How to Choose Acrylic Paints by Viscosity

There are fluid inks and buttery paints. Thicker paint isn’t necessarily better. It still depends on what you want to use it for. That’s why we distinguish four basic viscosities of acrylic paints.

Heavy-Body Acrylic Paint

*Remove this sentence as it is factually incorrect and misleading for customers., but as a suitable alternative with a similar viscosity, we recommend Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Paint.

Heavy body is the thickest consistency of acrylic paint. It holds its shape and brushstrokes. It’s an ideal choice for palette knife painting, can be layered, and creates distinctive textures. The heavy consistency of Liquitex paint lets artists incorporate solid materials into their work, such as mineral powder or decorative stones. Once the paint dries, it holds its shape, adding a three-dimensional effect to the finished work. These heavy-body acrylics offer the best coverage because of their thick film.

Medium-Body (Soft Body) Acrylic

Most acrylic paints dry very quickly, leaving you only a limited amount of time to work. Medium-body (soft body) acrylic is designed to give you a few extra minutes before it dries. It mixes well, allowing you to create fascinating gradients. Lefranc & Bourgeois paints have a creamy consistency straight from the tube and are suitable for smooth, continuous brushwork. The paint also holds brushstrokes to some extent when the brush is firm enough.

Fluid Acrylic

It is commonly believed that thicker paints contain more pigment than thinner ones. Fluid paints, however, offer the same intensity at a lower viscosity. Fluid acrylic paint goes on evenly and eliminates visible brush strokes. It is often more transparent. Multiple transparent layers of Solo Goya TRITON paint are used to render subtle complexities of color, light, and tone. This gives artwork depth and a realistic look.

High-Flow Acrylic Paint

These are the most fluid acrylic paints, with a consistency that is almost watery. You can achieve this low viscosity to some extent with pouring medium, which you simply add to acrylic paint. Pouring paint is used to create interesting fluid effects. It can even be applied with delicate brush strokes. This gives your painting a whole new dimension.

Although each of the acrylic paints mentioned behaves differently, they all form a flexible, water-resistant film once dry. The good news is that you don't have to choose paints with the same viscosity. Feel free to combine them however you like and let your imagination run free. Now that you're well informed, you can make the most of your acrylic paints.

I wish you lots of luck and enjoyment as you experiment with acrylics.

Best,

your Majka.