Which Acrylic Set Is Right for You?
| Product | Body | Colors | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Color Heavy-Body Tubes Best Starter | Heavy | 12 × 20 ml | Canvas, wood, crafts | $29.99 |
| 18-Color Heavy-Body Tubes | Heavy | 18 × 20 ml | Wider palette, advanced | $45.99 |
| 24-Color Markers 0.7 mm | Pen-tip | 24 fine tip | Glass, rocks, plastic | $32.99 |
| 5-Pc Acrylic Brush Set | Nylon | 5 brushes | Wash, flat, round | $35.99 |
Core Acrylic Paint Sets
Two formats, two jobs. Heavy-body tubes for impasto and canvas; fine-tip markers for hard surfaces where brushes can't go.
12-Color Heavy-Body Acrylic Tubes
High-pigment heavy-body acrylic in twelve essential mixing colors. Holds palette-knife marks, dries to a durable matte-satin film. Works on canvas, wood, paper, rock, and craft surfaces.
24-Color Acrylic Paint Markers, 0.7 mm Fine Tip
Twenty-four waterproof acrylic markers — including two metallic colors — with extra-fine 0.7 mm tips. Quick-drying on rock, glass, wood, plastic, and fabric. Where a brush can't reach.
Build Your Kit — Paint, Brushes, and Markers
Four products that cover the full acrylic workflow: a 12-color starter for canvas, an 18-color upgrade for a wider palette, a matched 5-piece brush set, and 24-color fine-tip markers for hard surfaces.
12-Color Heavy-Body Tubes
Twelve essential mixing colors, 20 ml each. Holds palette-knife marks for impasto on canvas, wood, and paper.
18-Color Heavy-Body Tubes
Six extra mixing colors over the 12-pack. The complete canvas studio palette — no gaps when working from photo references.
5-Pc Acrylic Brush Set
Wide flat, two flats, two rounds. Long wooden handles, snap-back nylon bristles built for heavy-body acrylic.
24-Color Markers, 0.7 mm Fine Tip
Where a brush can't reach: glass, ceramic, plastic, painted rocks. Quick-dry, waterproof — includes two metallic colors.
Pair Your Acrylics with the Right Surface — 2026 Lineup
Heavy-body acrylic looks different on canvas, mixed-media paper, and 100% cotton. Three surfaces matched to the formats above.
Mixed-Media & Canvas Paper
Textured pulp built to take heavy acrylic without buckling. Pair with the 12- or 18-color tube sets.
Shop Paper →
Brushes & Drawing Tools
Nylon brush sets matched to acrylic and oil. Long handles, snap-back bristles, four shapes.
Shop Brushes →
Oil Paints Collection
Slow-dry, buttery oils for canvas and board. The 5-pc nylon brush set works for both acrylic and oil.
Shop Oil →Complete Acrylic Range — Specs, Coverage & Best Use
| Product | Format | Volume | Surfaces | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-Color Heavy-Body Tubes Starter | Heavy Body Tube | 12 × 20 ml | Canvas, wood, paper, rock | $29.99 | First canvas studio |
| 18-Color Heavy-Body Tubes Wider Palette | Heavy Body Tube | 18 × 20 ml | Canvas, wood, paper, rock | $45.99 | Advanced mixing, portraiture |
| 24-Color Markers 0.7 mm | Fine-Tip Marker | 24 markers | Glass, plastic, rock, fabric | $32.99 | Detail, lettering, DIY |
| 5-Pc Acrylic Brush Set | Brush Set | 5 brushes | Wash, flat, round | $35.99 | Pair with any tube set |
Why Artists Choose Paul Rubens Acrylics
In short: Paul Rubens loads ASTM I–II lightfast pigments into hand-filled acrylic tubes. The acrylic polymer binder cures to a flexible matte-satin film. Three formats match three workflows — heavy-body for impasto and palette-knife work, pourable 60 ml for fluid pours and glazing, fine-tip markers for opaque detail on glass and rocks.
