Royal & Langnickel Essentials acrylic sets, 12 or 21 ml tubes

Choose a compact colour range for mixing practice, a wider palette for painting studies or an effect set for striking accents. Royal & Langnickel Essentials is water-based acrylic paint with a smooth, thick consistency. You receive one selected set; a painting surface, palette and water pot are separate.

Which set suits your work?

• Standard, 12 ml per tube: 12 colours (144 ml) or 18 colours (216 ml), both with two synthetic brushes. The 24-colour (288 ml) and 36-colour (432 ml) sets contain paint tubes only.
• Standard, 21 ml per tube: 6 colours (126 ml), 12 colours (252 ml), 18 colours (378 ml) or 24 colours (504 ml). These are paint packs without brushes.
• Effect sets, 12 × 12 ml (144 ml): choose the metallic assortment for a metallic sheen or the neon assortment for bright colour accents. These are two separate paint packs without brushes.

More colours give you more ready-made shades; a 21 ml tube gives you more paint per colour than a 12 ml tube. Choose small tubes for exploration and mixing studies, or larger tubes when you use the same colours repeatedly. A metallic or neon set is a different selection from the standard colours, rather than an extra supplied with every set.

Painting and mixing

Try canvas, sturdy paper, board or prepared wood. On smooth or unfamiliar surfaces, check adhesion on a sample first. Mix colours on a palette and gradually add a little water if you need a more fluid consistency. Squeeze out small portions and close the tubes again; the paint dries relatively quickly and is permanent when dry.

Make your own colour sample

On the same surface, make one strip of colour straight from the tube and another mixed with white. Let both dry, then compare shade, coverage and brush marks. Also try metallic and neon shades over light and dark sample areas before working on your design; view the sheen from different angles. Record the colour and mixing proportions so you can repeat a useful mixture.

Cleaning up and careful use

Do not let paint dry in the brush. Wipe away excess paint, clean with water and mild soap, then reshape the hairs while damp. Dry brushes flat or with the hairs pointing down. Clean your palette while the paint is still wet.

Protect clothing and the work surface and follow the label on your selected set. Use the paint as an art material rather than body or face paint, and wash your hands after working. A permanent dry paint layer alone does not establish suitability for dishwashers, food contact or outdoor use.

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