The Original Since 1955
Liquitex invented water-based acrylic paint. Every product since then has been built on 70 years of real formulation knowledge — not trends, not shortcuts.
Works on Any Surface
Wood, canvas, paper, fabric, glass — Liquitex bonds firmly to virtually any surface without cracking or peeling over time.
Professional Formula
Developed by chemists and working artists together, each formula balances ideal texture, flexibility, and long-term durability for serious creative work.
Choose Your Paint
From soft body to heavy body, spray to ink — every Liquitex formula is designed to match the way you work, not the other way around. Pick the format that fits your technique and get straight to creating.
Professional Heavy Body Acrylic Paint, 6 x 22ml
Six carefully selected colors in a professional-grade formula that holds every brushstroke and palette knife mark exactly where you put it. A compact set built for artists who want serious pigment without committing to a full range.
Professional Heavy Body Acrylic Paint, Classic 6 x 59ml
The classic six-color set in a larger 59ml format — enough paint to work through full compositions, layering sessions, and extended projects without running dry. Professional heavy body formula with maximum pigment load, built for artists who paint regularly and need reliable color every time.
Professional Heavy Body Acrylic Paint Starter Set, Set of 12
Twelve heavy body colors covering the full spectrum from bold blues to vivid oranges — everything needed to start mixing, layering, and building a real color library from day one. Professional-grade pigment in every tube, designed for artists who are serious about the work from the very beginning.
Professional Acrylic Gouache, 2-oz (59ml), Brilliant Purple
A rich, matte-finish purple with the vibrancy of acrylic and the flat, opaque coverage of traditional gouache — in one professional-grade formula. Stays true to color after drying, with no glossy surprises, making it a go-to for illustration, design work, and any project where clean, bold color is the priority.
Professional Acrylic Gouache, 2-oz (59ml), Orange
A clean, cadmium-free orange that delivers the same intense, opaque coverage as traditional gouache without the health concerns of heavy metal pigments. Flat matte finish, consistent color from wet to dry — reliable for professional illustration, graphic work, and any technique that demands sharp, uncompromising color.
Professional Acrylic Gouache, 2-oz (59ml), Red Medium
A cadmium-free red that hits hard — full opacity, flat matte finish, and a consistent tone that doesn’t shift once dry. Formulated for professionals who need a clean, bold red without heavy metal pigments, whether for detailed illustration, large-scale work, or layered mixed media projects.
Professional Spray Paint, 12-oz (400ml), Cad Red
A high-pigment cadmium hue red in spray format — delivering the same professional color intensity Liquitex is known for, straight from the can. Consistent pressure, clean lines, and a finish that holds up on virtually any surface, from canvas and wood to walls and metal.
Professional Spray Paint, 12-oz (400ml), Cad Yellow
A bright, cadmium hue yellow with the kind of coverage and color accuracy that holds up whether you’re working close or at scale. Consistent spray pressure and a lightfast formula make it a solid choice for murals, canvas work, and any surface that demands clean, lasting color.
Professional Spray Paint, 12-oz (400ml), Cerulean Blue
A cool, precise cerulean blue in a professional spray format — clean enough for detailed work, strong enough for large surfaces. Lightfast pigment and steady pressure control give you the same reliable color quality in every pass, from studio canvases to outdoor murals.
Professional Marker Acrylic Paint, 15mm, Hookers Green
A deep, natural green in a 15mm marker format that puts professional-grade acrylic exactly where you need it — with the control of a pen and the pigment strength of a tube. Consistent ink flow and a lightfast formula make it a reliable tool for detailed line work, lettering, illustration, and mixed media applications.
Professional Wide Paint Marker, Unbleached Titanium
A warm, earthy titanium tone in a wide marker format built for artists who need bold coverage with full control. Smooth, consistent ink flow across large areas without losing the accuracy of a marker — ideal for gestural work, backgrounds, and mixed media pieces where a natural, muted base sets the foundation.
