Top 7 Best Craft Paint for Artists Use In 2023

Are you looking for the best craft paint? If you are passionate about painting, craft paint is a must-have. However, before choosing craft paint, you need to consider factors such as color, format, coverage, consistency, and painting style.

Using craft paints offers several perks. First, the toxicity level of these paints is relatively low since most of them are water-based. Another benefit of craft paints is that they dry quickly. Therefore, you can finish painting your portraits and ship them immediately. You can also paint new layers on your painting even after it has dried. Finally, craft paints don’t crack easily, meaning they can serve you for a long time.

To help you get the best acrylic paint that can serve your needs, we analyzed the features of seven paints. We also sampled through some customer feedback to help you know other people’s experiences after using this paint.

Our Favorite Best Craft Paint

Best Craft Paint Comparison Table

Best Craft PaintSpecs
Aen Art Acrylic PaintItem weight: 0.72 ounces
Item dimensions: 9.06 x 6.3 x 4.72 inches
Finish type: Matte
Size: pack of 24
FolkArt Home Décor Chalk Finish Paint SetProduct dimensions: 8.75 x 6.38 x 4.75 inches
Item weight: 1.2 pounds
Finish type: Matte
Size: pack of 9
Apple Barrel Acrylic Craft Paint SetItem weight: 5.5 pounds
Item dimension: 8.6 x 6.7 x 7 inches
Finish type: Matte
Size: Pack of 8
DIY Shop Chalkboard Paint by American CraftsItem weight: 1.39 pounds
Item dimension: 2.8 x 4.75 x 2.7 inches
Size: pack of 1
Item form: Solid
Metallic Acrylic Paint Set 18 ColorsItem weight: 2.99 pounds
Item dimensions: 8.5 x 4.41 x 4.33 inches
Size: 18 pack
Item volume: 2 Fluid ounces
Caliart acrylic Paint set, 24 Classic ColorsItem weight: 4.6 pounds
Product dimension: 3.8 x 1.3x 1.3 inches
Size: 24 pack
Finish type: Matte
Decoart DCA-01-3-crafter’s Acrylic PaintWeight: 3.04 ounces
Item dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x 4 inches
Item volume: 2 fluid ounces
Item form: Solid

7 Best Craft Paint: Our Top Picks

1. Aen Art Acrylic Paint

Whether you are a beginner or seasoned artist, this acrylic painting set will arouse your painting urge as soon as you unbox it. Using this paint is quite easy and enjoyable since you can spread it easily. Additionally, this paint dries quickly, and it can stay for long.

This kit includes 24 colors and three acrylic paint brushes. These colors have a combination of both bold and bright colors.  Each of these colors will improve your creativity and imagination. Also, the creamy consistency and strong pigment content provide excellent coverage for big areas and subtle details.

One thing worth noting about this paint is that you can use it on various surfaces, including clay, stone, plaster, ceramic, Styrofoam, and wood. You can also use it for canvas painting, scrapbooking, and decorations.

Features

Easy to use– This paint is easy to spread. Therefore, both seasoned and amateur painters can use it.

Easy to clean– You can easily clean this paint with soap and water. Therefore, even if you make a mess, you can easily correct it.

High quality– Paintings made from this paint are high quality, and they can stay for a long time in their original form.

Easy to mix– You can easily dilute this paint using water since it is water-based. Additionally, you can mix two or more different colors to get a unique color.

Specs

Item weight: 0.72 ounces

Item dimensions: 9.06 x 6.3 x 4.72 inches

Finish type: Matte

size: pack of 24

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • spreads easily
  • It dries quickly
  • It doesn’t soak through

Cons

  • Their painting brush is quite short

2. FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Finish Paint Set

The FolkArt Home Décor Chalk Finish Paint Set gives your home decor and furniture a worn appearance. You can brush with any nine colors in this collection for better coverage, simple layering, and distressing. These ideas are ideal for a rustic home décor design concept. 

You can paint on various surfaces with this paint, including metal, glass, wood, canvas, and terra cotta. FolkArt Home Décor paint dries into an ultra-matte finish with a smooth, uniform application. If you apply a coat of this long-lasting chalk paint, you can transform your home office or farmhouse decor.

Features

Easy to clean– Cleaning this paint is quite easy. You only need water, soap and a piece of cloth.

Stylish– With this paint, you can give your furniture a more weathered and rustic look. You can use any nine colors or combine any two to get a unique shade.

Creative– Paint on metal, terra cotta, wood, terra cotta, ceramics, cloth, paper, glass, and canvas, with this neutral-toned collection.  Any home design project will benefit from these paints’ rich, highly saturated color and beauty.