- —Cheap acrylic dries chalky and fades within months on a sunlit wall
- —Soft body bottles can't hold palette-knife marks for impasto
- —Brushes won't reach into curved rock or glass surfaces — needs a marker
- —Student-grade tubes have low pigment load — three coats to cover white canvas
- —Artist-grade single tubes can run $12–$18 each
- +Paul Rubens acrylic uses ASTM I–II lightfast pigment — gallery colorfastness for 75+ years indoor display
- +The heavy-body tube holds palette-knife marks at 0.4 mm wet film for impasto and glazing
- +Three matched formats — tubes, pourable bottles, markers — cover canvas, fluid pours, and hard surfaces
- +The acrylic polymer binder loads pigment to high opacity — one or two coats cover white canvas cleanly
- +The 12-tube starter set costs $29.99 — under $3 per professional-grade tube
Lab Test — Coverage, Dry Time & Lightfastness
Tested on white primed canvas at 22 °C / 50% RH. One coat at 0.4 mm wet film thickness. Lightfastness rated against the ASTM D-4303 reference for each pigment.
| Format | Coverage (1 coat) | Touch-Dry | Recoat | Lightfastness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heavy-Body Tubes (12/18) | Opaque on white | 20–30 min | 1–2 hr | ASTM I–II |
| Markers 0.7 mm | Opaque, line-precise | 5–10 min | 15–30 min | ASTM II |
Test conditions: white-primed cotton canvas, 22 °C / 50% RH, single coat at 0.4 mm wet film. Lightfastness measured against ASTM D-4303 reference panels.
How These Perform in Studio Testing
Two studio test notes on coverage, lightfastness, and the marker line, written by our own team while testing the line.
“The 12-color heavy body holds palette-knife marks like a much pricier brand. One coat covered cleanly on white canvas — no chalky dry-down.”
“The 0.7 mm markers are sharper than the brand I used before. Detail on painted rocks looks ink-clean, and they dry waterproof by the time I move to the next.”
How to Choose the Right Acrylics
Five quick decisions that get you to the right format the first time — body, surface, drying speed, brushes, and budget.
1. Heavy Body vs Pourable — Which Body Do I Need?
Heavy body holds knife and brush marks for impasto and texture — the 12- and 18-color tube sets are heavy body. Thin them with an acrylic pouring medium when you need a self-levelling consistency for pours, dirty pours, and bloom effects.
2. Which Surfaces Take Acrylic Best?
Cotton or linen canvas, gessoed wood panel, and mixed-media paper are all acrylic-ready. Rock, ceramic, and fabric work best with the fine-tip markers. Glass and plastic — use the 24-color markers for adhesion and waterproof finish.
3. How Fast Should Acrylic Dry?
Heavy-body tubes are touch-dry in 20–30 min and recoat-ready in 1–2 hr. Markers dry in under 10 min — the faster of the two formats and ideal for layered detail. Slower or longer working times need a retarder medium, not a different paint.
4. Which Brushes Work With Acrylic?
Synthetic nylon — never natural sable. Acrylic dries fast and damages soft natural hair. The 5-piece nylon set covers the four shapes you'll use — wide flat for backgrounds, two flats for blocking, two rounds for detail. Long handles for easel work.
5. Budget Guide — How Much Should I Spend?
Under $40 starter: the 12-color heavy-body set ($29.99) is the right call — twelve mixing colors covers 90% of subjects. Adding brushes? The 5-pc nylon set ($35.99) brings a complete canvas studio under $82. Add the markers ($32.99) when you start working on hard surfaces.
Three Questions Beginners Always Ask
Direct answers to the three queries that drive most of the acrylic search traffic — surface choice, format choice against oils, and how to seal finished work.
