A Starter Acrylic Palette: Which Colours and Tube Sizes to Buy

Posted by

Haanz Team

2026-10-18

On 2026-10-18

Haanz Art GuideFree, practical advice from the team at Haanz Art & Craft Materials

Once you have tried a small acrylic set, the next question is which colours to buy and in what size. This guide helps you build a starter acrylic palette of single colours that mix well, explains when a set is better than single tubes, and compares the tube and tub sizes we stock, so you buy more of what you use and less of what you don’t.

A simple starter acrylic palette

With these colours you can mix nearly everything. Each one is available in our range as a single tube:

Titanium White: you will use more white than anything else. Mont Marte Titanium White 75ml.
Lemon Yellow: a cool, clean yellow. Mont Marte Lemon Yellow 75ml or Art Ranger Lemon Yellow 75ml.
Yellow Ochre: an earthy yellow for skin, landscapes and toning down brights. Art Ranger Yellow Ochre 75ml.
A warm red: Mont Marte Brilliant Red 75ml.
A cool red/pink: Art Ranger Magenta 75ml for clean purples and pinks.
Two blues: Art Ranger Ultramarine Blue 75ml (warm) and Mont Marte Phthalo Blue 75ml (cool and very strong).
A brown: Mont Marte Burnt Umber 75ml or Burnt Sienna.
Black (optional): Mont Marte Lamp Black 75ml. Use it sparingly.

Our colour mixing guide shows how to mix greens, browns and skin tones from these.

Sets or single tubes?

Sets are a great way to start: you get a range of colours at once and learn which ones you use. Examples: Art Rangers Acrylic 12 × 12ml, 24 × 12ml and 12 × 22ml.
Single tubes make sense once you know your favourite colours. You replace only what runs out, especially white.

Acrylic tube sizes explained

12–22ml (sets): small tubes for trying colours, school and travel.
75ml tubes: a good everyday size for regular painting and classwork.
100ml tubs: Mont Marte Acrylic 100ml in 21 colours, for larger canvases, murals and classes.
200ml bottles: economical sizes such as Fevicryl acrylic for frequent painters and schools.
300ml tubs: Mont Marte Acrylic 300ml in 27 colours, for heavy use, schools and murals.

Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price. Browse all acrylic colours and acrylic colour packs.

Student and artist ranges

Student ranges are made for learning, schools and practice, and give good results for most work. Artist and premium ranges usually contain more pigment, so colours stay strong when mixed with white and cover in fewer coats. Many painters use student paint for practice and backgrounds, and a few premium tubes for the colours that matter most.

How to choose sizes

Buy white in the largest size you can; it runs out first.
Buy strong colours such as phthalo blue in smaller sizes; a little goes a long way.
For classes, murals or large canvases, tubs save frequent re-buying.
Choose tubes over tubs if paint sits unused for long periods; tubes stay fresher.

Keeping acrylic paint fresh

Close caps and lids tightly straight after use.
Wipe the thread of the tube before closing so the cap doesn’t stick.
Store away from direct sun and heat.
Squeeze out only what you need; acrylic dries quickly on the palette. Our acrylic retarder guide explains how to keep it workable longer.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need black paint?

Not always. A dark mix of blue and brown often looks richer. A small tube of black is useful for quick darks.

Can I mix different brands of acrylic?

Yes. Water-based acrylics from different brands can usually be mixed. Test a small amount first.

Which size is good for school?

Small sets or 75ml tubes are usually enough for school work.

Do you deliver islandwide?

Yes. We deliver across Sri Lanka in 2–5 working days, with cash on delivery, card or bank transfer. You can also visit our shops in Boralesgamuwa and Horana, open every day from 9 AM to 6 PM.

Not sure what to choose? WhatsApp the Haanz team on 0711 515 515 and we’ll help you build your starter palette.

More Haanz Art Guides