color of acrylic with the water-solubility of watercolor. It is widely used for flat, bold color applications, fine detail work, and layering.
• Acrylic gouache offers the same smooth, matte finish as gouache but dries waterproof, making it ideal for permanent layering and mixed media work.
• Casein paint, made from milk protein, shares gouache’s matte, opaque finish but dries to a harder, more durable surface, making it historically popular for commercial art, sign painting, and early 20th-century illustration.
• Golden SoFlat is a matte acrylic paint designed for streak-free, ultra-flat color fields. It provides strong opacity like gouache but remains waterproof like acrylic, making it perfect for graphic work, murals, and contemporary fine art.

These paints provide a range of options for artists looking for flat, vibrant color—whether they need rewettable flexibility, waterproof durability, or long-term stability.

Key Characteristics of Gouache

✔ Opaque & Matte – Unlike watercolor, gouache fully covers underlying layers, making it great for bold shapes, clean lines, and graphic work.

✔ Reactivates with Water – Like watercolor, dried gouache can be rewet and adjusted—but it has a higher pigment load, making it richer and more opaque.

✔ Blends Like a Dream – Because it stays wet for a short time, gouache allows for smooth color transitions and soft shading.

✔ Can Crack in Thick Layers – Unlike acrylic, gouache is not flexible when dry, so thick applications may crack—best used in thin, even layers.

✔ Works on Various Surfaces – Gouache can be used on watercolor paper, illustration board, and toned paper, but is not ideal for canvas.

💡 Pro Tip: If you want more durable, water-resistant gouache, consider using acrylic gouache (discussed below).

 

Key Characteristics of Casein Paint

✔ Matte, Opaque Finish – Like gouache, casein dries to a smooth, flat surface but hardens over time, making it more durable.

✔ Water-Soluble but Permanent – When wet, casein acts like watercolor or gouache, but once dry, it becomes waterproof and more resistant to reworking.

✔ Great for Underpainting – Casein’s fast-drying, velvety surface makes it an excellent base layer for oils and acrylics.

✔ Popular for Illustration & Commercial Art – Casein was widely used by 20th-century illustrators before the rise of acrylics, thanks to its fast drying time and smooth application.

💡 Pro Tip: Casein paint requires a rigid surface like illustration board or panel—it can crack on flexible materials like canvas.

 

Acrylic Gouache: The Best of Both Worlds

Acrylic gouache is a hybrid between gouache and acrylic paint, offering the flat, matte look of gouache with the permanence of acrylic.

✔ Dries Waterproof – Unlike traditional gouache, acrylic gouache does not reactivate with water once dry.
✔ Highly Pigmented & Matte – Colors remain bold and opaque without glossiness.
✔ Layering & Blending – Can be layered without disturbing previous layers—a major advantage over traditional gouache.

💡 Pro Tip: Acrylic gouache is perfect for mixed media artists, as it won’t lift or smudge when painted over.

 

Key Characteristics of Golden SoFlat Matte Acrylic

Golden SoFlat is a highly pigmented, ultra-matte acrylic paint designed for smooth, opaque, and streak-free coverage. It is often compared to acrylic gouache due to its rich, flat finish but dries permanently, making it a great alternative for artists who want the look of gouache with the durability of acrylic.

✔ Ultra-Matte Finish – Completely flat and non-reflective, perfect for bold color fields and graphic work.

✔ Highly Pigmented & Opaque – Provides strong coverage with fewer layers, making it ideal for fine art, illustration, and design.

✔ Smooth, Streak-Free Application – Self-leveling properties ensure even color without visible brush marks.

✔ Dries Waterproof – Unlike traditional gouache, once dry, SoFlat will not reactivate with water, making it great for layering and mixed media.

✔ Mixable with Acrylics & Mediums – Can be blended with other Golden acrylics or used with mediums to modify texture and finish.

✔ Suitable for Various Surfaces – Works well on canvas, wood, paper, and primed panels.

