Acrylic Painting Essentials: Paints, Brushes, and Surfaces You’ll Love

Acrylic painting is one of the most versatile and rewarding art forms, blending the vibrancy of oil paints with the quick-drying convenience of watercolours. Whether you’re a professional artist or simply rediscovering your creative side, having the right acrylic supplies can make all the difference.

At The Deckle Edge, we stock a wide range of acrylic paints, brushes, and mediums designed for every style and budget – from classroom-friendly kits to professional-grade sets that deliver exceptional pigment strength and durability.


Why Artists Love Acrylic Paints

Acrylics are known for their brilliant colour, fast drying time, and unmatched flexibility. They can be applied thickly for texture or thinned with water for delicate, translucent washes. Unlike oils, they don’t require solvents, making them safer and easier to clean up – just rinse your brushes with water and you’re good to go.

Modern acrylic paints also offer remarkable permanence. Once dry, they’re water-resistant and adhere beautifully to a wide variety of surfaces including canvas, paper, wood, and even fabric.

Explore our full range of acrylic paints here.


Schmincke PRIMAcryl: Professional Quality in Every Stroke

For artists who demand precision, depth, and long-lasting brilliance, Schmincke PRIMAcryl Professional Acrylics are an exceptional choice. Made in Germany, these paints are known for their pure pigments, creamy texture, and lightfastness.

  • Heavy Body Acrylics (237ml) – Perfect for impasto techniques and textured brushwork.
  • Fluid Acrylics (250ml) – Ideal for glazing, pouring, or fine detail work.
  • PRIMAcryl Sets – Curated colour collections for professionals looking for consistency and performance.

Each colour offers incredible opacity and consistency, ensuring smooth blending and stable drying. Whether you’re building layers on a large-scale canvas or creating mixed media pieces, PRIMAcryl’s versatility shines through.

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Golden Acrylics: The Choice for Artists Who Love Precision

Golden Acrylics are legendary for their pigment density and buttery texture. The Heavy Body line provides exceptional colour strength and a thick, responsive feel that holds every brushstroke, while the High Flow and Fluid sets are perfect for calligraphy, airbrushing, and smooth glazing.

What makes Golden unique is their commitment to colour science – each formulation is designed to behave predictably across applications. Artists can experiment with mixing mediums and still maintain professional results.


Mont Marte & Dala Acrylics: Affordable Creativity for Everyday Artists

For beginners, students, or crafters, Mont Marte and Dala acrylics offer excellent quality at accessible prices.

  • Mont Marte Acrylic Paint Sets come in beautifully arranged colour assortments – from vivid brights to soothing pastels. They’re perfect for classroom projects, DIY art, or weekend painting sessions.
  • Dala Acrylics (200ml) are proudly South African-made and deliver smooth coverage for everything from fine art to crafts. Available in dozens of colours, they dry to a vibrant, satin finish and are great for canvas, wood, and paper.

Both brands prove that you don’t need to spend a fortune to create stunning, expressive artwork.


Winsor & Newton Galeria: Reliable Quality for Everyday Studio Use

Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylics (500ml) strike the perfect balance between quality and value. These paints are ideal for artists who want consistent colour and smooth blending without the heavy price tag of professional lines.

Galeria paints dry to a beautiful satin finish, with good pigment strength and a smooth texture that’s easy to mix with mediums. They’re especially popular with art students and illustrators who work on both small-scale pieces and larger studio canvases.

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Acrylic Brushes: The Unsung Heroes of Your Studio

The right brush can completely transform your acrylic painting experience. Acrylic brushes are designed to withstand the thicker texture and quick-drying nature of acrylic paint.

  • Synthetic brushes are best for acrylics – durable, easy to clean, and resistant to damage from fast-drying paint.
  • Flat brushes are perfect for bold strokes and smooth blending.
  • Round brushes offer precision for details, outlines, and fine lines.
  • Filbert brushes create soft, rounded edges ideal for portraits and organic shapes.

At The Deckle Edge, our acrylic brushes collection includes everything from beginner sets to premium artist tools, ensuring you always find the right fit for your technique and budget.


Acrylic Mediums: The Secret to Endless Effects

Acrylic mediums are the secret to unlocking acrylics’ full potential. They change texture, gloss, and transparency – letting you customise every layer of your painting.

Some essentials from our Acrylic Mediums Collection:

  • Gloss and Matte Mediums – Adjust sheen and transparency without altering colour.
  • Pouring Mediums – Achieve that fluid, marbled look perfect for abstract work.
  • Texture Gels – Add body, texture, or grit for three-dimensional effects.
  • Retarders – Extend drying time to allow more blending and manipulation.

Experimenting with mediums is an excellent way to expand your creative vocabulary. They also increase paint longevity and flexibility, making your artwork more durable over time.


Choosing the Right Surface for Acrylics

Acrylics adhere well to almost any surface – as long as it’s clean and slightly absorbent. Some popular options include:

  • Canvas – The most traditional choice for acrylic painting.
  • Acrylic paper pads – Portable and convenient for sketching or experimenting.
  • Wood panels – Ideal for mixed media, collage, or textured pieces.
  • Fabric or textiles – Perfect for custom clothing, tote bags, or decor.

Preparing your surface properly with gesso will help the paint grip better and last longer.


Tips for Maintaining Your Acrylic Supplies

Keeping your materials in good shape will help them perform better and last longer:

  • Clean brushes immediately after use with mild soap and warm water.
  • Store paints with caps tightly closed to prevent drying.
  • Keep mediums and gels away from direct sunlight.
  • Use airtight palettes or wet palettes to extend working time.

Acrylics may be forgiving, but treating your tools well ensures every session starts with a clean, smooth experience.


Ready to Start Painting?

Acrylic painting offers limitless possibilities – from bold impasto to delicate glazes, from textured abstracts to hyper-realistic portraits. With the right materials, you can explore every style confidently.

Visit The Deckle Edge online or in-store to discover acrylic paints, brushes, and accessories that suit your creative vision. Whether you’re stocking up for your next masterpiece or picking up your first set, we’re here to help you find the perfect fit.

For expert advice or product questions, contact us here.

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