Inspirational- These paints have bold and bright colors which motivate you to paint. Additionally, your imagination will improve, and you can take your art to the next level.

Specs

Product dimensions: 8.75 x 6.38 x 4.75 inches

Item weight: 1.2 pounds

Finish type: Matte

Size: pack of 9

Pros

  • Easy to clean
  • You can use it on many surfaces
  • It produces quality paintings
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • You cannot use this set for a large project

3. Apple Barrel Acrylic Craft Paint Set

With the Apple Barrel 8 Color Acrylic Paint Set, you can add rich color to all of your craft projects. These paints are a popular option among crafters for large and small projects. Also, you can create fun and funky projects while painting with a splash of color, and it dries to a matte finish.

 Apple Barrel looks great on paper, terra coat, wood, Styrofoam, tin, mache, paper, and other surfaces. This painting is a good choice for all of your family’s crafting and creative requirements. However, one important thing that you need to note is that this paint is only suitable for indoor use. Additionally, this paint is safe for painters of all ages, from kids to teenagers and adults, since it is non-toxic.

Features

Easy to use– Using this paint is quite easy. You can spread it easily on various surfaces, making it a good set for seasoned and beginner artists.

Easy to clean– Cleaning this paint is quite easy. You will only need water, soap and a piece of cloth. Therefore, you can easily correct any mistakes you make while painting or if the outcome is not what you expected.

All-purpose– You can use this paint for many craft projects.

High-quality– This paint dries to a high-quality matte finish which can last for a long time.

Specs

Item weight: 5.5 pounds

Item dimension: 8.6 x 6.7 x 7 inches

Finish type: Matte

Size: Pack of 8

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Large bottles
  • Versatile
  • Good-quality paint

Cons

  • It dries too quickly

4. DIY Shop Chalkboard Paint by American Crafts

DIY Shop Chalkboard Paint by American Crafts allows you to transform any surface into a colorful chalkboard that’s ready for your creative touch. You can use it on paper, wood, Styrofoam, terra coat, and wood. Therefore, you can customize your children’s lunch bags with a message or make a one-of-a-kind placemat for special events or holidays.

Also, you may make fun and flawless decorations, cards, party goodies and cover your door or a wall with unique artwork. Since this paint is easy to clean, you can erase this art and paint a fresh one according to your mood or occasion.

Features

Easy to clean– This paint is easy to clean, making it friendly for young children. Therefore, even if they make a mess while painting, you can easily clean it with soap and water.

Write fun and changeable message- You can use this paint to write fun messages almost anywhere. If you want to change the message to suit a particular occasion, you can easily clean it and write a new message.

Paint on anything– You can paint on different surfaces with this paint. This can help you save money if you are working on a painting on different surfaces since you won’t have to buy different paints.

Improve the appeal of any space– You can use this paint to improve any space’s appearance, especially if it is dull or empty.

Specs

Item weight: 1.39 pounds

Item dimension: 2.8 x 4.75 x 2.7 inches

Size: pack of 1

Item form: Solid

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Good quality paintings
  • Good quantity
  • Quite affordable

Cons

  • Chalk makers do not come off easily

5. Metallic Acrylic Paint Set 18 Colors

Another selection for the best craft paint is Metallic Acrylic Paint Set 18 Colors. This paint is eco-friendly, meaning it does not affect the environment. It is also non-toxic, meaning a person of any age can use it. Therefore, if your kid is an artist, this is among the best craft paints you can buy for them.

When it comes to using this paint, you will enjoy it since it’s creamy and has a rich pigment which will make your paintings stand out. These highly pigmented colors are suitable for experienced painters, young aspiring artists, painting enthusiasts, and children to create real, consistent tones on painting art.

One thing worth noting about this craft paint is that it produces quality paintings. This set is made up of 18 brilliant and eye-catching paints. These colors are metallic, and they shine brightly, bringing your artwork to life. Therefore, consider buying this paint if you want to take your painting career to another level or want to create beautiful artwork.

Features

Nice color blending– You can easily blend, mix or layer this paint to create an endless variety of metallic colors for any creative project. Each painting in this set has a beautifully thick consistency excellent for art paintings, which will hold spatula or brush markings effectively and give your works a wonderful texture.

Multi-functional– If you have a craft project that involves painting on different surfaces, you can buy this set. It allows you to paint on wood, glass, ceramic, paper, glass, tin, and craft foam. Therefore, you can save money since you won’t need to buy different paints.