💡 Pro Tip: For the flattest, most even application, use a soft synthetic brush or roller to minimize texture and maximize SoFlat’s seamless matte look.

 

Best Brushes & Surfaces for Gouache & Casein

✔ Brushes: Soft synthetic or natural-hair brushes work best for smooth application—avoid stiff bristle brushes that can leave streaks.
✔ Surfaces: Gouache and casein adhere best to watercolor paper, mixed media paper, and illustration board. Casein also works well on primed wood panels.

 

Gouache, Acrylic Gouache, & Casein Paint Brands

Notes:

• Turner Acryl Gouache: A Japanese brand known for its vibrant colors and smooth application. 

• Lascaux Acrylic Gouache: Offers a range of strong, opaque colors with a beautiful matte finish. ​

• Tri-Art Acrylic Gouache: Known for its ultra-smooth liquid acrylic colors that dry to a uniform matte finish. 

• Nicker Poster Colour: A Japanese brand offering high-quality, ultra-fine gouache paints.

💡 Pro Tip: If you want vibrant, reworkable color, go with gouache. If you need waterproof durability, acrylic gouache is the way to go. If you want something in between, casein is a great option.

 

Which One Will You Love?

Whether you prefer the reworkable charm of traditional gouache, the fast-drying durability of casein, the waterproof versatility of acrylic gouache, or the ultra-matte perfection of Golden SoFlat, these paints offer bold, flat color and creative control that’s hard to beat.

Each one brings something distinct to the table—rich opacity, smooth application, and a matte finish that makes your work pop without the gloss. These mediums are ideal for illustrators, designers, and fine artists who want to explore beyond the typical look and feel of watercolor or acrylic. Once you find the one that fits your workflow, you might never go back.

Craft Paints

Best For: Decorative painting, home décor, furniture, and DIY projects

Craft paints are affordable, easy-to-use, and versatile, making them a popular choice for hobbyists, crafters, and DIY enthusiasts. Unlike artist-grade paints, craft paints contain more binders and fillers, resulting in a thinner consistency and less pigment concentration. However, they are formulated to adhere to a variety of surfaces, including wood, fabric, ceramics, glass, and metal.

Craft paints are available in different finishes, from matte and chalky to high-gloss and metallic, allowing for a wide range of creative applications.

Key Characteristics of Craft Paints

✔ Budget-Friendly & Accessible – Sold in small, affordable bottles, making them perfect for large projects, classroom use, and beginner-friendly applications.

✔ Easy to Use – Water-based and quick-drying, craft paints require no special solvents and can be cleaned up with soap and water.

✔ Versatile Application – Can be used on wood, glass, plastic, fabric, ceramics, and more with the proper surface preparation.

✔ Available in Multiple Finishes – Craft paints come in matte, gloss, metallic, pearlescent, chalky, and even textured finishes for decorative effects.

✔ Not as Lightfast as Artist-Grade Paints – Some craft paints may fade over time, especially when exposed to sunlight.

💡 Pro Tip: If using craft paints for outdoor projects, choose one labeled “weatherproof” or “multi-surface” to ensure durability.

 

Craft Paint Finishes & Their Uses

💡 Pro Tip: Some craft paints require sealing with a topcoat or varnish for added durability, especially when used on furniture or outdoor projects.

 

Fabric & Textile Paints

For painting on clothing, tote bags, or textiles, specialized fabric paints are designed to flex with the fabric and resist washing.

✔ Fabric Paint vs. Craft Acrylics: Fabric paints contain a softer binder that allows them to move with the fabric, while standard acrylic craft paints may crack or stiffen unless mixed with a fabric medium.
✔ Heat-Setting Required? – Some fabric paints require heat-setting with an iron to permanently bond to fabric fibers.
✔ Best Surfaces: Cotton, canvas, denim, and other natural fabrics.

💡 Pro Tip: Always wash and dry fabric before painting to remove any sizing or chemicals that might prevent the paint from adhering.

