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Though paint is often regarded as a single artistic medium, there are many different types of paint out there, each with unique properties. Each is made with a different type of binder (the substance that holds the pigment together) and used with a different type of solvent (the substance used to thin out the paint, making it easier to work with and blend). If you're a novice or hobby painter, you may not know what type is best for you. Here are the properties of the five most common types of paint.



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    Consider beginning with watercolor. This is fairly inexpensive and is easily available at most craft stores. Its binder is called gum Arabic, and as you probably know, its solvent is water (another reason why it's the most inexpensive of the paints). Watercolors are available in two forms: liquid (which comes in tubes) and cake (which comes as a tray of solid blocks of color - this is the kind you probably played with in elementary school). Experiment with both types and see which is most comfortable. Some people prefer liquid watercolors because they're easier to blend, while others prefer cake watercolors because they're cleaner and easier to keep track of. Whichever kind you choose, know that watercolor is usually very pale and can be difficult to darken.
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    If you like watercolors but want to make darker/brighter paintings, consider gouache. It works exactly like watercolor - bound by gum Arabic and thinned with water - but the pigment particles are much larger and an opaque white base is present, making gouache heavier and... well, opaque. It isn't available in cake form, though, and it tends to be much more expensive than watercolor. It's also a bit more obscure than watercolor, so some stores may not have it.
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    Another bright, opaque option is acrylic. As the name suggests, its binder is acrylic polymer. While you can dilute it with water, if you do so it becomes water-resistant when it dries, so it can't be pushed around and manipulated like watercolor and gouache can. You can instead dilute it with special gloss, satin, or matte medium (available at craft stores), which allows more freedom of manipulation.
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    Egg-tempera, or just tempera, is another option. Bound by egg yolks, glue, or a similar glutinous substance, tempera paint is also diluted with water, but be warned: it dries very quickly, and like acrylic, becomes water-resistant when dry. It is often applied in thin, transparent layers. (Synthetically-bound tempera paint is often used for children's finger paints, so you can try using those if you're on a budget.)
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    If money is no object, try oil paints. They're the most expensive type of paint, and the hardest to control - not to mention toxic, if you're not careful. They're bound by drying oil, and they can be thinned with a number of solvents - most notably, turpentine or mineral spirits. When working with oil paints, work in a ventilated space, as inhaling the fumes can be toxic. Also keep the paint and solvent away from heat, as both are extremely flammable.

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  • If you like more than one type of paint, consider working in mixed media - that is, use multiple types of paint in your work.
  • There are alternatives to paint that can still produce paint-like results - water-soluble colored pencils can be applied like normal colored pencils, then brushed over with water to create a watercolor effect.
  • Different types of paint require different types of brushes. Acrylic and tempera usually call for synthetic brushes (smooth and shiny bristles), while watercolor and gouache call for natural-hair brushes (soft bristles made of real hair). Oils require a brush with very stiff bristles - stiff enough to push the thick paint around.


  • Always wash your hands before and after painting - especially with oils - as the components are often toxic if inhaled or ingested.

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