Best Acrylic Paint for Beginners on Canvas
Beginners on stretched cotton canvas want one thing: high pigment load with enough binder to stay flexible. Heavy-body tubes win. The Paul Rubens 12-color heavy-body set covers white canvas in one or two coats, holds brush marks for texture, and dries to a matte-satin finish that takes a varnish cleanly. Avoid student-grade soft-body — it loads less pigment per gram of binder, which is why it dries chalky and looks dull on a sunlit wall.
Read more: Acrylic Painting for Beginners — Complete Setup Guide · Best Acrylic Paint Set for Beginners
Acrylic vs Oil Paint — Which Should You Start With?
Acrylic dries in 20–30 minutes; oil takes 24 hours to days. For beginners, that single difference is the answer — fast feedback loops accelerate learning. Acrylic mixes water-clean, layers cleanly with the same brush, and forgives mistakes by overpainting in an hour. Oils give longer wet-blending windows and richer surface depth, but require solvents, mediums, and patience for layering. Start acrylic; move to oil when you want slow blends, glazing, and fat-over-lean discipline. Both share the same pigments — only the binder differs.
Read more: Oil Painting for Beginners · Gouache vs Acrylic Comparison · Shop Oil Paints
How to Seal Acrylic Paint on Rocks & Glass
Painted rocks displayed outdoors need two coats of clear matte or satin spray sealer applied 24 hours after the acrylic dries fully. Hold the can 25–30 cm from the surface, mist in light passes, let each coat cure 30 minutes. For glass and ceramic painted with the 24-color markers, bake at 150 °C / 300 °F for 30 minutes after a 24-hour cure to lock the pigment into the glaze — that step makes the surface dishwasher-safe. Markers themselves are self-sealing and waterproof once dry; the bake step is for permanence and food-safe contact.
Read more: How to Thin Acrylic Paint Correctly · Acrylic Paint Color Guide
Acrylic Paints — Frequently Asked Questions
Are Paul Rubens acrylics artist-grade or student-grade?
Professional grade — high pigment load and ASTM I–II lightfastness on every color. Heavy body holds palette-knife strokes the same way as much pricier artist tubes.
Are the markers permanent on glass and ceramics?
Once dry, the 24-color markers are waterproof and resist normal handling. For dishwasher-safe ceramics, bake at 150 °C / 300 °F for 30 minutes after a 24-hour cure.
Do acrylics need a sealer or varnish?
Optional but recommended for canvas you plan to display long-term — it evens the sheen and adds UV protection. Rocks, fabric, and craft surfaces benefit from a clear matte spray. Markers are self-sealing.
How do I clean nylon brushes after acrylic?
Rinse in warm water immediately while paint is still wet. For dried paint, soak in a 50/50 mix of warm water and isopropyl alcohol for 10 minutes. Reshape with your fingers and dry flat — never tip-up in a jar.
Are these acrylics non-toxic and AP-certified?
Yes — formulated to ASTM D-4236 with no harmful labelling required. Safe for adult studio use and supervised classroom work. Wash hands after use as with any pigmented art material.
Where do orders ship from?
From our US fulfillment center. Most US orders arrive in 2–5 business days. Orders over $49 ship free. International rates calculated at checkout.
What's your return policy?
30-day returns on unopened sets. If a tube or bottle leaks in transit, email paulrubensshop@gmail.com with a photo and we'll replace it.
Pick your first acrylic set today.
Hand-filled tubes, ASTM I–II pigments, and two matched formats — canvas tubes and fine-tip markers. Free US shipping over $49.
US Fulfillment · 30-day returns · Email support · paulrubensshop@gmail.com
More from Paul Rubens
Artist Brushes & Drawing Tools →
Squirrel-synthetic watercolor sets, nylon acrylic brushes, and water-soluble pencils.
Watercolor & Mixed-Media Paper →
Cotton hot-press, mixed-media pads, and travel journals — sized to take heavy acrylic too.
Chinese Painting & Gouache →
Traditional GUCAI gouache, rice paper, and Chinese-painting brush sets.