 

Popular Craft Paint Brands

💡 Pro Tip: If painting on glass or ceramics, choose an enamel craft paint—it will cure for a stronger, more scratch-resistant finish.

 

Common Uses for Craft Paints

✔ Furniture Refinishing – Chalk and enamel craft paints are perfect for revamping old furniture.
✔ DIY Signs & Home Décor – Matte, gloss, and metallic craft paints work well for wood signs, ornaments, and holiday décor.
✔ Textile & Fabric Painting – Fabric craft paints allow you to customize clothing, tote bags, and upholstery.
✔ Glass & Ceramic Painting – Enamel-based craft paints can be baked in an oven for a permanent finish.
✔ Kids’ Crafts & School Projects – Water-based craft paints are safe, easy to use, and wash off easily.

 

Craft Paint vs. Artist-Grade Acrylics: What’s the Difference?

💡 Pro Tip: If you need long-lasting color, opt for artist-grade acrylics instead of craft paint. However, for home décor, DIY projects, and temporary artworks, craft paints provide affordable and vibrant options.

Craft paints are an essential tool for hobbyists, DIYers, and decorative artists, offering a huge range of colors, finishes, and specialty effects. Whether you’re painting wood signs, furniture, fabric, or ceramics, there’s a craft paint made for the job!

Paint for Kids

Best For: Early learning, sensory play, school projects, and beginner art exploration

Kids' paints are specially formulated to be safe, non-toxic, and easy to clean up, making them ideal for young children, classrooms, and beginner artists. These paints are often washable, quick-drying, and designed for little hands, allowing kids to experiment with color and creativity without worry.

While kids' paints are not archival like professional paints, they provide a fun, mess-friendly introduction to art while building fine motor skills and creative confidence.

Key Characteristics of Kids' Paints

✔ Non-Toxic & Washable – Designed to be safe for children, with water-based formulas that clean up easily from skin and clothing.

✔ Bright & Easy to Use – Comes in bold, ready-to-use colors that don’t require mixing.

✔ Fast-Drying – Helps prevent messes and allows for quick layering.

✔ Variety of Forms – Available in liquid, solid blocks, sticks, and even fingerpaint formulas.

✔ Not Archival – Colors may fade over time and are not meant for professional artwork.

💡 Pro Tip: If using kids' paint on fabric, wood, or other surfaces, apply a sealer or topcoat to improve durability.

 

Types of Kids' Paints & Their Uses

💡 Pro Tip: Paint sticks are great for travel and classroom settings, offering vibrant color without the mess of liquid paint.

 

Best Brushes & Surfaces for Kids' Paints

✔ Brushes: Soft, wide brushes for broad strokes and easy coverage.
✔ Sponges & Rollers: Great for stamping, texture play, and large-area painting.
✔ Surfaces: Paper, cardboard, poster board, and non-porous surfaces like plastic trays for sensory play.

💡 Pro Tip: For toddlers, large grip brushes make it easier to hold and control paint strokes.

 

Popular Kids' Paint Brands

💡 Pro Tip: If gifting kids’ paints, include a paint shirt or apron to protect clothing!

 

Fun Kids' Paint Activities

✔ Handprint & Footprint Art – Great for keepsakes and sensory exploration.
✔ Bubble Painting – Mix paint with dish soap and blow bubbles onto paper for a unique texture.
✔ Marble Rolling Art – Dip marbles in paint and roll them across paper in a box for abstract designs.
✔ Resist Painting – Use crayons, tape, or white glue to create designs that resist the paint.
✔ Splatter Art – Use a toothbrush or flick paint for fun, energetic designs.

💡 Pro Tip: Let kids explore color mixing by giving them only primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and letting them create their own secondary colors!

Kids' paints are a fun, engaging way to introduce children to the world of art, encouraging creativity, exploration, and early skill development. Whether painting with tempera, watercolors, or finger paints, kids can express themselves freely while learning the basics of color and texture.

