Why I Prefer Ready-Made Fluid Acrylic Paints Over DIY Mixes

As an artist who explores fluid art both personally and professionally, I’ve experimented with all kinds of techniques one of the most annoying moments when I first started is whether to make my own fluid acrylics or buy them ready-made. After years of trying both, I’ve found that ready-made fluid acrylic paints better support my workflow, especially when consistency, timing, and quality matter.

Below are the main reasons I prefer them, along with the rare occasions when I still opt to mix my own.

One of the biggest advantages of using ready-made fluid acrylics is color consistency.

When I prepare a palette using pre-mixed paints, I know with full confidence that all the colors have matching viscosity, which drastically improves how they interact on the canvas. Whether it’s swirls, cells, or layered ribbons, that uniform consistency makes all the difference in fluid motion and blending.

With homemade mixtures, it’s far too eas

y to end up with one color that’s too thick or too runny, especially when you’re in a rush or distracted. That small inconsistency can completely throw off the composition.

Creating fluid acrylics from scratch takes time. Between measuring paint-to-medium ratios, mixing, testing, and adjusting, you can easily spend an hour just prepping.

With ready-made paints, I can get straight to the canvas. This gives me more energy and creative space to focus on composition, movement, and emotion without draining my momentum on technical prep.

One of the most underrated benefits of ready-made paints is the quick fix they offer.

If I run out of a color halfway through a pour, I don’t have to pause the entire process to mix another batch and pray I get the proportions right.

Instead, I grab another bottle and keep flowing. This reliability is especially helpful during complex pours or multi-layer pieces, where timing is everything.

When I’m hosting a class or guiding a student, ready-made paints are essential.

Why?

• They’re predictable and user-friendly

• They minimize prep time

• They allow students to focus on technique rather than troubleshooting mixtures

For workshops, I usually use Liquitex, which offers high-quality results, while for my own practice, I rotate between NicPro and Arteza—both of which perform beautifully in controlled pours.

That said, I haven’t completely abandoned making my own fluid acrylics. I still prepare custom mixes when:

• I’m not under a deadline

• I need a very specific color or effect not available in ready-made lines

• I’m experimenting for personal growth or blog content

It’s a good skill to have in your toolbox, and it teaches you a lot about paint behavior and medium ratios.

Even if you prefer ready-made paints (like I do), I highly recommend learning how to mix your own. It saves money, helps you troubleshoot, and gives you a deeper understanding of your materials.

There are many helpful online resources that explain the ratios, formulas, and even estimate how much paint you’ll need per canvas size, perfect for artists who like to plan their materials efficiently.

Ready-made fluid acrylics offer consistency, convenience, and confidence, especially for artists balancing multiple pieces, workshops, or tight timelines. While DIY mixtures have their place, especially for custom shades or relaxed studio days, having quality bottled paints on hand has been a game-changer in my creative journey.