Easy to use-This acrylic paint set is packaged in flip-top squeeze bottles, making it simple to regulate the flow when painting. Additionally, you can easily spread it.

Easy to store– Storing this paint kit is quite easy because it comes in a robust, attractive flip-lid cardboard box.

Specs

Item weight: 2.99 pounds

Item dimensions: 8.5 x 4.41 x 4.33 inches

Size: 18 pack

Item volume: 2 Fluid ounces

Pros

  • Quality paint
  • Easy to use
  • Quite affordable
  • Multi-functional

Cons

  • You cannot use this paint for exterior application

6. Caliart acrylic Paint set, 24 Classic Colors

Artist Quality Acrylic Paint is a premium set of paints that are easy to apply. These paints dry quickly, and they can last as long as they can while maintaining the same quality.

One thing worth noting when it comes to this paint is that it is versatile since you can paint on different surfaces, including canvas and wood. Also, you can use it for decorations during special occasions or special events like Christmas and Halloween.

If you have kids interested in craft painting, this set is just perfect for you since it’s non-toxic. Also, you can easily clean up any mess they make using soap and water.

Features

Dries quickly- This paint is formulated using a quick-to-dry formula that allows you to immediately apply more coats or other aspects to your project.

High quality– This paint set has a rich pigmentation which makes your paintings stand out. It also has a creamy consistency which allows you to paint on large surfaces.

Easy to clean– You can easily clean this paint if you make a mess using clean water and soap.

Create custom shades– Blending these paints is quite easy. Therefore, you can create custom shades that will make you stand out.

Specs

Item weight: 4.6 pounds

Product dimension: 3.8 x 1.3x 1.3 inches

Size: 24 pack

Finish type: Matte

Pros

  • Versatile
  • Easy to use
  • Easy to clean
  • Non-toxic

Cons

  • The set does not come with brushes

7. Decoart DCA-01-3-crafter’s Acrylic Paint

If you want a low-cost crafter’s paint, then Decoart DCA-01-3-crafter’s Acrylic Paint is your best choice.  You can use this paint for simple base coats and crafts. It is designed to brush out evenly and gently, and you can use it in either one or two coats.

One advantage of buying this paint is that you can use it in various applications, including basic ceramics, stenciling, home decorations, and ornamental painting. Therefore, you don’t have to buy separate paints for these projects.

Diluting this paint is quite easy since you can use water. It is also non-toxic, meaning the paint is safe for kids.

Features

High-quality– This paint produces good quality work that lasts for as long as you want.

Affordable– The price for this paint is quite low, making it affordable to anyone. Therefore, consider buying this paint if you want to start a painting business and don’t have enough capital.

Easy to clean– Cleaning this paint is quite easy using clean water and soap.

Easy to use– using this paint is quite easy, even when a beginner.

Specs

Item dimensions: 1.25 x 1.25 x 4 inches

Item volume: 2 fluid ounces

weight: 3.04 ounces

Item form: Solid

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Easy to clean
  • Quite affordable
  • Good quality paintings

Cons

  • It’s a bit thin

Best Craft Paint Buying Guide

craft acrylic paint

Choosing acrylic paints is a personal experience dependent on the precise painting methods and art style that you enjoy. However, we’ll let you know what to look for acrylic paints.

Nevertheless, as you acquire experience and master your craft, you will encounter various styles and brands. Therefore, there are some crucial factors that you need to consider while purchasing acrylics. Examples include:

Viscosity

Viscosity refers to the consistency and thickness of your paints.  Acrylics with a thick, buttery consistency, equivalent to oil paints, help maintain brush strokes and color mixing and blending. On the other hand, fluid acrylics are thinner and more suited to intricate, watercolor, dry-brushing, and staining work.

 If you want anything in the middle, there are a variety of acrylic solvents that you may add to the paint to achieve the precise consistency you need.

Permanence

It refers to the ability of your paint pigment to endure progressive fading when you expose it to light.  Fugitive colors are paints that tend to fade over time. Most acrylic pigments have greater permanency ratings than watercolors or oils. Therefore, there are a few light-fastness parameters to consider when choosing paint.

Quality

Acrylic paints are divided into two categories: artistic and student quality. The artists’ quality is available in a wide range of colors and has a high concentration of finely powdered pigment, improving durability ratings. On the other hand, Students’ colors are less expensive due to low pigment levels and the possibility of fillers, which might reduce the color’s power.

The major difference between the two paints is that the artist’s colors are vibrant and consistent. If you are a beginner, it’s better to utilize the students’ quality since it’s quite affordable, but it is not suitable for professional use.

