Student Acrylic Sets Compared: Camel Artist and Marie’s

Posted by

Haanz Team

2026-10-19

On 2026-10-19

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

Choosing a student acrylic set is often the first big art purchase for school or a new hobby. A good set gives you enough colours to mix freely, in tubes that last long enough to learn with. This Haanz Art Guide compares the Camel Artist and Marie’s acrylic sets we stock, so you can decide which suits you.

Camel Artist Acrylic, 12 x 20ml

The Camel Artist Acrylic Colour Set, 12 x 20ml has 12 assorted shades in 20ml tubes from Camlin’s artist range. The colours are multi-surface, and the set carries ASTM AP safety certification.

Who it suits: students and serious hobby painters who want artist-range colour and slightly larger tubes than most starter sets. Twelve colours is a balanced palette for mixing.

Marie’s Acrylic Colour sets, 12ml tubes

Marie’s is a long-established art brand. Its acrylics dry with good stability, strong adhesion and good water resistance.

Marie’s Acrylic Colour Set, 18 x 12ml: a balanced palette with strong adhesion and good water resistance.
Marie’s Acrylic Colour Set, 24 x 12ml: a wider range of colours for students and hobby painters who like more ready-made shades.

Who they suit: students who prefer more colours straight from the tube, and anyone painting smaller pieces.

Browse all sets in Acrylic Colour Packs. Prices change, so see each product page for today’s price.

How to compare acrylic sets

Number of colours. More colours means less mixing. But with 12 well-chosen colours you can mix almost anything, which also teaches colour theory.

Tube size. 20ml tubes last longer than 12ml tubes, especially for colours you use a lot. With any set, you will probably run out of white first.

Range. Artist ranges such as Camel Artist focus on colour strength and quality; student sets give variety and convenience.

Your projects. For school canvases and A3 paintings, 20ml tubes are practical. For small canvases, cards and craft, 12ml tubes are fine.

Quick recommendations

Mixing and learning colour theory: Camel Artist 12 x 20ml.
More ready-made colours for school projects: Marie’s 24 x 12ml.
A balanced middle choice: Marie’s 18 x 12ml.
Whatever you choose: add an extra tube of white.

For other brands and sizes, see Mont Marte Acrylic Paints and Art Rangers Acrylics.

Three first exercises with a new set

Colour chart. Paint a small square of every colour in the set, then a row of each mixed with white. You’ll learn what each colour really looks like.
Mixing grid. Mix each primary with the others (yellow with blue, blue with red, red with yellow) and note which mixes you like.
Value strip. Mix one colour from very light (lots of white) to very dark (a little black or brown) in five steps.

Keep these charts in your art diary. See Visual Art Diaries and Sketch Journals.

Getting the most from a set

Squeeze out small amounts; acrylic dries quickly on the palette.
Use a stay-wet palette or a damp paper towel under your paint to keep it workable longer.
Mix colours with a palette knife to keep brushes clean.
Close caps tightly and wipe tube necks so caps don’t stick.
Wash brushes straight after painting.

New to acrylic? Read Acrylic Paints for Beginners in Sri Lanka and Your First Acrylic Painting on Canvas.

Frequently asked questions

Can I mix Camel and Marie’s acrylics?

Yes. Acrylics from different brands generally mix well. Test a small amount first.

Which surfaces can I paint on?

Acrylic works on canvas, canvas board, thick paper, card and many craft surfaces such as wood. Seal very porous surfaces first.

What does ASTM AP mean?

It is a safety certification shown on many art materials. Always follow the instructions on the pack, especially with children.

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 choose an acrylic set.

More Haanz Art Guides