The choice of paints is a decision for visual artists or creative crafters that influences workflow. But walking into an art supply store or looking at online catalogues can be overwhelming with so many paint grades. If you choose paints of low quality, you will end up with colour mixes that are dull. This article will provide you with five tips for selecting professional artist paints that will elevate your artwork.
1. Student-Grade vs. Artist-Grade Paints
When selecting your painting supplies, know the difference between student-grade paints and professional artist-grade paints. Student-grade paints have less pigment and use cheap synthetic fillers and matting agents to keep manufacturing costs down. Paints For Art supplies you with the highest quality artist-grade paints, made with pure concentrated pigments in quality binders.
Paint grade differences compared:
- Artist Grade (Professional): Highest concentration of pure pigments, no cheap fillers, strong mixing power, long-lasting light resistance
- Student Grade (Academic): Less pigment, more fillers, weak mixing strength, but very cheap
- Craft Grade (Decorative): Good for simple craft projects, thin, fluid textures, limited long-term durability
2. Clean Mixing with Single Pigment Colours
Look at the labels on tubes of professional artists’ paints to see if the colours are made of a single pure pigment or a mixture of several pigments. Single-pigment paints consist of one pure mineral or synthetic pigment, such as Pure Cadmium Red or Ultramarine Blue. This means you will get bright, clean secondary and tertiary colours without muddy tones on your palette by mixing single-pigment paints.
Why single-pigment paints matter:
- Vibrant Colour Blends: Creates bright, clean colour mixes and delicate glazes without unexpected dulling
- Predictable Behaviour: Mixes consistently with whites, darks, or complementary tones every time you paint
- Clear Label Information: Displays official international colour index codes, like PB29 for ultramarine blue, for clear quality
3. Checking ASTM Lightfastness Ratings for Artwork Longevity
If you intend to sell your artwork, exhibit paintings in public, or produce meaningful family gifts, it’s prudent to learn the lightfastness rating of your paints. Lightfastness is a measure of how well a pigment resists fading, shifting, or darkening over time when exposed to light. ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) lightfastness ratings are listed on every tube label of professional artists’ paints.
Understanding the ASTM rating scale:
- ASTM I (Excellent): Pigments show zero colour fading or shifting for over 100 years under standard gallery lighting
- ASTM II (Very Good): Pigments maintain colour quality for 50 to 100 years with minimal environmental shifting
- ASTM III (Fair/Fugitive): Pigments fade quickly when exposed to light; avoid using these for professional commission work
4. Selecting the Right Paint Viscosity for Your Style
The choice of paint texture should reflect your individual painting style, brush habits and working methods. Heavy-body acrylics and oils are thick and buttery, holding dramatic brushmarks and palette knife impasto work effortlessly. Soft-body and fluid paints flow off the brushes with ease, making them ideal for detailed line work, flat washes and delicate glazing techniques.
5. Using Compatible Mediums, Gels, and Protective Varnishes
Mediums allow you to prolong dry times, alter gloss or matte finishes, increase transparency or create thick 3D textures. Use mediums and varnishes that are made for the type of paint you are using, like acrylic mediums for acrylic paints. Remember, the final protective varnish you apply will seal your finished painting against dust, UV rays and small surface scratches.
Elevate Your Artwork with Quality Paints
Buying professional artist-grade paints is one of the best investments you can make for your creative work. Knowing pigment purity, checking ASTM lightfastness ratings, and selecting suitable paint textures and compatible mediums are all important for bright colours. Furthermore, good materials respond to your brush strokes, making the whole experience of painting much more enjoyable.