Drying Time

Most painters prefer acrylics since they dry fast. However, if the paint dries on your brush or palette before you’re through, it may be a problem. Plus, using paint that remains wet for extended periods makes it simple to create blending effects.

Luckily, if you want to lengthen your paint’s drying time, you have a few options. You can either use open acrylics or retarding medium, a relatively new type of paint that includes a retardant that can extend the drying time by several weeks.

How to Clean Craft Paint Brushes

Nothing is more frustrating than starting acrylic painting afresh, only discovering that your brushes are stiff with acrylic paint. Removing dry acrylic paint from your brush is quite a challenging task, even for the most skilled acrylic artists. 

However, we’ll show you how to clean acrylic paint off your brushes in the right manner. This way you will spend less time painting. Therefore, you can create more art in a short time. Besides, clean brushes enable you to enjoy painting.

Cleaning your painting brush is also a good maintenance practice. As a result, this brush will serve you for a long time without the need for a replacement.

When cleaning your brush, you need to use the right materials. Some people prefer using ordinary soap and water, but this is not advisable since they can destroy the quality of your brush and reduce its lifespan. Therefore, you need to get a brush cleaner that contains nourishing oils and a moisturizer to protect your brush.

The Step-by-step Brush Cleaning Process Includes:

  • Prepare your cleaning space
  • Use a paper towel to blot excess paint from your brush
  • Rinse your brush with tepid water to remove excess residue
  • Swirl your brush in soap gently to form lather
  • Rinse your brush with clean water
  • Reshape the tip of your brush and allow it to dry

How to Remove Craft Paint from Wood

Sometimes your kids may be playing with acrylic paint and spill it all over your furniture. Leaving this paint on your furniture makes your house unattractive, and you may want to remove it without causing damage to your wood.

There are many ways of removing acrylic paint from your wood using soap and water, vegetable oil, and rubbing alcohol. Nevertheless, you should remove the paint before it dries.

Step by Step Cleaning Using Soap and Water:

  • Mix your dish soap with water. Stir the mixture slowly and allow it to lather
  • Soak your cleaning cloth in the hot soapy water
  • Use the damp towel to wipe off the paint
  • Get more soapy water and wash the mess
  • Wipe away any remaining residue with a damp towel
  • Remove excess water from the surface using a dry towel

Frequently Asked Questions About Craft Paints

Is Craft Paint the Same as Acrylic Paint?

Most craft paints are acrylic. However, there is a slight difference. Acrylic paints have a higher pigmentation density, making the colors richer and more brilliant. Craft paint was easier to work with since it doesn’t leave streaks and is easy to clean.

What’s the Best Paint for Wood Crafts?

Acrylic paints are popular for various crafts, and they’re also one of the finest for wood projects. These water-based paints have a low odor and are easy to clean while still wet. 

Is Acrylic Paint Good for Crafts?

Acrylic paint is a necessary component of every artist’s toolkit, regardless of their specialization in painting.  Some acrylics work well on canvas, while others may also be used on wood, fabric, plastic, and glass.

Which Acrylic Paint Brand Is the Best?

The best brand for acrylic paints is Blick Studio Acrylic Paint. This brand deals with both students and artistic colors. They produce over 60 brilliant colors which are highly pigmented and have a thick buttery texture for easy spreading.

What Brand of Acrylic Paint Do Professionals Use?

The best acrylic paint for professional use is Crafts 4 All Acrylic Paint Set. This set includes vibrant colors, which help to bring out your artistic expertise. It is also safe for artists of any age since it is made using a non-toxic formula.

Conclusion

Art is a personal experience since every painter works with motivation deep within their heart, mind, and emotions. However, if you want to elevate your painting career, you need to use craft paints, precisely acrylic paints. These paints will inspire you more and ignite your creativity and innovation.

Choosing paints for your project can be a daunting task. If you go through the guide carefully, we believe that you will be able to make an informed decision by the end of it. However, if you still find it difficult to choose a suitable paint for your project, consider any of the two best selections below.

Decoart DCA-01-3-crafter’s Acrylic Paint is one of our top selections when it comes to craft paints. This paint is easy to use, and you can easily clean it up in case you make a mess. This paint is also quite affordable, making it the best selection if you have a tight budget.

Another top selection in our list is Metallic Acrylic Paint Set 18 Colors. This paint is versatile since you can paint on different surfaces. Therefore, if your project involves painting on other surfaces, you don’t need to buy different paints for each. Storing these paints is also quite easy, enabling you to organize your working space.

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