Professional Wide Paint Marker, Red Light
A vivid cadmium hue red in a wide marker format that delivers thick, opaque coverage in every stroke. Built for artists who work at scale — clean edges, strong pigment, and a lightfast formula that stays true on canvas, wood, paper, and beyond.
About brand
Liquitex was founded in 1955 by Henry Levison in Cincinnati, Ohio — and with it came the world’s first water-based acrylic paint. What started as a small family business called Permanent Pigments turned into a defining moment for the entire art world. Before Liquitex, acrylic paint simply didn’t exist in the form artists use today. That first formula changed everything.
Every Liquitex product is developed by a team that is equal parts science and art — resin chemists working directly alongside practicing artists. This combination is not a marketing angle, it is the actual process behind every tube, bottle, and can. The result is paint that performs the way artists think, not just the way formulas allow.
From the Basics line designed for students and everyday creatives, to the Professional Heavy Body and Soft Body ranges used by working artists worldwide — Liquitex covers every stage of the creative process. Four viscosities, multiple formats, and a full system of mediums mean that one brand can carry an artist from the first painting to the hundredth without ever being a limiting factor.
Andy Warhol, David Hockney, and Helen Frankenthaler were among the first to adopt Liquitex acrylics — not because of sponsorship, but because the paint delivered. That legacy continues today in studios, art schools, and street walls across the world. When a brand has been the first choice of serious artists for over 70 years, the track record speaks for itself.
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Categories
Every format, every technique, every surface — covered. Browse by category to find exactly the paint, marker, or spray that fits the way you work.
FAQ
Basics is a student-grade line with a lower pigment load, designed for learning, practice, and everyday use. Professional is artist-grade — higher pigment concentration, no fillers, and mostly single-pigment colors that give you cleaner mixes and stronger results. Both lines are fully compatible with each other.
Both. The Basics range is specifically built for those starting out — it handles well, covers most techniques, and won’t punish you for experimenting. When you’re ready to move up, the Professional range is there without having to switch brands or relearn anything.
Yes. Liquitex Professional Heavy Body is formulated so that the wet and dry color stays consistent — no significant darkening or shifting. What you mix on the palette is what you get on the canvas.
Yes. Liquitex bonds to wood, paper, fabric, glass, metal, and most other porous and non-porous surfaces. For best adhesion on smooth or non-porous surfaces, a coat of Liquitex gesso beforehand is recommended.
All Liquitex products conform to ASTM D4236 safety standards and are AP Seal certified non-toxic. The cadmium-free range specifically removes heavy metal pigments while keeping the same color performance — making it a safer option for regular studio use.
Liquitex products work best within the Liquitex system, where all formulas share the same binder and are tested for compatibility. Mixing with other acrylic brands is generally possible but not guaranteed — results can vary depending on the binder chemistry of the other product.
Drying time depends on the thickness of the application and the conditions in the room. Thin layers dry within 10–20 minutes, while thicker impasto applications can take several hours. Temperature, humidity, and airflow all affect the process — cooler and more humid conditions slow it down noticeably.
You can add a small amount of water to adjust consistency, but adding too much weakens the paint film and affects adhesion. For a more fluid consistency without compromising quality, Liquitex mediums are the right tool — Flow-Aid Additive or Fluid Medium give you the fluidity you need while keeping the formula stable.
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Testimonials
Artists around the world have made Liquitex a permanent part of their practice — not by chance, but because the paint keeps delivering where it counts. Here is what they have to say.
I started with Liquitex Basics during my first year and never felt like I was working with something inferior. The colors mix clean, the consistency is easy to control, and when I moved up to the Professional range it felt like a natural step — not a completely different product.
Sarah Mitchell, 24
When you’re working at scale on a wall, you need paint that holds up — in the sun, in the wind, across multiple sessions. Liquitex spray has never let me down. The color stays true, the pressure is consistent, and the finish looks the same on day one as it does two years later.
James Kowalski, 38
I have used many brands over the years and always come back to Liquitex Heavy Body. The pigment load is serious, the texture holds every brushstroke exactly where I put it, and the colors have not shifted on any of my older pieces. That kind of reliability matters when your work is meant to last.
