Student grade Paints that I can recommend are Talens Amsterdam and Daler Rowney System 3, if it has to be student grade. System 3 is a bit more expensive than Amsterdam, but it has I guess much pigment in it, as it costs and is a bit thicker. I haven't tried Winsor & Newton Galleria and Jacksons Studio yet, but I've only read good things about them. Lukas Studio is OK, but depending on the colour it can be very shiny or just a little, which is impractical. I particularly disadvise Schmincke College, which is what I started with. I thought from the description and price that these were Student grade paints like the others, but I didn't like them and then bought others that I didn't like either, but they were much more intense and had better coverage. Akademie is no better with it and I thought they were between Student and Artist grade at first, because they were described as fine artist colours by the manufacturer, but they are only as good as the other Student grade colours, only more expensive. Funnily enough, Schmincke didn't mess it up with the oil and watercolour paints, with the division into hobby student and artist. The descriptions still don't quite fit, but the price/quality ratio is much better.
Thank you, I've only bought Liquitex in tubes and the Golden Fluids and heavy body in tubes, but I was thinking of trying Amsterdam Standard or Blick Studio tube acrylics to save money. You've convinced me to just stay with Liquitex and Golden.
Thanks for your comment Larry, Liquitex (heavy body) and Golden are far more enjoyable than Blick and Amsterdam. If you purchase paint consistently, I also suggest giving Nova a try. Their website looks like it was designed in the 90s 😄 , but their paint is amazing and less costly.
For me, it depends on the type of paint, with acrylic paint I prefer artist acrylic paints, after which I did not get along with the hobby and student quality paints, that I bought as a teenager. But that was not due to a lack of intensity or coverage, but because after drying they got a bad-looking surface for me. Some were matte with minimal shine and others way too shiny and both look oddly plastic. Unfortunately, the tubes usually do not show whether they are matt or glossy. I also didn't get some colours because they were sold out, and I bought them from other brands. It's difficult when painting when the colours shine differently, and I only bought a matt medium because the other one was sold out. Stupid way, i didn't know how some colours dry like that without adding anything to see how much I have to add to get the gloss level I like. It never occurred to me to make a colour card. I then complained about the colours and bought something expensive afterwards to see if I could get along better with them. The artist acrylic paint has a much nicer finish to me, similar to oil paint. I bought a set of Golden acrylic paints to try out at Jacksons on Black Friday, 6 colours in 60ml the price per 100ml was better than the 22ml sets. I can't usually afford these, but the set was half the price. That's why I buy cheaper artist grade paints that are maybe not quite as good but a lot better than student grade. I use Amsterdam Expert, Lukas Cryl, some old Winsor and Newton Finity from eBay and Vallejo Artist.
You are quite correct about inferior quantity and quality of pigment, but the binder can also be very low quality too in many student ranges, with subsequent work lifting previous paint even when it is dry; a nightmare when it happens. Student ranges often have less than a necessary standard of performance in all areas. Avoid 'two-dollar shop' paint at all costs. Watch out for cheap gesso and primers too - a sound base for your work is absolutely essential. Painting, though trying and taxing at many times as you progress, is such a joy when you get it right - don't bet against a good result by using rubbish paint. Permanence is another big issue with student paint - the colour and life you thought you had achieved is suddenly dull and dead when you look at the work again in as little as six months.
My strategy is to always buy the best. It just isn't worth the disappointment for an adult to use student grade. And as to wall paint, buy the best. One coat may cover, but two coats make it look rich and deep. Cheap wall paint, especially in the reds, will take numerous coats to look good. A house painter I know once told me that if I want to paint a custom mixed red shade (to paint for example a front door), to first apply a coat or two of an off-the-shelf pre-mixed red, then apply the next coat(s) with the custom mixed red shade. Attaining the coverage, richness, and depth of color you want is much easier this way. On another topic, I would like to know your opinion on the gloss/satin/matte varnish debate. Good video. Thanks!
All I can say is …. WOW 🤩 your detail and tips are extremely helpful. I have bought my 50c apple barrel paint since I started three plus years ago. Thank you so much for recommending SOHO!!!! I am surely going to try them out 🥳
Really ?? Even if you're right about the pigments concertration/mix between the two grades, I stopped at 6:20 : pretending the artist grade has more coverage while applying at least a twice thicker coat is anything but an honest and impartial comparison.
I suggest familiarizing yourself with paint viscosities. Each paint type has a different viscosity, and in the example of Raw Sienna, I used Liquitex Basics (student grade) a medium viscosity paint, vs Liquitex Heavy Body (artist grade) a high viscosity paint. High viscosity in acrylics typically comes from added gel medium, which is separate from binder and pigmentation. So yup, Heavy Body goes on canvas with much thicker texture (hence the name). Conspiracy uncovered! 😆
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Student grade Paints that I can recommend are Talens Amsterdam and Daler Rowney System 3,
if it has to be student grade.
System 3 is a bit more expensive than Amsterdam, but it has I guess much pigment in it, as it costs and is a bit thicker.
I haven't tried Winsor & Newton Galleria and Jacksons Studio yet, but I've only read good things about them.
Lukas Studio is OK, but depending on the colour it can be very shiny or just a little, which is impractical.