Paint for Murals & Urban Art

Best For: Large-scale murals, outdoor artwork, graffiti, and street art

Murals and urban art have become a major movement worldwide, transforming public spaces, businesses, and neighborhoods with bold, large-scale paintings. Mural artists need paints that are fade-resistant, weatherproof, and adhere well to various surfaces like brick, concrete, and metal.

While spray paint is the most recognized tool for street art, muralists also use brush-on acrylics and house paints, depending on the project’s surface, scale, and longevity requirements.

Key Characteristics of Mural & Street Art Paints

✔ Highly Pigmented & Fade-Resistant – Must withstand sun exposure and weathering without fading.

✔ Durable & Adhesive to Multiple Surfaces – Mural paints must work on brick, stucco, concrete, wood, and metal.

✔ Multiple Application Methods – Artists use spray paint, brush-on acrylics, rollers, and airbrush techniques for different effects.

✔ Fast-Drying but Blendable – Street artists often layer colors quickly, requiring fast-drying paints with good opacity.

✔ Varnishes & Sealers for Longevity – Many murals require a UV-resistant topcoat to prevent fading and environmental damage.

💡 Pro Tip: Brick and concrete surfaces should be primed before painting to create a smoother, more even surface for paint adhesion.

 

Types of Paints for Murals & Street Art

💡 Pro Tip: Spray paint allows for quick color transitions, while acrylic and house paints provide solid color blocks for large sections. Many artists combine both for different effects.

 

Popular Brands for Mural & Urban Art Paints

💡 Pro Tip: For murals in high-traffic or outdoor areas, use a clear UV-resistant sealer to prevent fading.

 

Mural Painting Techniques

🎨 Freehand Spray Painting – Used by graffiti artists for fluid lines and shading.
🎨 Grid & Projection Method – Artists use grids or project images onto walls to scale their designs accurately.
🎨 Stencil Work – Allows for clean, repeatable designs and sharp edges.
🎨 Brush & Roller Techniques – Perfect for backgrounds and large-scale murals.
🎨 Drips & Splatter Effects – Used for expressive, abstract effects.

💡 Pro Tip: When painting murals on textured surfaces like brick, use a stippling technique (dabbing with a brush) to push paint into crevices for even coverage.

 

Best Surfaces & Preparation for Mural Paints

✔ Brick & Concrete – Requires a primer for smooth application.
✔ Metal – Needs a bonding primer before painting.
✔ Wood Panels – Sealing or priming prevents paint from soaking in too much.
✔ Canvas (for indoor murals) – Pre-stretched canvas allows murals to be created off-site and installed later.

💡 Pro Tip: Always clean the wall surface before painting—dirt, grease, or flaking paint can prevent good adhesion.

 

Sealing & Protecting Murals

✔ Use a UV-Resistant Varnish – Protects against sunlight and fading.
✔ Anti-Graffiti Coatings – Some murals are coated with a protective layer that allows unwanted graffiti to be washed off easily.
✔ Regular Maintenance – If a mural gets scratched or damaged, artists often retouch and reseal it every few years.

💡 Pro Tip: For outdoor murals, always check weather conditions before painting! High humidity and extreme temperatures can affect drying times.

Murals and urban artwork bring life to public spaces and require durable, high-quality paints that can withstand time and weather. Whether working with spray cans, brushes, or rollers, mural artists must consider surface preparation, paint selection, and protective coatings to ensure their work lasts.

Paint Comparison Chart: Choosing the Right Paint for Your Project

This chart summarizes the key differences between various paint types, helping you choose the best option for your artistic needs.

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How to Use This Chart

• If you need rewettable paint, go for watercolor, gouache, or casein.
• If you need permanent, flexible paint, acrylics or mural paint are your best bet.
• If you want slow drying for blending, choose oils.
• If you’re painting on non-traditional surfaces, mural paints, craft paints, and spray paints offer the most adhesion.

💡 Pro Tip: Different projects require different paint types—experimenting with combinations (like acrylic + spray paint or gouache + casein) can lead to exciting results!