I particularly disadvise Schmincke College, which is what I started with.
I thought from the description and price that these were Student grade paints like the others, but I didn't like them and then bought others that I didn't like either,
but they were much more intense and had better coverage.
Akademie is no better with it and I thought they were between Student and Artist grade at first, because they were described as fine artist colours by the manufacturer,
but they are only as good as the other Student grade colours, only more expensive.
Funnily enough, Schmincke didn't mess it up with the oil and watercolour paints, with the division into hobby student and artist.
The descriptions still don't quite fit, but the price/quality ratio is much better.
Great explanation. Thanks for sharing.
Anastasia, another winner video. Thank you so very much.
This information is incredibly helpful, as I am just starting out, and WAS confused and overwhelmed about which paints to buy.
What a great explanation of acrylic paints. This was super helpful. Thank you SO much for making this video. Also, I LOVE your beautiful art!
Just started painting and my accountant brain really appreciates this video.
Haha, glad I could speak your numbers language. Have fun with your art creation!
Really appreciate your opinions, thank you
Thank you for watching!
The more videos of you I watch the happier I am that I found you! Thank you for being so giving, I subscribed to your channel.
Thank you for watching / enjoying!
Thank you, I've only bought Liquitex in tubes and the Golden Fluids and heavy body in tubes, but I was thinking of trying Amsterdam Standard or Blick Studio tube acrylics to save money. You've convinced me to just stay with Liquitex and Golden.
Thanks for your comment Larry, Liquitex (heavy body) and Golden are far more enjoyable than Blick and Amsterdam. If you purchase paint consistently, I also suggest giving Nova a try. Their website looks like it was designed in the 90s 😄 , but their paint is amazing and less costly.
I WANT TO LEARN ABOUT LAYERING LIKE THAT😃
For me, it depends on the type of paint, with acrylic paint I prefer artist acrylic paints,
after which I did not get along with the hobby and student quality paints, that I bought as a teenager.
But that was not due to a lack of intensity or coverage, but because after drying they got a bad-looking surface for me.
Some were matte with minimal shine and others way too shiny and both look oddly plastic.
Unfortunately, the tubes usually do not show whether they are matt or glossy.
I also didn't get some colours because they were sold out, and I bought them from other brands.
It's difficult when painting when the colours shine differently, and I only bought a matt medium because the other one was sold out.
Stupid way, i didn't know how some colours dry like that without adding anything to see how much I have to add to get the gloss level I like.
It never occurred to me to make a colour card. I then complained about the colours and bought something expensive afterwards to see if I could get along better with them.
The artist acrylic paint has a much nicer finish to me, similar to oil paint.
I bought a set of Golden acrylic paints to try out at Jacksons on Black Friday, 6 colours in 60ml the price per 100ml was better than the 22ml sets.
I can't usually afford these, but the set was half the price.
That's why I buy cheaper artist grade paints that are maybe not quite as good but a lot better than student grade.
I use Amsterdam Expert, Lukas Cryl, some old Winsor and Newton Finity from eBay and Vallejo Artist.
You are quite correct about inferior quantity and quality of pigment, but the binder can also be very low quality too in many student ranges, with subsequent work lifting previous paint even when it is dry; a nightmare when it happens. Student ranges often have less than a necessary standard of performance in all areas. Avoid 'two-dollar shop' paint at all costs. Watch out for cheap gesso and primers too - a sound base for your work is absolutely essential.
Painting, though trying and taxing at many times as you progress, is such a joy when you get it right - don't bet against a good result by using rubbish paint.
Permanence is another big issue with student paint - the colour and life you thought you had achieved is suddenly dull and dead when you look at the work again in as little as six months.
My strategy is to always buy the best. It just isn't worth the disappointment for an adult to use student grade.
And as to wall paint, buy the best. One coat may cover, but two coats make it look rich and deep. Cheap wall paint, especially in the reds, will take numerous coats to look good.
A house painter I know once told me that if I want to paint a custom mixed red shade (to paint for example a front door), to first apply a coat or two of an off-the-shelf pre-mixed red, then apply the next coat(s) with the custom mixed red shade. Attaining the coverage, richness, and depth of color you want is much easier this way.
On another topic, I would like to know your opinion on the gloss/satin/matte varnish debate.
Good video. Thanks!
Agreed! And reds come out so much more vivid in high quality paint.
All I can say is …. WOW 🤩 your detail and tips are extremely helpful. I have bought my 50c apple barrel paint since I started three plus years ago. Thank you so much for recommending SOHO!!!! I am surely going to try them out 🥳
Thanks for your comment! Good luck with the painting creation!
Really ?? Even if you're right about the pigments concertration/mix between the two grades, I stopped at 6:20 : pretending the artist grade has more coverage while applying at least a twice thicker coat is anything but an honest and impartial comparison.
I suggest familiarizing yourself with paint viscosities. Each paint type has a different viscosity, and in the example of Raw Sienna, I used Liquitex Basics (student grade) a medium viscosity paint, vs Liquitex Heavy Body (artist grade) a high viscosity paint. High viscosity in acrylics typically comes from added gel medium, which is separate from binder and pigmentation. So yup, Heavy Body goes on canvas with much thicker texture (hence the name). Conspiracy uncovered! 😆