Brushes & Surfaces by Paint Type

💡 Pro Tips:

• Use separate brushes for different paint types to avoid contamination (e.g., don’t use your watercolor or acrylic brush with oil paint!).
• For thick paints like oil and heavy-body acrylic, choose stiffer brushes or palette knives.
• Soft brushes and smoother surfaces are best for detailed work and fine layering (e.g., watercolor, gouache). They also leave less texture when the paint dries.
• Priming the surface (especially for murals or oil painting) ensures better adhesion and prevents long-term damage.
  

Practical Tips: Mixing, Blending, Layering & Preserving Your Paintings

Understanding how to mix, blend, layer, and protect different types of paint will improve your results and extend the longevity of your work.

Mixing Paints: Creating Custom Colors & Avoiding Muddy Colors

✔ Always mix from light to dark – Add dark colors gradually into lighter ones to maintain control.
✔ Use a limited palette – Mixing from primary colors (red, yellow, blue) improves harmony and avoids over-mixing.
✔ Know when to use opaque vs. transparent colors – Some pigments are naturally more transparent (like phthalo blue) while others are opaque (like cadmium red)—mixing them properly prevents dullness.
✔ Use a palette knife instead of a brush – Especially in oils and acrylics, this prevents streaky mixes and preserves color integrity.
✔ Acrylics & Oils – Use mixing mediums to extend drying time for easier color blending.
✔ Gouache & Watercolor – Mix with water, not white paint, to maintain luminosity (except when intentionally creating pastels).

💡 Pro Tip: Test your mixed color before applying it to your final painting—sometimes colors dry slightly darker or lighter than expected.

 

Blending Techniques for Smooth Transitions

✔ Wet-on-Wet (Watercolor & Oils) – Apply colors while wet to create seamless gradients.
✔ Glazing (Acrylic, Oil, Watercolor, Casein) – Apply thin, transparent layers over dried layers for depth and luminosity.
✔ Feathering (Gouache & Acrylics) – Use a dry brush or soft blending brush to create subtle fades.
✔ Finger Blending (Oils & Soft Pastel Work in Mixed Media) – In oil painting, some artists use fingers for natural blending, but gloves or barrier cream can help prevent skin exposure to toxic pigments.
✔ Use Retarders & Extenders (Acrylic & Oils) – Slow-drying mediums allow more time to blend.
✔ Work in Sections (Acrylics & Gouache) – Since acrylic and gouache dry fast, blend smaller sections at a time rather than the whole canvas.

💡 Pro Tip: For smooth blends in acrylics, use a dry mop brush or soft synthetic blending brush—this softens edges without overworking the paint.

 

Layering Techniques: Building Depth & Avoiding Lifting

✔ Fat Over Lean (Oils) – Each layer should have more oil content than the previous one to prevent cracking.
✔ Work From Transparent to Opaque (Watercolor & Acrylics) – Start with thin washes and gradually build up.
✔ Let Layers Dry Before Adding New Ones (Gouache & Acrylics) – Otherwise, underlying layers may reactivate (gouache) or pull up the previous layer (acrylic).
✔ Use Gel Mediums & Retarders for Acrylics – These help prevent streaking and make layering easier.

💡 Pro Tip: To speed up drying between layers, use a hairdryer on a low setting (for watercolor and gouache) or a heat gun (for acrylics).

 

Varnishing & Preserving Your Work

✔ Why Varnish? – Protects against UV rays, dust, and environmental damage, and enhances color depth.
✔ Choose the Right Finish:

• Glossy – Makes colors vibrant, enhances contrast.
• Matte – Reduces glare, best for soft effects (watercolor-like acrylics).
• Satin – Balanced finish between gloss and matte.
  ✔ Watercolor & Gouache – Generally not varnished, but a spray fixative can protect delicate paintings.
  ✔ Acrylics – Use acrylic varnish (brush-on or spray) after paint is fully cured.
  ✔ Oils – Needs 6-12 months of drying time before applying final varnish. Use retouch varnish in the meantime.
  ✔ Murals & Outdoor Paintings – Apply a UV-resistant sealer for long-term durability.

💡 Pro Tip: Use soft brushes or airbrush sprayers for varnishing to avoid brush marks.

 

Why These Tips Matter

Understanding how to mix, blend, layer, and preserve paint ensures your artwork lasts longer, looks more professional, and retains its vibrancy over time. Whether you're working with watercolor, gouache, acrylic, oil, or mural paints, mastering these techniques will help you get the most out of your materials.

Practice Exercises: Try It Yourself!

Now that you know the strengths, surfaces, and brush pairings for each type of paint, let’s put that knowledge into action. These quick, hands-on exercises are designed to help you explore how different paints behave—how they layer, blend, dry, and interact with surfaces.

You don’t need a full studio or perfect setup—just grab what you have, follow the prompts, and see what you discover. Whether you're a student, a seasoned artist, or just getting started, these activities are a great way to build confidence and find your favorites.

🎨 Watercolor

Exercise: Glazing with Primary Colors
Start with a wash of yellow, let it dry, then glaze over it with red, and finally blue. Watch how each layer builds a new hue without covering the previous one.
💡 What you’ll learn: Transparency, layering order, and color mixing.

 

🖌 Gouache

Exercise: Opaque Still Life
Paint a simple object using layers of gouache. Start with light colors, then build darker shapes on top. Try softening an edge with a damp brush.
💡 What you’ll learn: Opaque layering, dry vs. rewet blending.

 

🎨 Acrylic (Heavy Body or Soft Body)

Exercise: Wet-on-Dry vs. Wet-on-Wet
On canvas or mixed media paper, paint one stroke over dry paint and another into still-wet paint. Add a bit of gel medium to see how it changes blending.
💡 What you’ll learn: Working time, texture control, and blending options.

 

🖌 Oil Paint

Exercise: Mini Fat-over-Lean Painting
Create a tiny landscape with a thin underpainting (less oil), and let it set. Add richer, more buttery paint on top (more oil).
💡 What you’ll learn: Drying behavior, proper layering, and pigment richness.

 

🎨 Casein or Acrylic Gouache

Exercise: Block Color Landscape
Use flat color shapes to paint a scene—mountains, trees, or even abstract blocks. Try layering after each section dries.
💡 What you’ll learn: Hard edges, fast drying, and surface feel.

 

🖌 Craft Paint

Exercise: Paint & Seal a Décor Sign
Use a wood slice or signboard. Apply two different craft paint finishes (chalky + gloss). Seal one half to test durability.
💡 What you’ll learn: Surface prep, finish variation, sealing effects.

 

🎨 Kids’ Paint

Exercise: Sensory Texture Collage
Grab cardboard, string, bubble wrap, or anything textured. Let the kids paint with brushes, rollers, or fingers over and around it.
💡 What they’ll learn: Color play, shape recognition, sensory creativity.

 

🖌 Mural Paint

Exercise: Design a Mural Section
Prime a board or foam core with gesso. Sketch a design scaled to fit. Paint a background and one detailed element using a brush or roller.
💡 What you’ll learn: Scaling, priming, tool control, and layout.

 

🎨 Spray Paint

Exercise: Stencil + Layer
Cut a basic stencil (circle, leaf, logo) from cardboard. On a test surface like a wood panel or heavy paper, spray light layers.
💡 What you’ll learn: Layer control, masking, and paint opacity.

Conclusion: Finding Your Medium, Your Way

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to painting. Every artist has their own rhythm, their own preferences, and their own materials that just feel right. Whether you love the soft flow of watercolor, the flat pop of gouache, the durability of acrylic, or the richness of oil—understanding your tools is the first step to making them work for you.

We hope this guide helps you make more informed choices about what to use and why—and inspires you to try something new. If you’re ever in doubt, visit us in-store or online. We’re happy to talk paint, paper, or which brush won’t leave streaks on your canvas.

🎨 Happy painting, and don’t forget to tag us in your experiments using #yourartstore — we’d love to see what you’re working on.